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Roupall did as he requested, demanding, in his turn, if Robin was mad enough to think of swimming to the Fire-fly. "Yes," was the Ranger's concise reply. "And now," he added, "Jack, remember, the moment you see my signal, deliver this to the Skipper; but, as you value your life, not before."
"None," replied Roupall; thinking to himself, "a piece of parchment's no message, so that's no lie." At any other time he would have felt secure of refuge in the one resource or the other; but circumstances combined to convince him there was now no certain safety by sea or land. At one moment, he thought of manning his boat, and carrying his daughter boldly to the ship.
"I never took ye for the first, Sir Willmott, and, as to the other, we've had no business between us lately. Half as much more, you said?" "Half as much more." "Well, it is but one, and then ah! ah! ah! I'll reform and turn gentleman. No, d n it, I hate gentlemen, they're so unprincipled; but you must double double or quits." "Jack Roupall, you are an unconscionable scoundrel."
He was so hemmed in by difficulties, that he had no power to act, though he tried hard for it. The villain Jeromio " "I heard of that," interrupted Robin; "Roupall told me all: he met me but a little time past in the Fox Glen; and there, too, I saw the traitor's head, with the ravens feasting on their prey!" "Ah! ah!" exclaimed Dalton, "is that the way Sir Willmott treats his wedding present!
Sir Willmott Burrell for Roupall had not been deceived either as to the identity of the person, or the motive which led him to seek refuge in the Gull's Nest had effected an almost miraculous escape, considering how closely he was guarded, a few hours before, and secreted himself in the very chamber where he had left poor Fleetword to starvation, little imagining that he was standing on the threshold of retributive justice.
"By the lady-moon, then, there be a pair of us." Burrell muttered some reply that Barbara did not hear, but again the grating voice of Roupall ascended. "Double or quits; Lord, ye needn't be so touchy about a little word of familiarity such fellowship makes all men equal."
I see so many cocks with hens' feathers now-a-days sweet-scented Cavaliers, who could no more draw a trigger than they could mount the moon, that I think Hugh Dalton must line the Fire-fly with miniver to bring them safely over. A murrain take such fellows! say I close-mouthed, long-eared scoundrels. D n it! I love a frank heart " "And a bloody hand, Master Roupall." "Stuff! stuff!
The cliffs and strand at the moment formed a picture that Salvator would have gloried in conveying to his canvass the line of coast now rising boldly from the ocean, each projecting point catching the glaring blaze, and seeming itself on fire the caverns overhung by creeping plants, revelling in gorgeous colours from every changing light that touched their beauties: then the wild figures clasping by the rocks, panting with terror and excitement the sibyl on her pinnacle the gigantic frame of Roupall, rendered still more gigantic to the eye by the position in which he stood, breathless, with the written parchment in his hand, yet unable to move or direct Dalton's attention to it.
He was ignorant of his mother's illness; but the information that Jack Roupall unwittingly communicated was not lost upon him; and he had earnestly scanned the waters, to see if the Fire-fly were off the coast.
"Ah! you may well say, good God," said Roupall, putting on a look of great sagacity, "for I'm come to the determination that there's much need of a good God in the world to circumvent man's wickedness.
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