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‘See；’ said Mr Tappertit haughtily； ‘that it’s something strong；
and comes quick； and so long as you take care of that； you may
bring it from the devil’s cellar； if you like。’
‘Boldly said； noble captain！’ rejoined the blind man。 ‘Spoken
like the ’prentices’ Glory。 Ha； ha！ From the devil’s cellar！ A brave
joke！ The captain joketh。 Ha； ha； ha！’
‘I’ll tell you what； my fine feller；’ said Mr Tappertit； eyeing the
host over as he walked to a closet； and took out a bottle and glass
as carelessly as if he had been in full possession of his sight； ‘if you
make that row； you’ll find that the captain’s very far from joking；
and so I tell you。’
‘He’s got his eyes on me！’ cried Stagg； stopping short on his way
back； and affecting to screen his face with the bottle。 ‘I feel ’em
though I can’t see ’em。 Take ’em off； noble captain。 Remove ’em；
for they pierce like gimlets。’
Mr Tappertit smiled grimly at his comrade； and twisting out
one more look—a kind of ocular screw—under the influence of
which the blind man feigned to undergo great anguish and
torture； bade him； in a softened tone； approach； and hold his
peace。
‘I obey you； captain；’ cried Stagg； drawing close to him and
filling out a bumper without spilling a drop； by reason that he held
his little finger at the brim of the glass； and stopped at the instant
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the liquor touched it； ‘drink； noble governor。 Death to all masters；
life to all ’prentices； and love to all fair damsels。 Drink； brave
general； and warm your gallant heart！’
Mr Tappertit condescended to take the glass from his
outstretched hand。 Stagg then dropped on one knee； and gently
smoothed the calves of his legs； with an air of humble admiration。
‘That I had but eyes！’ he cried； ‘to behold my captain’s
symmetrical proportions！ That I had but eyes； to look upon these
twin invaders of domestic peace！’
‘Get out！’ said Mr Tappertit； glancing downward at his favourite
limbs。 ‘Go along； will you； Stagg！’
‘When I touch my own afterwards；’ cried the host； smiting them
reproachfully； ‘I hate ’em。 Comparatively speaking； they’ve no
more shape than wooden legs； beside these models of my noble
captain’s。’
‘Yours！’ exclaimed Mr Tappertit。 ‘No； I should think not。 Don’t
talk about those precious old toothpicks in the same breath with
mine； that’s rather too much。 Here。 Take the glass。 Benjamin。
Lead on。 To business！’
With these words； he folded his arms again； and frowning with
a sullen majesty； passed with his companion through a little door
at the upper end of the cellar； and disappeared； leaving Stagg to
his private meditations。
The vault they entered； strewn with sawdust and dimly lighted；
was between the outer one from which they had just come； and
that in which the skittle…players were diverting themselves； as was
manifested by the increased noise and clamour of tongues； which
was suddenly stopped； however； and replaced by a dead silence； at
a signal from the long comrade。 Then； this young gentleman；
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going to a little cupboard； returned with a thigh…bone； which in
former times must have been part and parcel of some individual at
least as long as himself； and placed the same in the hands of Mr
Tappertit； who； receiving it as a sceptre and staff of authority；
cocked his three…cornered hat fiercely on the top of his head； and
mounted a large table； whereon a chair of state； cheerfully
ornamented with a couple of skulls； was placed ready for his
reception。
He had no sooner assumed this position； than another young
gentleman appeared； bearing in his arms a huge clasped book；
who made him a profound obeisance； and delivering it to the long
comrade； advanced to the table； and turning his back upon it；
stood there Atlas…wise。 Then； the long comrade got upon the table
too； and seating himself in a lower chair than Mr Tappertit’s； with
much state and ceremony； placed the large book on the shoulders
of their mute companion as deliberately as if he had been a
wooden desk； and prepared to make entries therein with a pen of
corresponding size。
When the long comrade had made these preparations； he
looked towards Mr Tappertit； and Mr Tappertit； flourishing the
bone； knocked nine times therewith upon one of the skulls。 At the
ninth stroke； a third young gentleman emerged from the door
leading to the skittle ground； and bowing low； awaited his
commands。
‘’Prentice！’ said the mighty captain； ‘who waits without？’
The ’prentice made answer that a stranger was in attendance；
who claimed admission into that secret society of ’Prentice
Knights； and a free participation in their rights； privileges； and
immunities。 Thereupon Mr Tappertit flourished the bone again；
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and giving the other skull a prodigious rap on the nose； exclaimed
‘Admit him！’ At these dread words the ’prentice bowed once more；
and so withdrew as he had come。
There soon appeared at the same door； two other ’prentices；
having between them a third； whose eyes were bandaged； and who
was attired in a bag…wig； and a broad…skirted coat； trimmed with
tarnished lace； and who was girded with a sword； in compliance
with the laws of the Institution regulating the introduction of
candidates； which required them to assume this courtly dress； and
kept it constantly in lavender； for their convenience。 One of the
conductors of this novice held a rusty blunderbuss pointed