Three men , one after another , came out of the ale-house , and the last closed the door behind him . All three were unsteady upon their feet , as if they had passed the day in deep potations , and they now stood wavering in the moonlight , like men who knew not what they would be after . The tallest of the three was talking in a loud , lamentable voice . `` Seven pieces of as good Gascony as ever a tapster broached , '' he was saying , `` the best ship out o ' the port o ' Dartmouth , a Virgin Mary parcel-gilt , thirteen pounds of good gold money -- '' `` I have bad losses , too , '' interrupted one of the others . `` I have had losses of mine own , gossip Arblaster . I was robbed at Martinmas of five shillings and a leather wallet well worth ninepence farthing . '' Dick 's heart smote him at what he heard . Until that moment he had not perhaps thought twice of the poor skipper who had been ruined by the loss of the Good Hope ; so careless , in those days , were men who wore arms of the goods and interests of their inferiors . But this sudden encounter reminded him sharply of the high-handed manner and ill-ending of his enterprise ; and both he and Lawless turned their heads the other way , to avoid the chance of recognition . The ship 's dog had , however , made his escape from the wreck and found his way back again to Shoreby . He was now at Arblaster 's heels , and suddenly sniffing and pricking his ears , he darted forward and began to bark furiously at the two sham friars . His master unsteadily followed him . `` Hey , shipmates ! '' he cried . `` Have ye ever a penny pie for a poor old shipman , clean destroyed by pirates ? I am a man that would have paid for you both o ' Thursday morning ; and now here I be , o ' Saturday night , begging for a flagon of ale ! Ask my man Tom , if ye misdoubt me . Seven pieces of good Gascon wine , a ship that was mine own , and was my father 's before me , a Blessed Mary of plane-tree wood and parcel-gilt , and thirteen pounds in gold and silver . Hey ! what say ye ?
A man that fought the French , too ; for I have fought the French ; I have cut more French throats upon the high seas than ever a man that sails out of XXXXX .
Dartmouth Dick Tom ale-house days ill-ending inferiors morning night pounds