`` 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 take what I have , '' she said , jumping to her feet . `` And I 'll take this to square the count , '' said I , picking up the oilskin packet . Next moment we were both groping downstairs , leaving the candle by the empty chest ; and the next we had opened the door and were in full retreat . We had not started a moment too soon . The fog was rapidly dispersing ; already the moon shone quite clear on the high ground on either side ; and it was only in the exact bottom of the dell and round the tavern door that a thin veil still hung unbroken to conceal the first steps of our escape . Far less than half-way to the hamlet , very little beyond the bottom of the hill , we must come forth into the moonlight . Nor was this all , for the sound of several footsteps running came already to our ears , and as we looked back in their direction , a light tossing to and fro and still rapidly advancing showed that one of the newcomers carried a lantern .
`` My dear , '' said my mother suddenly , `` XXXXX the money and run on .
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