“Enough, goodman Nettles,” answered Prout.  “Remove, now, these incitements to temptation, and after that will I drop a word of friendly advisement into the ears of these offenders.”

During this conversation a profound silence had prevailed at the table—­the three citizens recognising in the intruder one whose authority it would be folly to resist, and the sailors apparently confounded at the boldness of the interference, and curious to hear what should pass between the landlord and his dictatorial visitor.  But when mine host, in obedience to an order from the latter, began to take away the bottles and cups, Captain Sparhawk, who had sat leaning on his elbow upon the table and eyeing the two, now seemed to think that his dignity required some interference on his part.

“How now, my masters,” he exclaimed.  “What coil is this?  Are we to be boarded in this piratical way, and see all our stores and, provisions captured without a blow?  Run up the red cross, Wheat.  Call all hands to repel boarders, and follow me.”

“Cease thy papistical babble; it doth vex my soul more even than thy drunkenness,” cried Master Prout.

“Papist in thy teeth and drunkenness to boot,” exclaimed the excited captain, at the same time striking at Master Prout, who, however, easily eluded the blow of the intoxicated man.

The other two sailors now manifested some intention of coming to the assistance of their superior, but were held back by the citizens, and restrained, moreover, by a knowledge of the formidable power of Master Prout, who was well known as a sort of censor or guardian of the morals of the place, appointed by the magistrates.

“Keep quiet, man,” said Prout, pushing the obstreperous captain back into his seat, “or thy mazzard and my staff may become better acquainted than will be altogether agreeable.  Do thou hold him, good man Nettles, as being in some wise accountable for his condition.  So shalt thou, also, partake of the savory crumbs of advice which it is my intention to bestow on this man of Belial and his companions.”

Master Prout, thereupon drawing a chair, placed it immediately in front of the captain, and seated himself, while mine host held the delinquent fast.  The functionary paid no attention whatever to the exclamations and ejaculations of the sailor, which, furious at first, gradually died away until they ceased entirely, but went on steadily with his speech.

“Thou art a stranger,” he said, “and therefore am I the more disposed to overlook thy transgression, seeing that thou art not acquainted with the manners of the godly town of Boston, and art not yet prepared to realize thy privilege in being permitted to visit it.  Moreover, I see by thy garments and speech that thou art one of those who go down to the sea in ships, and who, though they behold the wonders of the deep, are, for the most part, unaffected by the mighty works of Him at whose word the stormy wind ariseth, or at His rebuke chasteneth itself into a calm.  But thou art a man having within thee an immortal soul, and my spirit is troubled exceedingly, and my bowels are like to burst within me, when I behold thee given over to folly.  Hearken thou, for my lips shall utter judgment, and thine ears shall drink in understanding.