Part 19 (2/2)

”Mr Woodc.o.c.k at once thought of me, as he knows that no one loves the young Squire better; and so he sent for me, and told the old dame that I was the man he would send, and that he was sure you, Master Haviland, would wish to go also. She seemed well satisfied at this, and then went on to tell me what to do.

”'A mile to the west of Osberton, in Luccombe Cove, there's a fisherman's cottage, close down to the beach,' said she; 'there's no other near. You'll find an old man there. Ask for Jem the Spotsman.

Say that I sent you to him. Tell him that if he shows you where the young Squire is you'll give him five golden guineas. He'll not do it for less. If he says he knows nothing about the matter, tell him that the beaks will be on him, and that he'd better do as I bid him. If you can get another fearless man to go with you it may be better. Jem will lead you to a strange place, where you'll meet strange people. Speak them fair; you'll not do much by force. Tell them that you've plenty of friends at your back, who know where you are, and will come and look for you if you don't soon return to them. I tell you this because I don't want any more mischief to come out of the matter. Again I say, you mustn't lose time. It's just possible that, even now, you may be too late, and that the lad is on his way to far distant lands. That's no fault of mine, remember. Those who have got him may be thinking of taking him, or they may not. It is not very likely that they will be wis.h.i.+ng to send him back after they have shown him their hiding-place, and let him into other of their secrets.'

”I didn't stop to hear more, but I just got a couple of brace of pistols, and came away at once to overtake you. We might have ridden all the way into Osberton, but Mr Woodc.o.c.k cautioned me to go in quietly, lest the smugglers or the people, whoever they are, who have got Master Digby, should hear of our coming, and suspecting treachery, should carry him off elsewhere.”

”I am rejoiced to hear what you tell me,” exclaimed Arthur, when John Pratt had finished his account. It is impossible, by the by, to do justice to the quaint and thoroughly provincial way in which he expressed himself; so that Arthur at times could scarcely understand him. ”There can be but little doubt, from what you tell me, that he is alive, and that we are in a fair way of recovering him. We must proceed, I see, with caution and courage; and as we may employ another man, I know one who will gladly aid us. He is a friend, too, of Digby's--Toby Tubb is his name. If we want help, he can help us better than anybody.”

”He may be a friend of Master Digby's, and I hope he has many friends, but he can't be a greater, nor one who would give every day he has to live for him,” exclaimed John, with a very natural burst of feeling.

They were walking on all this time rapidly towards...o...b..rton. On arriving there, they first went to Mr Nugent's house. He had been made aware of what had occurred, and had already consulted with Toby Tubb on the subject. While Arthur took some tea, and rested, he sent off for Toby.

When Toby, who had been thinking the matter over, as he said, arrived, and was told Arthur's errand, he slapped his thigh, and exclaimed, ”I thought it was so. I know the gang; a set of daring ruffians as ever lived. Poor Master Digby; it was hard for him to fall into their power.

But we will get him out again as soon as we can, if they haven't spirited him away.” Toby had come prepared for an expedition. He begged Mr Nugent to lend him a brace of pistols. Arthur and John Pratt were already armed. Adam Hodder had gone back with the horses. Arthur, with his two attendants, therefore, John and Toby, immediately set forth on their undertaking. As Toby Tubb knew every inch of the way, they soon reached the high ground above Luccombe Cove.

”There's the cottage,” he observed, pointing to a hut low down on the beach. ”I know Jem the Spotsman well--a terrible old ruffian he is. Do you, Master Haviland and John Pratt, go in and give him your message.

If he refuses to help you, call me, and I'll see what I can do.”

Arthur, followed by John Pratt, stepped boldly in. The expedition, independent of the object, had peculiar charms for him; there was so much romance and excitement in it. He did not stop to knock, but flung open the door of the hut, and unhesitatingly entered. An old man, in a blue Guernsey frock, sat bending over a drift-wood fire, which spluttered and smoked as he kept piling on the yet damp chips. He looked round at the noise, and, seeing strangers, rose with considerable activity to his feet. He scowled at them beneath his white s.h.a.ggy eyebrows.

Arthur had begged that he might be the spokesman; he felt fully up to the emergency. At an early age, indeed, he had learned much to rely on himself. ”Jem the Spotsman, I have a message for you,” he began.

”Who told you that was my name?” asked the old man, with a growl.

”Never mind, if it is your name,” said Arthur. ”We've come to do you good, and show you how to gain five golden guineas.”

”Time was when I could gain fifty without much trouble,” interrupted the old man.

”You cannot now, though; and five guineas is a good sum,” observed Arthur. ”You'll get that, but not more. Dame Marlow bids me tell you that the beaks will be on you; that you know where the young Squire of Bloxholme is hid away, and that if you would keep your neck out of a noose, you will show us where he is to be found.”

The old man sat down and began to rake the ashes of the fire with a stick. He did not ask his visitors to take seats, though, but he kept watching them warily out of the corners of his eyes. ”Five golden guineas, five golden guineas,” he kept muttering. ”Who are you who make the promise?”

”A friend of Mr Heathcote's,” answered Arthur. ”It will be faithfully kept with you, depend on that.”

”Who's that man with you?”

Arthur told him.

”Ay, he looks as if he had the hay-seed in his hair,” observed old Jem.

”I'd rather trust a seaman.”

”If I bring a seaman, one, perhaps, whom you know, will you trust him?”

asked Arthur.

”Yes,” answered the old man, after a little thought.

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