Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 83: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE PROGRESS _ “The man is a beast.from Ephesus,” said Bunyan, after due reflection; “ and, mark ye, lad, we shall yet wrestle with oS e. Slythey must have made good time from the wall, if indeed he had ever been there. Our surprise over his appearance in the tree was equalled, although our delight was greatly more, when we saw him again 4s we entered the Parliamentary camp. | Surrounded on three sides by a squad of Roundheads commanded by Sergeant Okey was Master Jonas Slythey, his black eye half-healed and the rest of his face. discol- ored just as I had seen it in the tree. He was being marched in the direction of Crom- well’s quarters; and clearly he was under arrest! “Truly,” said Hobgoblin Jack Bunyan, knowing no more of the circumstances than I did, and as we both saw. ‘“ Truly the Lord is on our side!”’ CHAPTER VII. THE SERPENT WORMS, "[ HAT evening, after five or six hours at the continued fruitless game of king- hunting, we mended the leaky vessels. That is to say, Tinker Bunyan did the mending while I sat by, in order that John’s con- science might be appeased, tending the fire and handing him the solder, acid, brand, and this and that, as a good apprentice might observe his master required them. | “Truly y’are in a fair way to be a good tinker, Master Brooke,” said Bunyan, while the acrid fumes from his operations set me coughing. “ But y’are not indeed of the craft until—” He stopped short and looked about him in search of something of which he was ap- parently in great and immediate need. “The crystal-chafer,” he muttered. ‘‘Where—now we be in a blind alley with but one door to our dilemma. The key to unlock it is the crystal-chafer. Dolt, that I should ha’ forgot it! But as thou’rt a good lad and a willing apprentice, Mas- ter Brooke, run ye back to that tinsmith of whom I did borrow the brand. Say to him y’are my apprentice, and Master Bun- yan’s respects, and will he lend you his OF J. BUNYAN. 215 crystal-chafer, which ye will surely returh speedily.” Glad to be of some real prentice service, I trotted off through the village to the tin- smith’s shop. As it was past tradesman’s hours the shop was locked up, but being diligent and having an inquiring tongue I soon found where Master Lapham lived. Presently I was at his door. . His good wife respgaded to my summons, and curiously asked my business with her man out of tinkering hours. I explained that I was prentice to Master Bunyan, and had come to beg the use of Master Lap- ham’s crystal-chafer. ‘His what?” cried the good wife, clearly as ignorant as I of the nature of the required implement. “The = crystal- chafer, peated dutifully. She went back into the house, and I heard her talking with her man, who pres- ently came to the door with a queer expres- sion on his wizen, homely face. He was a little, dried-up man.. He recognized me at once as the lad who had accompanied Bun- yan when that tinker trooper borrowed the solder and brand. “ Y’are his apprentice?” he inquired. ‘That I be, master,” said I humbly. “Since how long?” » “Since but this morning, master,” I re- plied, seagmg no harm in this simple truth. “And ye want my crystal-chafer?”’ ‘““ Aye, sir, an’ it please ye.” He looked me over very thoughtfully, very respectful, I thought, of my size and shoulder-breadth, for I was as large for my years as Master Lapham was small for his. He suddenly pointed over my shoulder and said: ‘Ye see yon gable over the sign of the three blue angels?” I turned and looked where he pointed. Even as I did so I received to my great indignation and astonishment, a right hearty kick which sent me staggering and came nigh to upsetting me. - Recovering from shock and amazement, but with my indignation blazing into a rage mistress,” I re- for revenge, I turned to resent the treach- | erous attack in more honest kind. But i caught only a glimpse of Master Lapham COmiclboo S C@