Then, as though words of denial
were of no use, he took to the more cowardly argument of violence,
and, hissing the words, "Ye auld liar, take that," raised his hand,
and struck a blow at Colin Lothian's face.
But Jack Paterson knocked up the lad's arm, and caught Tom round
the waist, dragging him forcibly away.
"What! ye young scamp, would ye strike an auld man?" he said.
And he raised Tom Kinlay in his strong arms high in air, and almost
threw him out at the open door.
"That was smartly done, my man," said Lieutenant Fox. "I wish we
had a few such fellows as you aboard the Clasper."
And thus revealing himself, the officer finished his drink and
leisurely left us.
"Who's that chap just gone out?" asked Paterson.
"It's Lieutenant Fox of the Clasper," I said.
"If that be so, then," said Colin, "it seems to me he has gone away
wiser than he came."
"Ay," said Paterson; "it's no use wonderin' how the revenue lads
get to ken about the smugglers, if that be the way they set about
it."
Shortly afterwards we went aboard the Falcon, and the rest of the
day was spent in cleaning up after the voyage, and in balancing our
accounts. In this latter occupation I think my assistance was not
without value to Davie Flett, whose system of bookkeeping was
original and peculiar, involving a large use of hieroglyphics,
which were not always clear even to the skipper himself.
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