“ ‘Shall’ is summ’at of a hard word, Captain,” urged Riderhood, still feebly dodging between him and the door, as he advanced. “When you say a man ‘shall’ sign this and that and t’other, Captain, you order him about in a grand sort of a way. Don’t it seem so to yourself?”

The man stood still, and angrily fixed him with his eyes.

“Father, father!” entreated Pleasant, from the door, with her disengaged hand nervously trembling at her lips; “don’t! Don’t get into trouble any more!”

“Hear me out, Captain, hear me out! All I was wishing to mention, Captain, afore you took your departer,” said the sneaking Mr. Riderhood, falling out of his path, “was, your handsome words relating to the reward.”

“When I claim it,” said the man, in a tone which seemed to leave some such words as “you dog,” very distinctly understood, “you shall share it.”