Part 18 (2/2)
”I warn't there! Warn't I just? Why, the window sc.r.a.ped over my head and knocked my cap off as I bobbed down. There, it's no use for you to pretend, Master Waller, so just you hand over that there fifty pounds.”
Waller was silent for a few moments, and his eyes wandered in all directions save that where the rough-looking woodman stood. At last, after drawing a deep breath, he said in a hoa.r.s.e whisper:
”Come along this way.”
”Wheer to, lad?”
”Out in the woods.”
”Ar'n't a-going to try and do for me so as to keep all the hundred pounds yourself, are you, Master Waller?” said the rough fellow, with a grin.
”No, of course not. I want to talk to you.”
”That's right, lad. I wouldn't try to do t'other, because you might get hurt, and I shouldn't like to hurt you, Master Waller, because you have been a good friend to me, and I like you, lad, and I'm waiting to see you grow up into being the finest gentleman in these parts. You won't never want to chivvy me out of the woods, I know.”
Waller uttered a low hiss, and hurried on in silence till they stood together among the nut stubs overshadowed by the spreading oaks, when he stopped short and faced round.
”You say you know that I shall never chivvy you out of the woods, Bunny; but you know wrong, for I should like to do it now.”
”Get out, lad! Not you! Why?”
”For being such a coward and sneak, and coming here to gather blackmail and betray that poor fellow to the gallows, or to be shot.”
”What are you talking about, lad? What if he is put away? He's only a spy, come here to do harm to the King.”
”That's nothing to do with you,” cried Waller.
”Nay, but the money is. Half a hundred pounds is a lot. You needn't make a fuss; you'll get your share. What's he to you? Has he broke his leg, same as I did mine, when I wouldn't go away into the workus, and you used to come and see me and talk to me till it got better?”
”Broken his leg? No!”
”Ho! Thought he had perhaps, because you like doctoring chaps as has broke their legs, as well I know. What is he to you, then, Master Waller?”
”He's my friend, Bunny,” cried the boy pa.s.sionately. ”One I'd do anything to save from harm; one I like as if he were my brother. And here you come, after all the kindness that I have shown you, and want to do me the greatest harm that man could do.”
”That I don't.”
”What! Why, you come here threatening to go and betray that poor fellow to the soldiers if I don't give you fifty pounds.”
”That I didn't, Master Waller. I want for you and me to go and give him up fair and square, and take the money, before someone else does.”
”What!” cried Waller, catching him by the arm. ”Somebody else? Does anyone but you know he's there?”
”Like enough, lad,” said the man, with a grin.
”But you haven't betrayed him?”
”Not likely, lad. I say to myself, I says, 'If anybody is going to get that money it's Master Waller and me, not old Fatty Gusset, who brought the soldiers up t'other day.'”
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