Dick o' the Fens: A Tale of the Great East Swamp by George Manville Fenn
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
THE MAN OF SUSPICION.
There was a good deal of inquiry made about the houghing of SquireWinthorpe's horses, and there was a great deal of excitement before thepoor beasts were skinned, for their hides to go to town to the tanyardand their carcasses were carted away.
People came from miles in all directions, including all the men who wereat work for Mr Marston--every one to stand and stare at the poor deadbeasts and say nothing.
Small farmers, fen-men, people from the town, folk from the shore wherethe cockle-beds lay, and the fisher-people who were supposed to liveupon very little fish and a great deal of smuggling.
Even Dave and John Warren punted themselves over, both looking yellowand thin, and so weak that they could hardly manage their poles; andthey too stared, the former frowning at the bull and shaking his head atthe horses, but wiping away a weak tear as he stood by the cow.
"Many's the drop of good fresh milk the missus has given me from her,Mester Dick," he said with a sigh; "and now theer's no cow, no milk, nonothing for a poor sick man. Hey, bud the ager's a sad thing when youhev it bad as this."
There was a visit from a couple of magistrates, who asked a great manyquestions, and left behind them a squinting constable, who took very badsnuff, and annoyed Dick by looking at him suspiciously, as if hebelieved him to be the cause of all the mischief. This man stopped inthe village at a cottage next to Hickathrift's, from which place he madelittle journeys in all directions, evidently full of the belief that hewas going to discover the people who did all this mischief in theneighbourhood.
This constable's name was Thorpeley, and he did a great deal of businesswith a brass box and a short black clay-pipe, in which he smoked shortblack tobacco.
"I don't know," said Dick one day as he stood with his arms folded,leaning upon Solomon, talking to Tom Tallington and staring at Thorpeleythe constable, who was leaning against a post smoking and staring withone eye at the fen, while with the other he watched the group of threein the Toft farm-yard.
"Well, I'm sure I don't," said Tom. "He never goes over to the town tobuy any."
"And Hicky says nobody fetches any for him, but he always seems to haveplenty though he hasn't any luggage or box or anything."
"No; I saw him come," said Tom. "He only had a small bundle in a redhandkerchief!"
"And he keeps on smoking from morning till night."
"And watching you!"
"Yes. He's always watching me," cried Dick in an aggrieved tone."Stand still, will you? Yes, you'd better! You kick, and I'll kickyou!"
This was to Solomon, who had hitched up his back in an arch, laid downhis ears, thrust his head between his fore-legs and his tail between hishind, giving himself the aspect of being about to reach under and bitethe tip of the said tail. But that was not the case, and Dick knew byexperience that all this was preparatory to a display of kicking.
Solomon may have understood plain English or he may not. This is amatter which cannot be decided. At all events he slowly raised his headand twisted his tail in a peculiar manner, stretched out his neck, andcocking his ears he sighed loudly a sigh like the fag-end of a longbray, all of which seemed to point to the fact that he felt himself tobe a slave in leathern chains, gagged with a rusty bit, and at the mercyof his master.
"Flies tease him," said Tom apologetically. "Poor old Sol!"
"Don't touch him!" cried Dick, "or he'll kick you."
"Poor old Sol!" said Tom again, and this time he approached the donkey'shead.
"Don't touch him, I tell you! He'll bite if you do! He's in a nastytemper because I would put on his bridle, and I was obliged to persuadehim to be quiet with a pitchfork handle."
"What a shame!" said Tom.
"Shame, eh! Just you look here," cried Dick, and down one of his coarseworsted stockings, he displayed a great bruise on his white leg. "Hedid that three days ago, and he tried to do it again this morning, onlyI was too quick for him."
"Haugh! haugh-h-haugh!" sighed Solomon in a most dismal tone.
"Says he's sorry for it!" cried Tom, grinning.
"Oh, very well then, I'm sorry I hit him with the pitchfork handle. Isay, Tom, I gave him such a whop!"
"Where did you hit him?"
"Where I could. You can't pick your place when you try to hit Solomon.You must look sharp or you'll get it first."
"But he wouldn't be so disagreeable if you were kind to him," said Tom."Poor old Sol, then!"
There was a sharp twist of the donkey's neck, and, quick as lightning,the fierce little animal made a grab at Tom. Fortunately he missed hisshoulder, but he got tightly hold of the sleeve of his coat, and held ontill Dick gave him a furious kick, when he let go.
"Kick him again, Dick!" cried Tom, who looked very pale. "Ugh! thetreacherous beast!"
"It's his nature," said Dick coolly, as he resumed his position andleaned over the donkey's back. "He always was so from a foal! Father'salways kind to dumb beasts, and feeds them well, and nurses them whenthey're ill; but he often gives Solomon a crack. I say, look at oldThorpeley; he's watching you now."
"He isn't; he's looking all round. I say, Dick, you can't tell where heis looking. I wonder what makes any one squint like that!"
"Had one of his eyes knocked out and put in again upside down," saidDick.
"Get out!" cried Tom.
"Haugh, haugh, haugh, haugh, haugh, haugh!" cried Solomon.
"There, he's laughing at you. I say, Dick, do you think he really doeswatch us?"
"Sure of it. He thinks I houghed the poor horses. I know he does, andhe expects to find out that I did it by following me about."
"How do you know he suspects you?"
"Because he is always asking questions about our window being open thatnight, and about how I found out there was something the matter with thepoor beasts. I say, Tom, I hate that fellow."
"So do I," said Tom in tones which indicated his loyalty to his friend."Let's serve him out!"
"Oh, but you mustn't! A constable is sworn in."
"What difference does that make?"
"I don't know, but he is; and he has a little staff in his pocket with abrass crown upon it, and he says, `In the king's name!'"
"Well, let him if he likes. The king in London can't know what we dodown here in the fen. I say, let's serve him out!"
"No," said Dick, "it might get father into trouble. I say, I know whatI'll do if you like."
"What, take him out in a boat and upset it?"
"No, lend him Solomon to ride!"
As he spoke Dick looked at Tom and Tom looked at Dick before they bothburst into a hearty fit of laughter.
"Here, let's get away. He's coming!"
Dick turned to go, but Solomon objected. Possibly he understood whathad been said. At all events he stood fast, and refused to move till,in obedience to a call from his friend, Tom took hold of the bridle anddragged, while Dick made a sudden rush behind, as if to deliver atremendous kick.
Solomon sighed and consented to move, and, evidently considering himselfmastered, he became amiable, made a playful attempt to bite, and thenstarted off at a canter.
"Jump on, Tom!" cried Dick.
The lad wanted no second invitation, but scuffled on to the donkey'sback as it went on, and the trio trotted along for about a hundredyards.
"Where shall we go?" cried Tom.
"Straight on. Let's see how Mr Marston's getting along. Here, youride on to the alders' corner and tie up Sol, and then go on."
"I say: here's the constable coming." Dick looked back and frowned.
"There, I told you so!" he cried. "It doesn't matter what I do, thatman watches me."
"He's only going for a walk."
"Going for a walk!" cried Dick fiercely; "he's following me. You'll seehe'll keep to me all the time. I should like to serve him out."
Tom was going to say something else, but his words were jerked out atrandom, and the next died away, for, as
The sudden spring he made produced such comical effects that DickWinthorpe stopped short in the rough track along the edge of the fen, tolaugh. For Tom Tallington had been seated carelessly on the donkey'sback right behind, and turned half round to talk to his companion. Theconsequence was that he was jerked up in the air, and came down again asif bound to slip off. But Tom and Dick had practised the art of ridingalmost ever since they could run alone, and in their early lessons onehad ridden astride the top bar of a gate hundreds of times, while theother swung it open and then threw it back, the great feat being to givethe gate a tremendous bang against the post, so as to nearly shake therider from his seat.
The jerk was unpleasant, at times even painful; but it taught the ladsto hold on with their legs, and made them better able to display theirprowess in other mounts which were tested from time to time.
They were not particular as to what they turned into a steed. Sometimesit was Farmer Tallington's Hips, the brindled cow, when she was fetchedfrom the end of the home close to be milked. This would have been oneof the calmest of rides, and afforded plenty of room for both boys toride Knight-Templar fashion, after old Sam had helped them on, but itwas not a ride much sought for, because Hips was not a mollusc. Quitethe contrary: she was a vertebrate animal, very vertebrate indeed, and aride on her back represented a journey upon the edge of a Brobdingnagianblunt saw, set up along a kind of broad lattice covered with a skin.
There was a favourite old sow at the Toft which was often put inrequisition, but she only carried one. Still it was a comfortable seat,only in the early days of the boys' life that pig's back was wont totickle; and then too she had a very bad habit.
Of course these rides were not had in the sty, nor yet in the farm-yard,but out along by the edge of the fen, and the enjoyment was nearlyperfect till it was brought to an end, always in the same way, as soonas a nice convenient shallow pool was encountered, for here LadyWinthorpe, as she was called, always lay down for a comfortable wallow,when it was no use to wait for another ride, for the seat became toowet.
Tallington's ram was splendid when he could be caught, which was notoften; but upon the rare occasions when he did fall captive to the boys'prowess, he had rather a trying time, considering how big he was, andhow thin his legs. But his back was beautiful. The wool formed amagnificent cushion, and a couple of locks could be grasped for securityby the rider, while the attendant, who waited his turn drove with abranch of furze or heather.
A pole across a stone wall was another splendid aid to horsemanship,see-saw fashion, or turned into a steed for one, by wedging the thickend into a hole and riding the thin end, spring fashion; while, as theyears rolled by and the boys were back from school, an occasional mountwas had upon Saxon, Tallington's old grey horse, falsely said to benearly two hundred. But if he was not, he looked it.
Of course it was pleasant to be seated on high upon his back, but theride was not exhilarating, for whether he was bound for the ploughedfields, or to harrow, or to fetch home a load, it seemed to make nodifference to Saxon, who always seemed to be examining the ground beforehim with his big dull eyes before he lifted a foot to set it down inadvance. He was a cautious beast, and this may have arisen from hishaving been often bogged. These rides were, then, not much soughtafter, and when Solomon was placed at Dick's disposal he was voted byfar the best, and the donkey was not long in finding that his youngmaster had learned how to ride; as, with his long head he debated how hemight best rid himself of such incubi as Dick and his friend.
All this is explanatory of the reason why Tom Tallington did not slipoff at Solomon's first bout, but kept on when he came down by hookinghimself, as it were, with his leg and gripping a piece of the donkey'sskin with his hand.
By these means he regained his perpendicular, but only for a moment,Solomon having at command a perfect battery of ruses for ridding himselfof a rider. No sooner was Tom upright than the donkey gave the whole ofhis skin and muscles a wrench sidewise, which felt as if the seat wasbeing dragged away.
The consequence was that Tom nearly went off to the right. He was toogood an assman, though, and by a dexterous gymnastic feat he draggedhimself once more upright, when Solemn-un's back suddenly grew round andbegan to treat Tom as if he were a ball. Now he was jerked up; now hewas jerked forward; now he was jerked back--bob--bob--bob--bob--till henearly went off over the tail. There was another bout of kicking, andaway went Tom again forward till he was a long way on toward thedonkey's neck, but only to shuffle himself back to the normal seat uponthe animal, after which, in token of defeat, Solomon went on out ofsight at a rapid canter, leaving Dick laughing till he had to wipe hiseyes.
"He will be so sore and so cross!" cried Dick, as he walked swiftly on;when, involuntarily turning his head, he saw that the constable wasfollowing him.
"The idiot!" cried the lad angrily. "Well, he shall have a run for it."
Setting his teeth and doubling his fists, he bent his head, and startedoff running as hard as he could go, with the result that as he was goingsomewhat after the fashion of a hare making use of his eyes to watch hispursuer, and not looking ahead, he suddenly went round a curve, rightinto Hickathrift's chest, and was caught and held by the bigwheelwright.
"Why, Mester Dick, what now?"
"Don't stop me, Hicky. I was running because that stupid constablefellow is after me."
"Hey, and what should make you run away from constable, lad?" saidHickathrift severely. "You've done nowt to be 'shamed on?"
"No, of course not!" cried Dick, shaking himself free. "Did you meetTom Tallington?"
"Ay, iver so far-off, trying to stop old Solomon, and he wouldn't stay."
Dick nodded and glanced at him; and then, as he ran on again, the ladground his teeth.
"It's a shame!" he cried. "Why, old Hicky thinks now that there'ssomething wrong. I'll serve that old stupid out for all this; see if Idon't!"
He ran on, getting very hot, and beginning now to abuse Tom Tallingtonfor going so far before he tied up; and at last saw the donkey browsingby the side of a tree, while Tom was well on along the track to thedrain, walking as fast as he could go.
Solomon pointed one ear at Dick, as he came up, but took no furthernotice, being engaged in picking nutriment out of some scraps of asunlikely looking vegetation as could be found in the fen. Perhaps itwas the thistly food he ate which had an effect upon his temper and madehim the awkward creature he had grown.
"My turn now," cried Dick, unfastening the rein, which was tightly tiedwith string to the stout stem of an alder.
Solomon had cocked one ear at his master as he came up. The animal nowlaid both ears down and began to back so rapidly along the road, keepingthe reins at their full stretch, that it was impossible to mount him,and it was evident that a long battle was beginning, in which the assmight win.
Dick, however, found an ally in the shape of Grip, Hickathrift'slurcher, who had been evidently off on some expedition upon his ownaccount, and was now hastening to overtake his master.
Solomon's attention was taken up by Dick, and he did not perceive Gripcoming up at full speed till, with a rush, the dog made a bound at him,and sent him towards Dick, who was dragging at the reins.
Grip seemed to enjoy the donkey's astonishment as it backed from him andthen wheeled sharply round to deliver a goodly kick; but before thiscould be planted satisfactorily, Dick had mounted and began tugging atthe reins and drumming with his heels in a way there was no resisting,so Solomon went off at a gallop and Grip followed his master.
At the end of a mile Tom had been passed, and Dick drew up by the firstscrubby willow he reached, to tie up the donkey and leave it for hisfriend; but a glance back showed him the constable returning toward theToft, so the boy stood leaning o
"I don't want to ride," he said to himself. "Tom can have the donkey,and I'll walk."
"Why didn't you go on?" cried Tom, as he came up with a very red face.
"Don't want to be alone," replied Dick lazily, as he gazed away over thewide-stretching fen-land with the moist air quivering in the glorioussunshine. "I say, Tom, what a shame it seems!"
"What seems a shame?"
"Corn-fields and pastures and orchards are all very well, but the oldfen does look so lovely now!"
"Yes, it does," said Tom; "and father's horribly sorry he joined in thedraining scheme. He says it's going to cost heaps of money, and then beno good. But come along."
"Where?" said Dick.
"I don't know. Where we're going."
"We're not going anywhere, are we?"
"Well, you are a fellow! Come galloping off here into the fen, and thensay you don't know where we're going!"
"I did it to get away from that Thorpeley. What shall we do?"
"Pst! Look there! What's that?"
"Snake!"
"No; it's an adder. Look!"
"'Tisn't," said Dick; "it's a snake. Adders aren't so long as that.No, no; don't throw at it. Let's see what it's going to do."
The reptile was crossing the track from a tuft of alders, and seemed tobe about three feet long and unusually thick, while, as it reached thedense heath and rushes, interspersed with grey coral moss on that side,it disappeared for a few moments, and they thought it had gone; butdirectly after it reappeared, gliding over a rounded tuft of bog-moss,and continued its way.
"Why, it's going to that pool!" cried Dick.
"To drink," said Tom. "No wonder. Oh, I am hot and thirsty! Here, Icould knock him over with a stone easily."
"Let him alone," said Dick, who had become interested in the snake'smovements. "How would you like to be knocked over with a stone?"
"I'm not a snake," said Tom, grinning.
"Look!" cried Dick, as the reptile reached the edge of one of the manydeep fen pools, whose amber-coloured water was so clear that thevegetation at the bottom could be seen plainly, and, lit up by thesunshine, seemed to be of a deep-golden hue across which every now andthen some armoured beetle or tiny fish darted.
To the surprise of both, instead of the snake beginning to drink, itwent right into the water, and, swimming easily and well, somewhat afterthe fashion of an eel, sent the water rippling and gleaming toward thesides.
"Look!" cried Tom. "Oh, what a bait for a pike!" For just then one ofthese fishes about a foot long rose slowly from where it had lainconcealed at the side, and so clear was the water that they could makeout its every movement.
"Pooh! a pike could not swallow a snake," said Dick, as the reptile swamon, and the pike slowly followed as if in doubt.
"Oh, yes, he could!" said Tom, "a bit at a time."
"Nonsense! Don't make a noise; let's watch. The snake's a yard long,and the pike only a foot. I say, can't the snake swim!"
It could unmistakably, and as easily as if it were quite at home,gliding along over the surface and sending the water rippling away inrings, while the little pike followed its movements a few inches fromthe top so quietly that the movements of its fins could hardly be madeout.
"Now he'll have him!" said Tom, as the snake reached the far side of thepool, raised its head, darted out its tongue, and then turned and swamback toward the middle, glistening in the sun and seeming to enjoy itsbath.
But Tom was wrong; the pike followed closely, evidently watching itsstrange visitor, but making no effort to seize it, and at last, quiteout of patience, the lads made a dash forward.
The result was a swirl in the water, and the fish had gone to somelurking-place among the water plants, while the snake made a dive, andthey traced its course right to the bottom, where it lay perfectlystill.
They sat down to wait till it came up, but after a time, during whichTom had lamented sorely that he had not killed the snake, which seemedcomfortable enough in its prolonged dive, they both grew tired, andreturned to where Solomon stood making good use of his time and browsingupon everything which seemed to him good to eat.
"Here, let's go and see how they're getting on with the drain," saidDick.
"But we're always going to see how they're getting on with the drain,"grumbled Tom.
"Never mind! Mr Marston may have had something else dug up."
"I don't want to see any more old boats; and as for that other thing--Ugh!"
"Never mind! Come along! Perhaps they've found something else."
"Don't believe it. Are you going to ride?"
"No; you can ride," said Dick. "I'll walk."
The heat of the day seemed to make the boys silent as they walked androde in turn, gazing longingly the while over the spreading poolsglistening in the sunshine, with the dragon-flies glancing here andthere upon their gauzy wings which rustled and thrilled as they dartedand turned in their wonderful flight, chasing their unfortunate wingedprey. Every now and then a beautiful swallow-tail butterfly, plentifulonce in these regions, flitted by, inviting pursuit where pursuit wasimpossible; while from the waving beds of giant grass which rose fromthe water and now began to show their empurpled heads, came thechattering of the reed-birds, as if in answer to the chirping of thecrickets in the crisp dark heath.
"Look at the bulrushes, Tom!" said Dick lazily. And he nodded in thedirection of a patch of the tall, brown, poker-like flowers and leavesof the reed-mace.
"Oh, yes, look at them!" said Tom sourly. "What a shame it is that weweren't born with wings! Everything grows where you can't get at it.If there's a good nest, it's surrounded by water."
"Like an island," assented Dick.
"The best butterflies are where you can't get them without you go in aboat."
"You can't catch butterflies out of a boat," said Dick contemptuously.
"You could, if you poled it along fast enough. Here, you jump on now.What a hot back old Solomon has got!"
"I daresay he thinks you've got horribly hot legs," said Dick, laughing."Here, come along quick!"
"What for?"
"Can't you see!" cried Dick, starting off in the direction of where themen were at work; "there's something the matter."
Certainly something did seem to be wrong, for the men were hurryingalong the black embankment of the great drain in the direction of thesea; and as the boys reached the spot where the digging had been goingon, the explanation was plain.
The last time they were there, the men were at work in the bottom of theoozy dike, where a little water lay, soaked out of the sides; but now,right away to the flood-gates, there was a glistening lane of water, theopen ditch resembling a long canal in which a barge could have beensailed.
"There isn't anything the matter," said Tom. "They've let the water into try how it goes."
But when at last they reached the sea end, it was to find Mr Marstonvery busy with his men closing the great gates to keep out the tide,which had risen high and threatened to flood a good deal of low-lyingground. For probably by carelessness the sluice-gate down by the seahad been left open, and the tide had come up and drowned the works.
The two lads stood looking on for some time, until the gates wereclosed, and then, as the men sauntered away to their lodgings, MrMarston joined them.
"What did you fill the dike for, Mr Marston?" said Dick.
"Yes: wasn't it to try how it would go?"
"No," said the young engineer. "I did not want it filled. The gateswere left open."
"And what are you going to do now?"
"Wait till the tide's down, so that we can open them and let the waterrun off."
"You can't do anything till then?"
"We could begin digging farther on," said Mr Marston; "but as the tidewill soon be going down I shall wait. It is a great nuisance, but Isuppose I must have some accidents."
The lads stayed with him all the afternoon, waiting till the tide hadturne
It was very simple, for as soon as the tide was low enough the water ranrapidly from the drain; and that evening the gates were closed tightlyto keep out the next rise, the great dike being quite empty.
The engineer walked back with the boys, for there was no riding. Theyhad left Solomon tethered where he could get a good feed of grass andtender shoots; but upon reaching the spot when they were ready to returnthere was the tethering line gnawed completely through, and the donkeywas out of sight.
"Not taken away?" said Mr Marston.
"No: he has gone home," said Dick. "That rope wasn't thick enough tohold him. I thought he would get away."
"Then why not have asked me for a thicker rope, Dick?"
"What's the good! If I had tied him there with a thicker rope, he'dhave bitten through the bridle. He wanted to go back home, and when hedoes, he will go somehow."
"He seems a wonderful beast," said Mr Marston, smiling.
"I don't know about being wonderful. He's a rum one, and as cunning asa fox. Why, he'll unfasten any gate to get into a field, and he'll getout too. He unhooks the doors and lifts the gates off the hinges, andone day he was shut up in the big barn, and what do you think he did?"
"I know," said Tom; "jumped out of the window."
"Yes, that he did," said Dick. "He climbed up the straw till he got tothe window, and then squeezed himself through."
That evening, after tea, the squire was seated in the orchard where thestone table had been built up under the big gnarled apple-tree, and theengineer was talking to him earnestly as Dick came up from going part ofthe way home with his companion.
"Shall I go away, father?" asked the lad, as he saw how serious hisfather looked.
"No, my boy, no. You are getting old enough now to think seriously; andthis draining business will be more for you than for myself--better foryour children than for you. Mr Marston has some more ugly news aboutthe work."
"Ugly news, father?"
"Yes, Dick," said Mr Marston; "that was no accident this afternoon, buta wilful attempt made by some miserably prejudiced person to destroy ourwork."
"But it did no harm, Mr Marston."
"No, my boy; but the ignorant person who thrust open that gate hoped itwould. If it had been a high-tide and a storm, instead of stopping ourwork for a few hours he might have stopped it for a few weeks."
"And who do you think it was?" asked Dick.
"Someone who hates the idea of the drain being made. I have seen theconstable, Mr Winthorpe," continued Marston.
"Well, and what does he say?"
"That he thinks he knows who is at the bottom of all these attacks."
"And whom does he suspect?" cried Dick excitedly.
"He will not say," replied the engineer. "He only wants time, and thenhe is going to lay his hand upon the offender."
"Or offenders," said the squire drily.
"Yes, of course," said the engineer; "but the mischief is doubtlessstarted by one brain; those who carry it out are only the tools."
Mr Marston had come with the intention of staying for the night at theToft; and after a ramble round the old orchard and garden, and some talkof a fishing expedition into the wilder parts of the fen "some day whenhe was not so busy," supper was eaten, and in due time Dick went to bed,to stand at his window listening to the sounds which floated off themere, and at last to throw himself upon his bed feeling hot and feverishwith his thoughts.
"I wish Tom was here to talk to," he said to himself. "But if I didtalk to him about it he'd only laugh. That constable thinks I'm at thebottom of it all, and that I set the people to do these things, and he'strying to make Mr Marston believe it, and it's too bad!"
He turned over upon one side, but it was no more comfortable than theother; so he tried his back, but the bed, stuffed as it was with thesoftest feathers from the geese grown at the farm, felt hard and thorny;there was a singing and humming noise made by the gnats, and the animalsabout the place were so uneasy that they suggested the idea of somethingwrong once more.
Then at last a drowsy sensation full of restfulness began to come overthe weary lad, and he was fast dropping off to sleep,when--_Cock-a-doodle-doo_!
A shrill and sonorous challenge came from one of the lodges, which madeDick start and throw one leg out of bed, sit up, and throw himself downagain.
"Ugh! you stupid!" he cried angrily. "I don't believe I've been asleepyet."
He seized his pillow, gave it a few savage punches, and lay down again,but only to find himself more wakeful than ever, with the unpleasantfeeling that he was suspected of fighting against his father's plans;and after turning the matter over and over, and asking himself whetherhe should go straight to his father in the morning and tell him, orwhether he should make Mr Marston his confidant, he came to theconclusion that he should not like to, for it might make themsuspicious, and think that he really was concerned in the case.
Then he resolved to tell Hickathrift and ask his advice, or Dave, orJohn Warren.
Lastly, he resolved to tell his mother; and as he thought of how shewould take his hand and listen to him attentively, and give him the bestof counsel, he asked himself why he had not thought of her before.
But he grew more hot and uncomfortable, thinking till his troubled brainseemed to get everything in a knot, and he had just come to theconclusion that he would say nothing to anybody, for the constable'ssuspicions were not worth notice, when there was a sharp rap on thefloor as if something had fallen, and he lay listening with every senseon the strain.
He had not long to wait, for from beneath his window came a low familiarwhistle.
"Why, it's Tom!" he thought, starting up in bed; and as he was in theact of gliding out, a second thought troubled him--Tom there in themiddle of the night! And if the squire heard him he would believe theywere engaged in some scheme.
"Tom!" he whispered, as he leaned out of the open window.
"Yes. May I come up?"
"No, don't. What do you want? Why have you come over?"
"Nobody knows I've come. I got out of the bed-room window and ranacross."
"What for?"
"I can't tell you down here, Dick; I must come up."
He ran away softly over the grass, and came back in a few minutes withone of the short ladders, of whose whereabouts he knew as well as Dick,and planting it against the window-sill, he ran up and thrust in hishead.
"I say, Dick," he whispered, "I couldn't sleep to-night, and I went tothe window and looked out."
"So did I. Well, what of that? Here, be quick and go, or father willhear you, and we shall get into trouble."
"There's going to be something done to-night."
"What! the horses again, or a fire?"
"I don't know, only I'm sure I saw two men creep along on their handsand knees down to the water."
"Pigs," said Dick, contemptuously.
"They weren't. Think I can't tell a man from a pig!"
"Not in the dark."
"I tell you they were men."
"Pigs!"
"Men! and they went down to the water."
"To drink, stupid! They were pigs! They look just like men crawling inthe dark!"
"Pigs don't get in punts and pole themselves along the mere!"
"You didn't see two men get in a punt and pole themselves along!"
"No, but I heard them quite plain."
"Well, and suppose you did, what then?"
"I don't know. Only I couldn't sleep, and I was obliged to come over toyou."
"And wake me out of a beautiful sleep! What was that you threw in?"
"Stone!"
"Then now go back, and don't come here in the night to get me intotrouble! What's the good of going and dreaming such stuff and thencoming along the dark road to tell me? What's that?"
Tom was going to say _lightning_ as a brilliant flash made their facesquite plain for a moment, but before he co
"Why, it's out at sea," said Tom in a whisper. "It can't be a wreck!"
"I know!" cried Dick excitedly. "Smugglers and a king's ship!"
Just then a window was heard being opened, and the squire's voicespeaking to Mrs Winthorpe.
"I don't know," he said; "sounded like a gun. That you, Marston?" hecried aloud as another window was thrown open.
"Yes. Did you hear a report?"
"Yes. Like a gun out at sea."
"I heard a slight noise a little while ago, and I was listening when Isaw a flash and heard the report. Mr Winthorpe, I'm afraid there'ssomething wrong again."
"No, no, man!"
"I'm afraid I must say, Yes, sir. That sound was not off the sea, butmuch nearer the house. Who's that?"
"Hallo! who's on that ladder?" cried the squire, turning sharply roundat the engineer's query. "Tom Tallington?"
"Yes, sir," faltered Tom.
"What are you doing here, sir? Is Dick there?"
"Yes, father."
"What's the meaning of this, sir?"
"We saw a flash, father, and heard a report!"
"Where?" cried Mr Marston.
"I think it must have been close to the outfall of the big drain,father."
"There! you hear," said Mr Marston in a low voice. "There is somethingwrong!"
"Stop a moment," said the squire sternly. "You, Tom Tallington, why areyou there?"
"Tell him, Tom," said Dick in a low voice.
"Speak out, sir," cried the squire. "What are you whispering there,Dick?"
"I was asking him to tell you, father," faltered Dick; for their beingcaught like this a second time, and the feeling that he was suspected,troubled the lad sorely at that moment.
"Once more, then, my lad," said the squire. "Why are you here?"
"I came to tell Dick, sir, that I had seen two men come from the townway past our place, and that I heard them get into a boat and go awayacross the mere."
"You saw that?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, what of it? Why did you come and tell Dick that?"
"Because I thought there was something wrong, sir."
"You hear?" said Mr Marston again.
"Yes, I hear," muttered the squire, "but I don't like it. These boysknow more than they care to say."
The squire's window was heard to shut, and his heavy footstep soundedloudly on the floor in the silence of the night, while the two ladsstood listening.
"What shall we do, Dick?"
"I'm going to dress," was the reply; and the speaker began to hurry onhis things. "You had better go home."
"No," said Tom sturdily; "if I've got you into a hobble I'll stand byyou. But I didn't mean any harm."
Five minutes later all were standing down in the great stone porch, thesquire with a stout staff and Mr Marston similarly armed.
The squire looked very hard at the two lads, but he did not speak.Still there was something in his glance, dimly seen though it was in thestar-light, which made Dick wince. It was as if something had risen upbetween father and son; and, rightly or wrongly the lad felt that hisfather was looking upon him with doubt.
At the end of a few moments Dick mastered his awkwardness, and spoke tohis father as the latter came down from saying a few parting words toMrs Winthorpe.
"Shall I come with you, father--I mean, shall we?"
"If you like," said the squire coldly. "Come, Marston."
Dick made a movement to speak to the latter, but he was staring straightout across the fen in the direction of the draining works, and frettingwith impatience at the delay.
The next minute a start was made, and the boys were left behind.
"Mr Marston might have said come," said Tom in a low sulky voice.
"They both think we've been at some mischief," said Dick sadly.
"Then don't let's go with them. I should have liked to go though."
"And so we will," cried Dick angrily. "We'll go and show them thatwe're not afraid to face anybody. I wish people wouldn't be sosuspicious."
"So do I," cried Tom. "But I say, Dick, it does look suspicious whenyou're found getting into anybody's house in the middle of the nightwith a ladder."
"Well, I suppose it does," replied Dick thoughtfully.
"Why, my father would have shot at anybody he saw climbing in. I say,are we going?"
"Yes, come along," cried Dick; and the two lads started off at a rapidpace, following in the tracks of the squire and the engineer, whosevoices could be heard in a low murmur now some way ahead.
The night was glorious, and the stars were reflected in the face of themere, whose black smooth waters seemed to form an inverted curve tocomplete the arch of spangled glory overhead. From far and near camethe many sounds peculiar to the wild fen, while every now and then therewas a solitary splash, or perhaps a loud flapping and beating of thewater following closely upon the whistling and whirring of wings.
The lads had an hour's walk before them, and if they wished to keep upwith those in front, an arduous and sharp walk, for it soon becameevident that they were hurrying on at a great rate.
"We shall have to run directly," said Dick, after they had been going onfor about twenty minutes. "Hist! what did Mr Marston say?"
"That he must have been mad to stop away from his lodgings to-night,"whispered Tom, who had been a little in advance on the narrow path."Here, what's that?"
"Somebody on the mere," cried Dick excitedly. "Hi! ho!"
"Hi! ho!" came from out of the darkness where the splashing of water hadbeen heard, accompanied by the peculiar sliding sound made by drawing apole over the edge of a boat.
"That you, Dave?"
"Yes, Mester Dick. Hear a noise?"
"Yes. Did you?"
"Something like thunder, and it wakkened me. I think it weer afireball."
These words were shouted as the man forced the punt along rapidly, tillit was abreast of the rough road track which ran along by the edge ofthe mere.
"Wheer are you going?" cried Dave as soon as he came close up.
"Down to the drain-works," said Tom.
"Think it fell theer?" asked Dave.
"Yes: there was a flash of light went up."
"Hey, bud I'll come wi' you," said Dave earnestly. "I'd best land here,for I can't get much farther."
For thereabouts the track went wide of the edge of the mere, and Davewas just landing, talking volubly the while, as the squire and MrMarston pressed on, leaving them behind, when there came another hailoff the water.
"Why, it's John Warren!" cried Tom.
"What's matter?"
"We dunno, lad," shouted back Dave. "Fireball come down, I think."
"That all?" said the rabbit-catcher. "Any mischief? Don't see nofire."
"Nay, bud we don't know," replied Dave. "Squire and engineer chap's onahead, and we're going to see. Coming?"
"Nay, I'm going back to bed again. Busy day wi' me to-morrow. I thowtsomeone was killed."
There was a faint glimpse of the man and his boat seen for a moment, andthe water flashed in the rays of the stars as he turned; then his voicewas heard muttering, and the splash of his pole came more faintly, whileDave secured and stepped out of the boat, to burst out suddenly in hisgrating unmusical laugh.
"He, he, he! His, hec, hac! Seems straange and disappointed, lads.Talks as if he wanted someone killed. Now, then, come on."
By this time the squire and Mr Marston were a long way ahead, and Tomproposed a run to overtake them.
"Ay, run, lads. Keep up a trot. Dessay I shall be clost behind."
"Come along!" cried Dick; and they started off along the track, withDave increasing his stride and seeming to skim without effort over theground, his long wiry legs and great strength enabling him to keep upwith the boys, who, whenever they looked back, found
"You needn't mind about me, lads," he said with a chuckle; "I sha'n't befar."
They were rapidly gaining upon those in front; knowing this fact fromthe murmur of their voices as they kept up an animated discussion, when,all at once, it seemed as if the squire had begun to talk much morerapidly, and that Mr Marston was replying to him at a terrible rate,their voices becoming blurred and confused, as it were, when Dickrealised what it meant.
"There's a party of the drain-men coming. Let's run!"
Dick was right, and five minutes after, he and his companions had joineda group gathered round Mr Marston, while Bargle, the big labourer, wastalking.
"Ay, mester, we _all_ tumbled out, and went away down to the gaats assoon as we'd tumbled out, and they're all knocked down and the waterin."
"Knocked down!" cried the squire.
"Ay," cried another of the men, "far as we could see; one's smashed tobits, and brickwork's all ploughed up."
"Come along!" said the engineer. "Two of you run on first and getlanthorns."
The big labourer and another went off back with a heavy trot, and theparty were advancing again when a heavy step was heard behind.
"Who's that?" said Tom.
"Me, lad, me," came back in the thick hearty voice of the wheelwright."What's amiss?"
They told him.
"I was straange and fast asleep," he said, "and didn't hear nowt; but mymissus wakkened me, and I come on."
"Ay, bud it wakkened me, neighbour," said Dave, who was busyadministering to himself a pill. "I've slep' badly since I had thatlast touch of ager, and I thowt some un was broosting in the wall, andas soon as I jumped up and looked out, the plaace seemed alive, for allthe birds in the fen were flying round and round, and you could heartheir wings whistling as they flew away. I was scarred."
Half an hour later they were picking their way along the embankment atthe side of the great drain, now once more filled with salt water, whilewhen they reached the mouth, where a peculiar dank saline odour wasperceptible, the two men who had been flitting before them withlanthorns like a couple of will-o'-the-wisps, went cautiously down thecrumbling bank, followed by the engineer, and the mischief done was atonce plain to see.
Apparently a powerful blast of powder had been placed in the hollow ofthe stone-work, where the mechanism for opening and closing the greatsluice-gates was fixed, and the result of the explosion was a huge chasmin the stone, and one of the gates blown right off, leaving the way forthe water free.
A dead silence fell upon the group as the engineer took one of thelanthorns and carefully examined the damage, the squire holding theother light, and peering forward in the darkness till the engineerclimbed back to his side.
"They've managed it well," he said bitterly.
"Well!" cried the squire angrily. "I'm not a harsh man, but I'd give ahundred pounds down to see the wretch who did this lying dead in theruins."
"Ay, mester," said Hickathrift in a low hoarse voice; "it be a shaame.Will it spoil the dreern, and stop all the work?"
"Ay," said Dave, as he stood leaning upon his pole, which he had broughtover his shoulder; "will it stop dreern?"
The two lads leaned forward to hear the answer, and there was a peculiarsolemnity in the scene out there in the wild place in the darkness,merely illumined by the two lanthorns.
"Stop the drain!" exclaimed the squire hoarsely, and in a voice full ofrage.
"No, my men," said the engineer coolly. "It will make a job for thecarpenters and the masons; but if the madman, or the man with the brainsof a mischievous monkey, thinks he is going to stop our great enterpriseby such an act as this, he is greatly mistaken. You, Bargle, be here tomeet me at daylight with a double gang. Get the piles up here at once,and if we work hard we can have the piles in and an embankment up beforethe next tide. A few days' hindrance, Mr Winthorpe, that's all."
The men broke into a cheer, in which Dave and Hickathrift joined; and asnothing more could be done, the little crowd separated, the men goingslowly back to their huts, while the squire and Marston made for thetrack so as to return, talking earnestly the while.
"You talked as if the thing were a trifle," said the squire angrily."It will cost us hundreds!"
"Yes, but it might cost us thousands if we let the scoundrels know howbig a breach they have made in our works, and they would renew theattack at once."
"Hah, there's something in that!" said the squire, drawing his breath inangrily through his teeth. "If I only knew who was at the bottom of it!Marston, it must be the work of a gang among your men."
"Think so?" said the engineer quietly.
"I do."
"But why should my men do such a dastardly act?"
"To make the job last longer."
"Nonsense, my dear sir! We have work before us that will last us foryears, for this drain is only the first of many."
"Then who is it--who can it be?"
"I think I've got an insight to-night," said Marston. "Tom Tallingtonsaw a couple of men coming along the road and creep to the edge of themere."
"True! I had forgotten that," said the squire sharply.
"And that shows us that our enemies belong to a party somewhere at adistance, and that we should be wasting time in searching here. Hallo!who's this?"
The exclamation was caused by the appearance of a dark figure comingtowards them from the direction of the Toft.
"Why, it's Thorpeley, the constable!" said Dick in a whisper to hiscompanion.
"Oh, it's you!" said the squire gruffly. "Pity you weren't down heresooner."
"Has it been an explosion, sir?" said the constable in a smooth unctuousvoice.
"Yes," said the squire abruptly, and he walked on with the engineer.
"Ah, I was going on to see!" said the constable; "but as you're allgoing back, I'll go back too."
No one spoke, but all walked on in silence, for the man's coming seemedto have damped the conversation; but the opportunity for making himselfheard and showing his importance was not to be ignored.
"They're very clever," he said in a high voice, so that the squire andMr Marston, who were in front, could hear; "but I've got my hye uponthem."
"Why didn't you ketch 'em, then, 'fore they did this here?" said Davewith a little laugh.
"Ay, why didst thou not stop this?" growled Hickathrift.
"Because the thing was not quite ripe. I shall tak' 'em yet red-handed,and then--"
He paused and rubbed his hands.
"What then?" asked Dave.
"Transportation or hanging--one of them," said the constable with achuckle.
"Ay, but you heven't found 'em yet," said Dave, shaking his head.
"Nay, bud I can put my hand on 'em pretty well when I like."
"Wheer are they, then?" said Hickathrift excitedly.
"Ay, wheer are they?" said the constable. "Going about stealthily of anight, creeping behind hedges, and carrying messages one to the other.I know! They think no one suspects them, and that they're going to bepassed over, but I'm set here to find them out, and I've nearly gotthings ready."
"Look here, my man," said the engineer, stopping short; "can you say forcertain who's at the bottom of this mischief?"
"Mebbe I can, sir."
"Then who was it?"
"Nay," said the constable with a little laugh; "if theer's going to beany credit for takkin of 'em, I mean to hev it, and not give it over tosomeone else."
"Pish!" ejaculated the squire angrily; "come along! The man knowsnothing."
"Mebbe not," said the constable with a sneer. "Mebbe if people treatedpeople proper, and asked them to their house, and gave 'em a lodging anda bit of food, things might hev been found out sooner; but some peoplethinks they know best."
The squire understood the hint, but he scorned to notice it, and went ontalking sternly to the engineer; but Thorpeley was not to be put downlike that, for he continued:
"Mebbe theer's people in it--old people and young
"Look here," said Dick boldly, "if my father won't speak, I will. Doyou mean to say you believe Tom Tallington and I know anything aboutthese cowardly tricks?"
"Nay, I'm not going to show my hand," said the man. "Wait a bit, andyou'll see."
"No; you speak out now," cried Dick. "I won't be suspected by any man.Do you mean to say Tom Tallington and I know?"
"Nay, I shall na speak till proper time comes. I know what I know, andI know what I've seen, and when time comes mebbe I shall speak, and notbefore."
"He don't know anything," cried Tom, laughing. "He's a regular sham."
"Nay, I don't know as boys steals out o' windows at nights, and goescreeping along in the dark, and playing their games as other people getsthe credit on. I don't know nothing. Oh, no!"
"Why, you cowardly--"
Dick did not finish his speech, for at that moment Hickathrift stretchedout one of his great arms, and his big hand closed with a mighty grip onthe constable's shoulder, making the man utter a sharp ejaculation.
"That'll do," he growled. "Yow shoot thee neb. Man as says owt againMester Dick here's saying things agen me."
"What do you mean?" cried the constable. "Are you going to resist thelaw?"
"Nay, not I," said Hickathrift. "I am a good subject o' the king's.God bless him! But if yow says owt more again Mester Dick, I'll takethee by the scruff and pitch thee right out yonder into the bog."
"Ay," snarled Dave, spitting in his hands and giving his staff a twist;"and I'll howd him down till he says he's sorry."
How the constable was to beg Dick's pardon when held down under theblack ooze and water of the mere was not very evident; but the threathad a good effect, for the man stared from one of the speakers to theother, and held his peace till they reached the Toft.
The explosion proved to have done more mischief than was at firstsupposed, and necessitated the taking down of all one side of the gowtand the making of a new sluice door. It was all plain enough, as theengineer had surmised upon the first inspection: a heavy charge ofpowder had been lowered down by the miscreants who were fighting againstthe project, and they had probably used a long fuse sufficient to enablethem to get far enough away before the explosion.
What followed was, however, quite enough to daunt the most determinedfoe, for in place of disheartening the engineer, the mishap seemed tospur him on to renewed exertions. He was on the spot by daybreak, andbefore long a strong dam was made across, to prevent the entrance of thesea-water; the drain was emptied, and while one gang was engaged intaking down the ruined side of the gowt, the rest of the men went onwith the delving, as if nothing had happened, and the dike increased.
Dick and Tom were down at the works directly after breakfast, but MrMarston took very little notice of them, and it seemed to Dick that theengineer shared the squire's doubts.
The consequence was, that, being a very natural boy, who, save when atschool, had led rather a solitary life, finding companionship in TomTallington and the grown-up denizens of the fen, Dick, who was by nomeans a model, turned sulky, and shrank within his metaphorical shell.
"I sha'n't go begging him to talk to me if he doesn't like," he said toTom; "and if my father likes to believe I would do such things I shallgo."
"Go where?" said Tom, looking at him wonderingly.
"I don't know--anywhere. I say, let's find an island and build a hut,and go there whenever we like."
"But where?--out in the sea somewhere?"
"No, no, I mean such a place as Dave's and John Warren's. You and Icould retreat there whenever we liked."
Tom stared, and did not seem to grasp the idea for a few minutes; thenhis eyes brightened.
"Why, Dick," he cried, "that would be glorious! We could catch andshoot birds, and have our own fire, and no one could get to us."
"Without a boat," said Dick slowly.
"I'd forgotten that," said Tom thoughtfully. "How could we get there,then?"
"We'd borrow Hicky's punt till we had built one for ourselves."
"But could we build one?"
"Of course we could, or make one of skins, or a raft of reeds. Thereare lots of ways."
"But what will your father say?"
"I don't know," said Dick dolefully; "he thinks I'm fighting againsthim, so I suppose he'll be glad I've gone."
"But how about your mother?"
Dick paused a few moments before answering.
"I should tell her as a secret, and she'd help me, and lend me things weshould want. I don't care to be at home now, with everybody looking atone as if there was something wrong."
"I don't think my father would let me go," said Tom thoughtfully, "andI'm sure my mother wouldn't; and I say, Dick, isn't it all nonsense?"
"I don't think it's nonsense," said Dick, who was taking a very morbidview of matters, consequent upon a mistaken notion of his father's ideasand thoughts at that time, and matters were not improved by aconversation which ensued in the course of the next day.
Dick was in the garden with Tom, paying court to the gooseberry trees,for though fruit by no means abounded there, the garden always supplieda fair amount of the commoner kinds, consequent upon the shelterafforded from the north and bitter easterly sea-winds by the oldbuildings which intervened.
"Here, I want to talk to you two," said the squire; and he led the wayinto the house, where Mrs Winthorpe was seated at work, and, probablyby a preconcerted arrangement, to Dick's great disgust she rose and leftthe room.
"Now," said the squire, "I don't like for there to be anything betweenus, Dick; and as for you, Tom Tallington, I should be sorry to thinkanything about you but that you were a frank, straightforward companionfor my son."
"I'm sure, sir--" blundered out Tom.
"Wait a minute, my lad. I have not done. Now, I'm going to ask you aplain question, both of you, and I want a frank, manly answer. Butbefore I ask it, I'm going to say a few words."
He drew his tobacco-jar towards him, and took down his pipe, carefullyfilled it, and laid it down again.
"Now, look here," he said. "I'm a great believer in keeping faith andbeing true to one another, and looking down with contempt upon atale-bearer, or one who betrays a secret. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," said Tom, for Dick felt that he could not speak. "You mean,sir, that you don't like a sneak."
"That's it," said the squire; "but I should have liked to hear you saythat, Dick. However, that is what I mean. There are times, though,when lads have been led into connections where things are done of whichthey are heartily ashamed. They have joined in them from the idea thatit was a good bit of fun, or that there was some injustice beingperpetrated, and they have, as they think, joined the weaker side. ButI want you both to see that in such cases as we have had lately it wouldbe weak and criminal to keep silence from the mistaken notion that itwould be cowardly to speak, and betraying friends."
Dick's face was scarlet, and his bosom swelled with emotion as he feltchoked with indignation at his father suspecting him, while he changedcountenance the more as he saw his father watching him keenly. In factthe more innocent Dick strove to look the worse he succeeded, and thesquire seemed troubled as he went on.
"Now, my lads, as you are well aware, there are some cowardly outragesbeing perpetrated from time to time; and I want you to answer me atonce--do you either of you know anything whatever about the persons whohave done these things?"
"No," said Tom at once; and the squire turned to Dick.
"Now, my boy," he said, "why don't you speak?"
Dick felt as if he would choke, and with his morbid feeling increasing,he said in a husky voice:
"No, father, I do not know anything either."
"On your honour, Dick?" said his father, gazing at him searchingly.
"On my honour, father."
"That will do," said the squire in a short decisive tone. "I must ownthat I thought you two
"Father doesn't believe me," said Dick bitterly as soon as they werealone.
"Nonsense!" cried Tom. "Why, he said he did."
"Yes, but I could see it in his eyes that he did not I know his looks sowell, and it does seem so hard."
As if to endorse Dick's fancy, the squire passed them an hour afterwardsin the garden and there was a heavy frown upon his countenance as heglanced for a moment at his son, who was, of course, perfectly ignorantof the fact that his father was so intent upon the troubles connectedwith the drain, and the heavy loss which would ensue if the schemefailed, that he did not even realise the presence of his boy.
It was enough, though, for Dick; and he turned to his companion.
"There," he said, "what did I tell you? Father doesn't believe me. ButI know what I'll do."
"What will you do--run away from home?" said Tom.
"Like a coward, and make him feel sure that I knew all this and told alie. No, I won't. I'll just show him."
"Show him what?"
"That I'm innocent."
"Yes, that's all very well; but how are you going to do it?"
"Find out the people and let him see."
"Yes, but how?" cried Tom eagerly, as he knocked an apple off one of thetrees and tried to take a bite, but it was so hard and green that hejerked it away.
"I don't know yet; but someone does all these cowardly things, and Imean to find it out before I've done."
"Oh, I am disappointed!" said Tom dolefully.
"Disappointed! Why? Won't you help me?"
"Yes, I will. But I thought we were going to find an island of our ownsomewhere out in the mere, where no one ever goes, and have no end offun."
"And so we will," said Dick eagerly. "We could keep it secret, andthere would be the sort of place to be and watch."
"What, out there?"
"To be sure! Whoever does all this mischief comes in a boat, I'm sureof that, and he wouldn't suspect us of watching, and so we could catchhim."
Tom screwed up his face in doubt, but the idea of starting a sort ofhome out there in the middle of the wild fen-land had its fascinations,and the plan was discussed for long enough before they parted that day.