Page:The Dark Frigate (Hawes).djvu/62

“What in the fiend’s name hast thou been up to, this night?” quoth the master in a fierce bellow.

The little boy burst into tears. “He ’ll have nought to do with him,” he wailed. “’T was a long way and fearful dark but I went it, every step, and ferreted him out and gave him the message; and he swore most wickedly and bade me tell the man go to a place I don't like to name, and bade me tell Nell Entick he took it ill of her to traffic with such as that brother of his.”

“Ah-ha!” cried the host, belting his breeches tighter. “Most shrewdly do I suspect there have been strange doings hereabouts. Where ’s Nell Entick? Nell Entick, I say, Nell Entick!” His voice went through the house like thunder. The sashes rattled and the little boy quaked.

Down came the hostess and in came the maids—all but Nell Entick.

“Nell Entick! Where 's Nell Entick, I say! Fiend take the wench—where 's Nell Entick?”

Then in came the sleepy hostlers, and the coachman, his livery all awry from his haste—but not Nell Entick. For Nell Entick, a-tremble with well-founded apprehensions, having gone late to bed and slept heavily, had risen just after the host, had followed him down the passage and, after listening at the door until she made sure her worst fears were realized had darted back along the passage and out through the inn yard to the stable where as loudly as she dared, but not loudly enough to rouse the weary sleepers above, she was calling, “Martin! Martin! Awake, I say, or they ’ll al be upon thee! Martin, awake!”

The host in fury seized the little boy by the ear and dragged him shrieking across the table. “Now, sirrah,”