"Damme!" says I, scowling, "Was it to read me homilies that you had me here?"
"Aha, shipmate," says he with rueful smile, "there spake the young divine, the excellent divinity student who committed a peccadillo long years agone and, sailing to the Golden West, gave place to one Adam Penfeather a sailor-man--as you shall hear tell of at St. Kitt's, Tortuga, Santa Catalina and a score o' places along the Main. As to yourself, shipmate, if 'tis only vengeance ye seek, vengeance let it be, though, when all's done, 'tis but wind--hist! Here cometh the Bo'sun--come in, Jo lad, come in! 'Twas trusty Joel Bym here gave me my first lesson in navigation--eh, Jo?"
"Aye, Cap'n," growled the hairy giant, "by cock, them was the days, a fair wind, a quick eye an' no favour, aye, them was the days, by cock's-body!" So saying, he placed a flask of wine on the table, together with a curious silver cup, and (at a sign from Penfeather) left us together.
"And now, comrade," says Penfeather, filling the goblet, "draw up your chair and do as I do."
And now as we sat facing each other (across the table) Penfeather turns back his left sleeve and, whipping out a knife, nicked himself therewith on the wrist and squeezed thence a few drops of blood into the wine; which done, he passed the knife to me and I (though misliking the extravagance of the thing) nevertheless did the same.
"Martin," says he, "give me your hand--so! Now swear as I do!" And thus, clasping each other's hands, we swore the oath of brotherhood; and this as followeth, viz."
(1) To keep ever each other's counsel.
(2) To aid each other in all things against all men soever.
(3) To cherish and comfort each other in every adversity.
(4) To be faithful each to each unto the death.
Thereafter, at his command, I drank of the wine wherein our blood was mingled and he did the like.
"And now," says he, leaning back in his chair and viewing me with his pensive smile, "since we be brothers and comrades sworn, how d'ye like me now?"
"Better than I did," says I, speaking on impulse, "for sure you are the strangest picaroon that ever cheated the gallows."
"Ah," says he, pinching his chin, "an I am neither hanged nor murdered you shall one day find me a worshipful magistrate, Martin, Justice o' the Peace and quorum--custos rotulorum and the rest on't, there my ambition lies. As for you, Martin, Lord Wendover, there is your enemy, ha?--bloody vengeance and murder and what beside?"
"That is mine own concern!" I retorted angrily. "And look 'ee, since comrades we are, you will forget who and what I am!"