When you made your way to England by
swimming to the Levantine there was none more glad in heart than I!"
"If I cared to doff my doublet I could show you the marks of what
your friendship has done for me in the past," said Simon. "It is
printed on my back as clearly as on my memory. Why, you foul dog,
there are the very rings upon the wall to which my hands were
fastened, and there the stains upon the boards on which my blood
has dripped! Is it not so, you king of butchers?"
The pirate chief turned whiter still. "It may be that life here
was somewhat rough, Simon, but if I have wronged you in anyway, I
will surely make amends. What do you ask?"
"I ask only one thing, and I have come hither that I may get it.
It is that you pay me forfeit for that you have lost your wager."
"My wager, Simon! I call to mind no wager."
"But I will call it to your mind, and then I will take my payment.
Often have you sworn that you would break my courage. `By my
head!' you have cried to me. `You will crawl at my feet!' and
again: `I will wager my head that I will tame you!' Yes, yes, a
score of times you have said so. In my heart, as I listened, I
have taken up your gage. And now, dog, you have lost and I am
here to claim the forfeit."
His long heavy sword flew from its sheath. The King, with a howl
of despair, flung his arms round him, and they rolled together
under the table.
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