Page:In the Roar of the Sea.djvu/385

Rh "Famous! but there I spare you this time you forfeited again."

"No, I won't be spared," protested the boy.

"As for a wretched little hole like this Othello Cottage——" said Scantlebray. "But, by the bye, you have never shown me over the house. How many rooms are there in it, Generalissimo of His Majesty's Forces?"

"There's my bedroom there," said Jamie.

"Yes; and that door leads to your sister's?"

"Yes. And there's the kitchen."

"And up-stairs?"

"There's no up-stairs."

"Now, you are very clever—clever. By Ginger, you must be to be Commander-in-chief; but 'pon my word, I can't believe that. No up-stairs. There must be up-stairs."

"No, there's not."

"But by Jimminy! with such a roof as this house has got, and a little round window in the gable. There must be an up-stairs."

"No there's not."

"How do you make that out?"

"Because there are no stairs at all." Then Jamie jumped up, but rolled on one side, the brandy he had drunk had made him unsteady. "I'll show you mate—mate—yes, mate. There three times now will do for times I haven't said it. There—in my room. The floor is rolling; it won't stay steady. There are cramps in the wall, no stairs, and so you get up to where it all is."

"All what is?"

"Forfeit, forfeit!" shouted Jamie. "Say general or something military. I don't know. Ju won't let me go up there; but there's tobacco, for one thing."

"Where's a candle, Corporal?"

"There is none. We have no light but the fire." Then Jamie dropped back on his stool, unable to keep his legs.

"I am more provident than you. I have a lantern outside, unlighted, as I thought I might need it on my return. The nights close in very fast and very dark now, eh, Commander?"

Mr. Scantlebray went outside the cottage, looked about him, specially directing his eyes toward the Glaze. Then he chuckled and said: