here; I will so truss me this sea-thief, hand and foot together, like a

basting turkey--marry, I will so bind him up--and thereafter I will so

beat--so beat him!"

And so he ran on, winding the cord meanwhile about Dick's limbs with the

dexterity peculiar to seamen, and at every turn and cross securing it

with a knot, and tightening the whole fabric with a savage pull.

When he had done, the lad was a mere package in his hands--as helpless as

the dead. The skipper held him at arm's length, and laughed aloud. Then

he fetched him a stunning buffet on the ear; and then turned him about,

and furiously kicked and kicked him. Anger rose up in Dick's bosom like

a storm; anger strangled him, and he thought to have died; but when the

sailor, tired of this cruel play, dropped him all his length upon the

sand and turned to consult with his companions, he instantly regained

command of his temper. Here was a momentary respite; ere they began

again to torture him, he might have found some method to escape from this

degrading and fatal misadventure.

Presently, sure enough, and while his captors were still discussing what

to do with him, he took heart of grace, and, with a pretty steady voice,

addressed them.

"My masters," he began, "are ye gone clean foolish? Here hath Heaven put

into your hands as pretty an occasion to grow rich as ever shipman

had--such as ye might make thirty over-sea adventures and not find

again--and, by the mass I what do ye? Beat me?--nay; so would an angry

The Black Arrow