My time is up. Master, hand me over double wages,
and come into the next room, and lay yourself out like a man that has
some decency in him, till I take a strip of skin an inch broad from
your shoulder to your hip."
Every one shouted out against that; but, says Jack, "You didn't hinder
him when he took the same strips from the backs of my two brothers,
and sent them home in that state, and penniless, to their poor
mother."
When the company heard the rights of the business, they were only too
eager to see the job done. The master bawled and roared, but there was
no help at hand. He was stripped to his hips, and laid on the floor
in the next room, and Jack had the carving-knife in his hand ready to
begin.
"Now you cruel old villain," said he, giving the knife a couple of
scrapes along the floor: "I'll make you an offer. Give me, along with
my double wages, two hundred guineas to support my poor brothers, and
I'll do without the strip."
"No!" said he, "I'd let you skin me from head to foot first."
"Here goes, then," said Jack with a grin; but the first little scar he
gave, Churl roared out, "Stop your hand; I'll give the money."
"Now, neighbors," said Jack, "you mustn't think worse of me than I
deserve.
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