_Jas._ (_to REUBEN_). When thou desirest him to be silent it is well to gag him; when thou wouldst have him speak it is judicious to remove the gag! _Reu._ As you will, sir. Now then (_removing his hand_), dost thou clearly understand? _Dan._ (_loudly_). I clearly understand that ye are two marauding devils, who---- _Reu._ (_hastily clapping his hand over DAN’L’S mouth_). He does not understand. _Jas._ (_listening_). They’ve wheeled about, and their hoofs are dying away in the distance. Reuben, let the old beggar go; he may give tongue now till he split his lungs, if he will. We are safe, at least for the present, Reuben; and see to thy pistol--we may have to stand a siege yet, and this door must be barricaded; but with what? _Dan._ (_taking up an iron bar from the fireplace and holding it in a threatening attitude_). Go your ways, both of ye; or as I am a man I’ll brain ye with this bar! _Jas._ The very thing! (_Wrenches it easily out of his hand and barricades the door with it, while REUBEN shows DAN’L a pistol._) There! why, it’s made for it! A thousand thanks, old gentleman. (_DAN’L recovers himself’ flies at JASPER, who pushes him away; he falls on to a stool._) Now, master, listen to me, and if you have any respect for yourself, keep your ears open, for I’m speaking words of life and death. We are desperate men in a desperate strait, and little disposed to stand on ceremony, as you may perhaps have remarked. We are flying for our lives, and we desire to cross to France, where my lady is, and where we shall be safe. To carry out this design we have worked our way to the coast, sleeping under hedges and ricks for six bleak days, and tramping in the wind’s eye for six stormy nights, till the fire of life seems to have died out of our bodies, and our legs to have withered from their trunks. You have a stout boat on the beach; when this accursed gale shall have blown itself out you shall have the distinction of working us across to the opposite coast. In the mean time we appoint you our host, and we shall be prepared to look favourably on whatever meat or drink you can set before us. _Dan._ Do I look like a man who keeps open house? _Jas._ No, hang me if you do. _Dan._ If I had my way, I’d hang you, anyhow. _Jas._ Ay, and there’s many more of your way of thinking. _Dan._ I’ll be sworn there are. Well, get out o’ my hut (_rises_); this is not _your_ way; this is not the road to the gallows. _Reu._ My good fellow, that’s why we took it! _Dan._ Who, in the devil’s name, are ye?