It was now quite deserted ; the fire was a pile of red embers , radiating the most ardent heat ; and when they had chosen their places , and the landlord had set before them a measure of mulled ale , both Pirret and Arblaster stretched forth their legs and squared their elbows like men bent upon a pleasant hour . The table at which they sat , like all the others in the alehouse , consisted of a heavy , square board , set on a pair of barrels ; and each of the four curiously-assorted cronies sat at one side of the square , Pirret facing Arblaster , and Dick opposite to the common sailor . `` And now , young man , '' said Pirret , `` to your tale . It doth appear , indeed , that ye have somewhat abused our gossip Arblaster ; but what then ? Make it up to him -- show him but this chance to become wealthy -- and I will go pledge he will forgive you . '' So far Dick had spoken pretty much at random ; but it was now necessary , under the supervision of six eyes , to invent and tell some marvellous story , and , if it were possible , get back into his hands the all-important signet . To squander time was the first necessity . The longer his stay lasted , the more would his captors drink , and the surer should he be when he attempted his escape . Well , Dick was not much of an inventor , and what he told was pretty much the tale of Ali Baba , with Shoreby and Tunstall Forest substituted for the East , and the treasures of the cavern rather exaggerated than diminished . As the reader is aware , it is an excellent story , and has but one drawback -- that it is not true ; and so , as these three simple shipmen now heard it for the first time , their eyes stood out of their faces , and their mouths gaped like codfish at a fishmonger 's . Pretty soon a second measure of mulled ale was called for ; and while Dick was still artfully spinning out the incidents a third followed the second . Here was the position of the parties towards the end : Arblaster , three-parts drunk and one-half asleep , hung helpless on his stool . Even Tom had been much delighted with the tale , and his vigilance had abated in proportion . Meanwhile , Dick had gradually wormed his right arm clear of its bonds , and was ready to risk all . `` And so , '' said Pirret , `` y ' are one of these ? '' `` I was made so , '' replied Dick , `` against my will ; but an I could but get a sack or two of gold coin to my share , I should be a fool indeed to continue dwelling in a filthy cave , and standing shot and buffet like a soldier . Here be we four ; good ! Let us , then , go forth into the forest to-morrow ere the sun be up . Could we come honestly by a donkey , it were better ; but an we can not , we have our four strong backs , and I warrant me we shall come home staggering . '' Pirret licked his lips .
`` And this magic , '' he XXXXX -- `` this password , whereby the cave is opened -- how call ye it , friend ? ''
become facing get radiating said spoken squander squared stood warrant