"
Then Fox made fast and went up the steps, to find the biggest chap he ever
set eyes upon waiting for him.
"You ought to pay double fare yourself," he said, "and where's your box?"
Then the big man calmly gripped him by his neck-cloth as if he was a
kitten and, while he did so, another chap appeared from behind the post
that held the ferry bell.
'Twas Edmund Masters, and he explained the situation to Fox in a few
words.
"Being an old blackguard above law and order, Jimmy Fox, you give honest
men the trouble to teach you manners and explain that you can't starve
young women, and treat 'em like dogs and think you're going to have your
wicked way with 'em when and how you please. So now your niece will be
took away from you for ever, and as she's got no particular wish for you
to kiss her 'good-bye,' you can stop here and think over your cowardly
sins and cool your heels a bit--till morning, I hope. And this is my best
friend, Captain Le Cornu, of _The Provider_, and the strongest man in the
Channel Isles. So now you'll know what it feels like to be in mightier
hands than your own, you dirty scoundrel. And if you wasn't so old, I'd
give you a dozen of the best before we go."
Then he turned to the other.
"Trice him up, skipper."
In half a shake Jimmy Fox found himself bound hand and foot to the ferry
bell post. The bell-pull was knotted high out of his reach and a
handkerchief tied pretty tight round his mouth.
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