They had never been worn , my mother said . Under that , the miscellany began -- a quadrant , a tin canikin , several sticks of tobacco , two brace of very handsome pistols , a piece of bar silver , an old Spanish watch and some other trinkets of little value and mostly of foreign make , a pair of compasses mounted with brass , and five or six curious West Indian shells . I have often wondered since why he should have carried about these shells with him in his wandering , guilty , and hunted life . In the meantime , we had found nothing of any value but the silver and the trinkets , and neither of these were in our way . Underneath there was an old boat-cloak , whitened with sea-salt on many a harbour-bar . My mother pulled it up with impatience , and there lay before us , the last things in the chest , a bundle tied up in oilcloth , and looking like papers , and a canvas bag that gave forth , at a touch , the jingle of gold . `` I 'll show these rogues that I 'm an honest woman , '' said my mother . `` I 'll have my dues , and not a farthing over . Hold Mrs. Crossley 's bag . '' And she began to count over the amount of the captain 's score from the sailor 's bag into the one that I was holding . It was a long , difficult business , for the coins were of all countries and sizes -- doubloons , and louis d'ors , and guineas , and pieces of eight , and I know not what besides , all shaken together at random . The guineas , too , were about the scarcest , and it was with these only that my mother knew how to make her count . When we were about half-way through , I suddenly put my hand upon her arm , for I had heard in the silent frosty air a sound that brought my heart into my mouth -- the tap-tapping of the blind man 's stick upon the frozen road . It drew nearer and nearer , while we sat holding our breath . Then it struck sharp on the inn door , and then we could hear the handle being turned and the bolt rattling as the wretched being tried to enter ; and then there was a long time of silence both within and without . At last the tapping recommenced , and , to our indescribable joy and gratitude , died slowly away again until it ceased to be heard . `` Mother , '' said I , `` take the whole and let 's be going , '' for I was sure the bolted door must have seemed suspicious and would bring the whole hornet 's nest about our ears , though how thankful I was that I had bolted it , none could tell who had never met that terrible blind man . But my mother , frightened as she was , would not consent to take a fraction more than was due to her and was obstinately unwilling to be content with less . It was not yet seven , she said , by a long way ; she knew her rights and she would have them ; and she was still arguing with me when a little low whistle sounded a good way off upon the hill . That was enough , and more than enough , for both of us .
`` I 'll XXXXX what I have , '' she said , jumping to her feet .
'm began bring brought carried going make take wandering whitened