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ground seemed to open at his feet； and a ragged head appeared。
‘Is that the captain？’ said a voice as ragged as the head。
‘Yes；’ replied Mr Tappertit haughtily； descending as he spoke；
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‘who should it be？’
‘It’s so late； we gave you up；’ returned the voice； as its owner
stopped to shut and fasten the grating。 ‘You’re late； sir。’
‘Lead on；’ said Mr Tappertit； with a gloomy majesty； ‘and make
remarks when I require you。 Forward！’
This latter word of command was perhaps somewhat theatrical
and unnecessary； inasmuch as the descent was by a very narrow；
steep； and slippery flight of steps； and any rashness or departure
from the beaten track must have ended in a yawning water…butt。
But Mr Tappertit being； like some other great commanders；
favourable to strong effects； and personal display； cried ‘Forward！’
again； in the hoarsest voice he could assume； and led the way； with
folded arms and knitted brows； to the cellar down below； where
there was a small copper fixed in one corner； a chair or two； a form
and table； a glimmering fire； and a truckle…bed； covered with a
ragged patchwork rug。
‘Welcome； noble captain！’ cried a lanky figure； rising as from a
nap。
The captain nodded。 Then； throwing off his outer coat； he stood
composed in all his dignity； and eyed his follower over。
‘What news to…night？’ he asked； when he had looked into his
very soul。
‘Nothing particular；’ replied the other； stretching himself—and
he was so long already that it was quite alarming to see him do it—
‘how come you to be so late？’
‘No matter；’ was all the captain deigned to say in answer。 ‘Is the
room prepared？’
‘It is；’ replied the follower。
‘The comrade—is he here？’
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‘Yes。 And a sprinkling of the others—you hear ’em？’
‘Playing skittles！’ said the captain moodily。 ‘Light…hearted
revellers！’
There was no doubt respecting the particular amusement in
which these heedless spirits were indulging； for even in the close
and stifling atmosphere of the vault； the noise sounded like distant
thunder。 It certainly appeared； at first sight； a singular spot to
choose； for that or any other purpose of relaxation； if the other
cellars answered to the one in which this brief colloquy took place；
for the floors were of sodden earth； the walls and roof of damp
bare brick tapestried with the tracks of snails and slugs； the air
was sickening； tainted； and offensive。 It seemed； from one strong
flavour which was uppermost among the various odours of the
place； that it had； at no very distant period； been used as a
storehouse for cheeses； a circumstance which； while it accounted
for the greasy moisture that hung about it； was agreeably
suggestive of rats。 It was naturally damp besides； and little trees of
fungus sprung from every mouldering corner。
The proprietor of this charming retreat； and owner of the
ragged head before mentioned—for he wore an old tie…wig as bare
and frowzy as a stunted hearth…broom—had by this time joined
them； and stood a little apart； rubbing his hands； wagging his
hoary bristled chin； and smiling in silence。 His eyes were closed；
but had they been wide open； it would have been easy to tell； from
the attentive expression of the face he turned towards them—pale
and unwholesome as might be expected in one of his underground
existence—and from a certain anxious raising and quivering of the
lids； that he was blind。
‘Even Stagg hath been asleep；’ said the long comrade； nodding
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towards this person。
‘Sound； captain； sound！’ cried the blind man； ‘what does my
noble captain drink—is it brandy； rum； usquebaugh？ Is it soaked
gunpowder； or blazing oil？ Give it a name； heart of oak； and we’d
get it for you； if it was wine from a bishop’s cellar； or melted gold
from King George’s mint。’
‘See；’ said Mr Tappertit haughtily； ‘that it’s something strong；
and comes quick； and so long as you take care of that； you may
bring it from the devil’s cellar； if you like。’
‘Boldly said； noble captain！’ rejoined the blind man。 ‘Spoken
like the ’prentices’ Glory。 Ha； ha！ From the devil’s cellar！ A brave
joke！ The captain joketh。 Ha； ha； ha！’
‘I’ll tell you what； my fine feller；’ said Mr Tappertit； eyeing the
host over as he walked to a closet； and took out a bottle and glass
as carelessly as if he had been in full possession of his sight； ‘if you
make that row； you’ll find that the captain’s very far from joking；
and so I tell you。’
‘He’s got his eyes on me！’ cried Stagg； stopping short on his way
back； and affecting to screen his face with the bottle。 ‘I feel ’em
though I can’t see ’em。 Take ’em off； noble captain。 Remove ’em；
for they pierce like gimlets。’
Mr Tappertit smiled grimly at his comrade； and twisting out
one more look—a kind of ocular screw—under the influence of
which the blind man feigned to undergo great anguish and
torture； bade him； in a softened tone； approach； and hold his
peace。
‘I obey you； captain；’ cried Stagg； drawing close to him and
filling out a bumper without spilling a drop； by reason that he held
his little finger at the brim of the glass； and stopped at the instant
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the liquor touched it； ‘drink； noble governor。 Death to all masters；
life to all ’prentices； and love to all fair damsels。 Drink； brave
general； and warm your gallant heart！’
Mr Tappertit condescended to take the glass from his
outstretched hand。 Stagg then dropped on one knee； and gently
smoothed the calves of his legs； with an air of humble admiration。
‘That I had but eyes！’ he cried； ‘to behold my captain’s
symmetrical proportions！ That I had but eyes； to look upon these
twin invaders of domestic peace！’
‘Get out！’ said Mr Tappertit； glancing downward at his favourite
limbs。 ‘Go along； will you； Stagg！’
‘When I touch my own afterwards；’ cried the host； smiting them
reproachfully； ‘I hate ’em。 Comparatively speaking； they’ve no
more shape than wooden legs； beside these models of my noble
captain’s。’
‘Yours！’ exclaimed Mr Tappertit。 ‘No； I should think not。 Don’t
talk about those precious old toothpicks in the same breath with
mine； that’s rather too much。 Here。 Take the glass。 Benjamin。
Lead on。 To business！’
With these words； he folded his arms again； and frowning with
a sullen majesty； passed with his companion through a little door
at the upper end of the cellar； and disappeared； leaving Stagg to
his private meditations。
The vault they entered； strewn with sawdust and dimly lighted；
was between the outer one from which they had just come； and
that in which the skittle…players were diverting themselves； as was
manifested by the increased noise and clamour of tongues； which
was suddenly stopped； however； and replaced by a dead silence； at
a signal from the long comrade。 Then； this young gentleman；
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going to a little cupboard； returned with a thigh…bone； which in
former times must have been