Part 22 (1/2)
Basil's first emotion was one of the most absolute and complete astonishment So surprised was he that he actually sat and rubbed his eyes as though to clear the visions And in just that moment of stupefaction Dan acted The papers were on the table: doubtless they were his papers He lunged forward, spitted them on the point of his sword, and crammed them into his doublet by the tier in his hand The sailor expected a vicious spring from his adversary, but Basil made no e of hith of weapon, and he had related sufficient of his exploits during their Yuletide tramp to prove himself an apt swordsuile above force He saw at once that his tongue would be his better weapon, so put his dagger back into his belt, sat down and snuffed his candle
”Thou art not going to fight?”
”Why should we do so? Sit down, Dan Pengelly, and explain thyself”
It was the sailor's turn to be astonished He got a stool and seated himself, his back to the door, and his weapon across his knee Basil laughed with assuood-humour
”Thou art careful, comrade”
”Thou hast tricked me once”
”And thou hast neatly tricked me We cry 'quits'”
”Not so”
”Why not? I have thy papers--I make no secret of that--and thou hast mine”
”Are not these the saive over all talk of robbery” Basil got up and went to a little press in the wall Before opening the door he turned again to Dan ”Thou wilt observe that I a my back to thee I have more faith in thine honour than thou hast in eted ”Thou didst deceive uise of friendshi+p,” he muttered
”Pshaw, man! thou wert undone by thine own foolishness Why didst chatter to a stranger about thy papers? Is not all England agog to find the land of 'El Dorado'? Dost think that any e of the way thither? I suffer fro that notable country So wouldst thou; so would Adiven thee a lesson in caution if I restore thy papers”
”Wilt do so?”
Basil opened the press, and tossed a packet on the table ”There they are”
Dan snatched it up, and turned it round and round in his fingers ”Why dost thou give them back?”
”They are thine, and thou hast come for them”
”Hast read them?”
”Of course”
”What is in them?”
”Maybe truth, maybe idle tales; their value reive leam came into the sailor's eyes ”I have not read thine
Can we fairly cry quits until I have done so?”
Basil bit his lip ”Canst read?”
”No”