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There was a narrow-featured Vermonter in this party, termed, by his comrades, the Hatchet-face, and, in truth, the extreme thinness of his chest and the slenderness of his limbs might as aptly have been called the hatchet-handle. But, so far from being unfit for the hardy pursuits of a hunter, he was gifted with the activity of a greyhound, and the swiftness and bottom of a race-horse.
Then, all of a sudden I realized that the ship was wholly strange to me and that it was headed not southeast, but northwest. That realization shocked me broad awake. At the same instant I saw the shipmaster approaching. He was not Orontides, nor was he at all like him. He had small feet, was knock-kneed, tall, lean, had a hatchet-face and red hair. "Awake at last!" he commented.
The Lady of the Seven Stars did not indeed ring a bell, because such was not the fashion of the time, but she whistled on a silver call, which was hung by her side, and a tight serving-maid entered the room. "Tell Dick Ostler to come here," said Mrs. Bickerton. Dick Ostler accordingly made his appearance; a queer, knowing, shambling animal, with a hatchet-face, a squint, a game-arm, and a limp.
But the next moment we breathed easier, for the men broke into a boisterous laugh, and one called: "Ole hatchet-face, yo're done out-punted this time!" Another, bending over and slapping his thigh in mirthful ecstasy, guffawed: "Bill says she's done out-punted," whereupon they again laughed, and a third called: "This here busts yo' chance of makin' a git-away to-night, yer ole she-devil!
"Would he wish me to infer that Miss Vernon had fallen in love with that hatchet-face of his, and become degraded so low as to require his shyness to cure her of an imprudent passion? I will have his meaning from him," was my resolution, "if I should drag it out with cart-ropes."
The hatchet-face in turn shouted something to the men behind. Slowly they drew apart into two groups. "You are the leader, Capitao," suggested Lourenço. Promptly McKay marched forward, head up, eyes front, face bleak. The rest followed, Tucu falling in behind McKay when the captain passed him.
"I've heard that voice before it must be Sneak's," said Boone, laughing heartily. Now the buffalo was observed to quiver slightly, and after some exertion to extricate himself, the long snake-like form of the redoubtable "Hatchet-face" came forth and stood erect before the gaping mouth and staring eyes of Joe.
Seeing Béla and Andor there, he asked if anything was wanted. "No, no," said Béla impatiently, "nothing more to-night. Andor and I are going directly." The narrow hatchet-face once more disappeared behind the door. Klara's voice was heard to ask: "Who is in the tap-room, father?"
"Don't try to bully me!" snorted the squire, shaking his fist in turn, and much nearer to the hatchet-face of his antipathy. "Put that down or I'll teach ye manners! Yes, damn ye, for the first time in your life ye shall be made to behave like a gentleman!" "I defy yer ter make me!" retorted Hennion, with unconscious humour. "Heyday!" said Mrs.
"Man doux d'la vie, where's the Master of Burials?" babbled the jailer. "The apprentice does the obs'quies to-day." "The Master's sick of a squinzy," grunted the centenier. "So hatchet-face and bundle-o'-nails there brings dust to dust, amen."
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