Part 49 (1/2)

”True for you, sir,” said Lee. ”That was wrote up in Drumston church, I mind, and some other things alongside of it, which I could say by heart once on a time--all on black boards, with yellow letters. And also, I remember a spick and span new board, about how Anthony Hamlyn (that's Mr. Geoffry Hamlyn's father) 'repaired and beautified this church;'

which meant that he built a handsome new pew for himself in the chancel. Lord, I think I see him asleep in it now. But never mind that I've kept a pup of Fly's for you, sir, and got it through the distemper. Fly's pup, by Rollicker, you know.”

”Oh, thank you,” said Sam. ”I am really much obliged to you. But you must let me know the price, you know, Lee. The dog should be a good one.”

”Well, Mr. Buckley,” said Lee, ”I have been cosseting this little beast up in the hopes you'd accept it as a present. And then, says I to myself, when he takes a new chum out to see some sport, and the dog pulls down a flying doe, and the dust goes up like smoke, and the dead sticks come flying about his ears, he will say to his friends, 'That's the dog Lee gave me. Where's his equal?' So don't be too proud to take a present from an old friend.”

”Not I, indeed, Lee,” said Sam. ”I thank you most heartily.”

”Who is this long gent in black, sir?” said Lee, looking towards Frank, who was standing and talking with the Major. ”A parson, I reckon.”

”The Dean of B----,” answered Sam.

”Ah! so,”--said Lee,--”come to give us some good advice? Well, we want it bad enough, I hope some on us may foller it. Seems a man, too, and not a monkey.”

”My father says,” said Sam, ”that he was formerly one of the best boxers he ever saw.”

Any further discussion of Frank's physical powers was cut short, by his coming up to Sam and saying,--

”I was thinking of riding out to one of the outlying huts, to have a little conversation with the men. Will you come with me?”

”If you will allow me, I shall be delighted beyond all measure.”

”I beg your pardon, sir,” said Lee, ”but I understood you to say that you were going to one of our huts to give the men a discourse. Would you let me take you out to one of them? I'd like well to hear what you'd got to say myself, sir, and I promise you the lads I'll show you want good advice as well as any.”

”You will do me infinite service,” said Frank. ”Sam, if you will excuse me, let me ask you to stay behind. I have a fancy for going up alone.

Let me take these men in the rough, and see what I can do una.s.sisted.”

”You will be apt to find them uncivil, sir,” said Sam. ”I am known, and my presence would ensure you outward respect at all events.”

”Just what I thought,” said Frank. ”But I want to see what I can do alone and una.s.sisted. No; stay, and let me storm the place single-handed.”

So Lee and he started toward the ranges, riding side by side.

”You will find, sir,” said Lee, ”that these men, in this here hut, are a rougher lot than you think for. Very like they'll be cheeky. I would almost have wished you'd a' let Mr. Buckley come. He's a favourite round here, you see, and you'd have gone in as his friend.”

”You see,” said Frank, turning confidentially to Lee, ”I am not an ordinary parson. I am above the others. And what I want is not so much to see what I can do myself, but what sort of a reception any parson coming haphazard among these men will get. That is why I left Mr.

Buckley behind. Do you understand me?”

”I understand you, sir,” said Lee. ”But I'm afear'd.”

”What are you afraid of?” said Frank, laughing.

”Why, if you'll excuse me, sir, that you'll only get laughed at.”

”That all!” said Frank. ”Laughter breaks no bones. What are these men that we are going to see?”

”Why, one,” said Lee, ”is a young Jimmy (I beg your pardon, sir, an emigrant), the other two are old prisoners. Now, see here. These prisoners hate the sight of a parson above all mortal men. And, for why? Because, when they're in prison, all their indulgences, and half their hopes of liberty, depend on how far they can manage to humbug the chaplain with false piety. And so, when they are free again, they hate him worse than any man. I am an old prisoner myself, and I know it.”

”Have you been a prisoner, then?” said Frank, surprised.