[Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley]@TWC D-Link bookWestward Ho! CHAPTER XIX 4/38
"There's a fresh marvel, for you, Frank." "Expound," quoth Frank, who was really ready to swallow any fresh marvel, so many had he seen already. "Why, how else would those two bronze statues dare to go to sea in such a cockleshell, eh? Have I given you the dor now, master courtier!" "I am long past dors, Will.
But what noble creatures they are! and how fearlessly they are coming alongside! Can they know that we are English, and the avengers of the Indians ?" "I suspect they just take us for Spaniards, and want to sell their cocoa-nuts.
See, the canoe is laden with vegetables." "Hail them, Yeo!" said Amyas.
"You talk the best Spanish, and I want speech of one of them." Yeo did so; the canoe, without more ado, ran alongside, and lowered her felucca sail, while a splendid Indian scrambled on board like a cat. He was full six feet high, and as bold and graceful of bearing as Frank or Amyas's self.
He looked round for the first moment smilingly, showing his white teeth; but the next, his countenance changed; and springing to the side, he shouted to his comrade in Spanish-- "Treachery! No Spaniard," and would have leaped overboard, but a dozen strong fellows caught him ere he could do so. It required some trouble to master him, so strong was he, and so slippery his naked limbs; Amyas, meanwhile, alternately entreated the men not to hurt the Indian, and the Indian to be quiet, and no harm should happen to him; and so, after five minutes' confusion, the stranger gave in sulkily. "Don't bind him.
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