'
'See,' said Mr Tappertit haughtily, 'that it's something strong, and
comes quick; and so long as you take care of that, you may bring it from
the devil's cellar, if you like.'
'Boldly said, noble captain!' rejoined the blind man. 'Spoken like the
'Prentices' Glory. Ha, ha! From the devil's cellar! A brave joke! The
captain joketh. Ha, ha, ha!'
'I'll tell you what, my fine feller,' said Mr Tappertit, eyeing the
host over as he walked to a closet, and took out a bottle and glass as
carelessly as if he had been in full possession of his sight, 'if you
make that row, you'll find that the captain's very far from joking, and
so I tell you.'
'He's got his eyes on me!' cried Stagg, stopping short on his way back,
and affecting to screen his face with the bottle. 'I feel 'em though I
can't see 'em. Take 'em off, noble captain. Remove 'em, for they pierce
like gimlets.'
Mr Tappertit smiled grimly at his comrade; and twisting out one more
look--a kind of ocular screw--under the influence of which the blind man
feigned to undergo great anguish and torture, bade him, in a softened
tone, approach, and hold his peace.
'I obey you, captain,' cried Stagg, drawing close to him and filling
out a bumper without spilling a drop, by reason that he held his little
finger at the brim of the glass, and stopped at the instant the liquor
touched it, 'drink, noble governor.
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