He was quite blind, and told me he was a catechist, which should have put me at my ease.

But his face went against me; it seemed dark and dangerous and secret; and presently, as we began to go on alongside, I saw the steel butt of a pistol sticking from under the flap of his coat-pocket.

To carry such a thing meant a fine of fifteen pounds sterling upon a first offence, and transportation to the colonies upon a second.

Nor could I quite see why a religious teacher should go armed, or what a blind man could be doing with a pistol.
I told him about my guide, for I was proud of what I had done, and my vanity for once got the heels of my prudence.

At the mention of the five shillings he cried out so loud that I made up my mind I should say nothing of the other two, and was glad he could not see my blushes.
"Was it too much ?" I asked, a little faltering.
"Too much!" cries he.