A Set of Rogues

pretty fairly out of the hands o

t to be taken in the flank, he swings his stool ready to dash the brains out of the first that nears him. And I do

es out at the top of his voice, "Rekbah!"--a word of their own language, I am told, taken from the Moorish, and signifying that whosoever shall outrage the laws of hospitality under his roof shall be his enemy to the death. And at this word every man stood still as if by inchantment, and let fall his weapon. Then in the same high voice he gives them an harangue, sh

rchyard. But hark ye, Se?or, lest we fall out again and come out worse the next bout, do pray ask his worship if we may not be accommodated with a guide to take us on our

on of civilities laid the proposal before Don Lopez, who, though professing the utmost regret to lose us so soon, consented to gratify

his was told us, "let us settle t

; and he, not behindhand in courtesy, lugs out his purse and begs the other to pay himself. Whereupon, with more apologies, Don Lopez empties the money on the table and carefully counts it, and there being but about a score of gold pieces

s up and empties his pockets on the table, and I likewise; but betwixt us there was no more than some French pennies and a few odds and ends of no value at all. Fetching a deep sigh, Don Lopez takes all these possessions into a heap before him, and

elled as became our condition, this brigand would never have ensnared us hither. And if they won't beli

me for my generos

Hows'ever, we'll say no more about that if we get out of this cursed smoke-hole; and as we are like to come off ill if these Jack-thieves keep us here a week or so and get nothi

lls, he gulped it down with the best face he could put on it. But from the mockery and lau

to persuade them we were dancers he was taking for a show to the fair at Barcelona, which they, by our looks, would not be

e us space and a fair trial. You can strum a guitar, Kit, for I've heard you. And Moll, my chick, do you

y than our poor little Moll (now put upon her mettle), nor more lightly than Dawson, so that every rascal in our audience was won to admiration, clapping hands and shouting "Hola!" when it was done. And this warming us, we gave 'em next an Italian coranto, and after that, an English pillow dance; and, in good faith, had they all been our dearest friends, these dirty fellows could not have gone mo

ve 'em a stage dance of a nymph and a wild man, Se?or, with an excuse for our having no costume but this. Play us our past

d also giving more play for her feet. And so thus they dance their pastoral, Don Sanchez taking a tambourine and tapping it lightly to the measure, up to Moll's song, which so ravished these hardy, stony men by the pathetic sweetness of her voice,--for they coul

. At this Don Lopez, glancing at the money on the table by his side, and looking round for sanction to his company (which they did give him without one voice of opposition), he takes up two of the gold pieces and dr

he danger again of being taken for persons of quality. "Fine dress," says he, "may be necessary to the Se?or and his daughter for their court dances, and they are heartily welcome to them for the pleasure they have given us,

came down, Jack Dawson and Moll fell a-laughing at us, as though they would burst. And, in truth, we made a most ludicrous spectacle, --especia

tion of a philosopher; only to quiet Dawson's merriment he told him that in the clothes taken fro

cort, and brought at last to the main road, where we were left with nought but what we stood in (save Moll's two pieces), the robbers bidding us their adios with all the courtesy

c., Don Sanchez promising that we should have redress for our ill-treatment, that his name alone would pr

of getting money by your honour's name, you may do as you please, and so may you, Kit, if you're so minded. But for my part, henceforth I'll pretend to be no better than I am, and the first suit of rags I

I, "you would not quit us

e no doubt on that score. But 'tis no part of our barga

ach Elche," says Don Sanchez. "Can you tell

an as good as your honour's. How many

or

, seeing we are not to be back in England afore next year. We can buy a guitar and a tabor out of Moll's pieces; with them we can give a

s the best, and I would myself have proposed

ve, and 'tis but fair we should do the same now. Besides which, how could we get along without you for

n it for a sign of faith and good fellowship. Then, perceiving that w