Black Bartlemy's Treasure, page 19 by Jeffrey Farnol
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light.
Being come nigh the casement I paused to cock the weapon and to glance at the priming, then, creeping to the open lattice, I looked into the room.
Three men scowled at each other across a table--desperate-looking fellows, scarred and ill-featured, with clothes that smacked of the sea; behind them in a corner crouched a maid, comely of seeming but pallid of cheek and with cloak torn by rough hands, and, as she crouched, her wide eyes stared at the dice-box that one of the men was shaking vigorously--a tall, hairy fellow this, with great rings in his ears; thus stood he rattling the dice and smiling while his companions cursed him hoarsely.
With a twist of the hand the hairy man made his throw, and as the three evil heads stooped above the dice, I clambered through the window, levelled pistol in one hand, heavy staff in the other.
"What d'ye set?" quoth I. The three sprang apart and stared at me quite chapfallen.
"What's to do?" growled one.
"First your barking-irons--lay them here on the table and quick's the word!" One after another they drew the weapons from their belts, and one by one I tossed them through the window.
"What!" quoth one, a lank rogue with a patch over one eye and winking the other jovial-wise, "How now, mate o' mine, shall dog bite dog then?"
"Aye," says I, "and with a will!"
"Nay, nay, shipmate," quoth another, a plump, small man with round, bright eyes and but one ear, "easy now--easy. We be three lorn mariners d'ye see--jolly dogs, bully boys, shipmate--a little fun wi' a pretty lass--nought to harm d'ye see, sink me! Join us and welcome, says I, share and share alike O!"
"Aye, I'll join you," quoth I, "but first--you wi' the rings-- open the door!" Here the hairy fellow growled an oath and reached for an empty tankard, and thereupon got the end of my staff driven shrewdly into his midriff so that he sank to the floor and lay gasping.
"Nay now, shipmate," quoth the plump man in wheedling tone but round eyes s