She was somewhat broad in the beam, like a Dutch hoy, and all I could see
was a dull glimmer somewhere ahead in the darkness.
"Ssss-h, damn ye," said the beast fiercely. "Stand still!"
Cherry-Cheeks took care not to stop till near the light, and then, with
wonderful ready wit, put her right hand on her hip and I peeped through
between arm and waist.
Full length on his belly lay the man from Yarlet Bank. There was a small
spy-hole in the floor, on the edge of the hearth, and he had his right ear
against it, which was lucky, for it kept his face turned from me. The
notebook lay open on the floor near a guttering tallow candle in an iron
candlestick, and the stump of pencil was clenched in his dirty yellow
teeth.
I threw my handkerchief on the floor, took my fat little Virgil in my
left hand, and crept out to him. When near on top of him, I gripped him
round the nape of the neck, digging my fingers in his flabby throat, and
he went slimy with fright like a great, fat lob-worm. I swooped down on
him with my full weight, and pinned him to the floor. His big mouth opened
as he fought for breath, and I clapped the Virgil hard and far into it,
tying it tight in with my handkerchief, and gagging him effectually.
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