“Come, come, old man, let’s have no noisy words from _you_, you know you’d have been hung long ago except for me.” “Would I? and ain’t you as thick in the mud as I am in the mire? Listen to me.” As he spoke, he leaned across the table and whispered, “How about that money you lost at cards t’other night?” “What do you mean?” said Jack, reddening. “I suppose you don’t know that Phillip Redgill has escaped from prison, do you?” “You are a liar,” said Captain Jack, with an oath, trying to look firm and desperate; “you are a liar, Bates, and if you were not so old, and a faithful pal, I’d——” “Oh, no, you wouldn’t,” said Bates. “I am captain now.” “What’s that you say?” “Nay, you needn’t curse and swear, Jack; I’m telling you the truth.” “But that ain’t the truth.” “Yes it is.” “No it ain’t, you old liar.” “Look at this, then,” said old Bates, pulling out twelve warrants cancelled, “do you know what these mean?” “Why, those are the death warrants that Colonel Blood had when he went down to Darlington!” “I know it.” “But he had thirteen, not twelve.” “I know he had, but Colonel Blood holds the odd one.” “Indeed, and whose is it?” “Why, your’s, Jack.” “Mine?” “Yes, and no mistake.” “And do you mean to say that Colonel Blood has given the twelve to you and not the odd one also?” “I do mean it, and for a special reason.” Old Bates was so triumphant in his manner, that Captain Jack looked staggered and amazed. “Why, you take all the breath out of my body, Bates,” said Jack. “The breath soon will be taken out of your body, if you don’t mind; there’s a nice new gibbet waiting for you, so Colonel Bland says.” “Why, what is all this for?” “It has come to the colonel’s ears that you have been playing false to him, and you know he never forgives an enemy.” “The devil!” said Jack; “do you mean to say, then, that he knows all about Redgill?” “He does; and since he has escaped, he has made up his mind to have revenge on you.” Old Bates smiled like an old ogre as he pulled out of his capacious pocket a sealed document. “Do you know what this is?” said Bates. “It looks like a warrant.” “And so it is—you are not mistaken—it is for your own apprehension.” “You are joking.” “I was never more serious in all my life.” “And do you mean to arrest me?” “That depends,” said Bates. “The Dozen and I have had several meetings, and it was resolved to throw you out of the captaincy, and put me in.” “Well!” “I begged for your life hard, very hard, Jack, for all the lads swore you had played foully with them, and deserved to die.” “But I haven’t, Tom.” “You have, Jack; you have been flashing about town for a long time like a lord, and spending lots of money, which ought to have been divided among us; for we’ve been as poor for the last few months as church mice.”