Part 15 (1/2)
”Yes, of course,” said Archy shortly
”Yes, of course,” said the farmer, in assent ”But I'd be a bit easy with his Gentleman, you see”
”Don't be alarmed,” said the midshi+pman quietly ”I hope we shall not be rude to any one”
HeMrs Shackle, the far out the nearest path up the steep slope
”'Bout my cow,” he said
”I have no doubt that as soon as the lieutenant in coling, your people will be set at liberty”
”And the cow?”
”And the cow of course”
”Thank ye, sir; that's good news I'll go and tell the ht on, sir; you can't miss it”
”Ah, my fine fellow,” he continued, as he walked back, ”if it hadn't been for your gang with you, how easily I could have turned the key and kept you down in that cellar, where I wish I had your skipper too”
”Oh, Blenheim!” said his wife, in an excited whisper, ”how could you help the now”
”P'r'aps not, missus I sent 'eet off yet, and if we do--well, it won't be the first time; so, here's to luck”
As he spoke he opened a corner cupboard, took out a bottle of spirits which had never paid duty, poured out and drank a glass
”Thank you,” said a gruff voice ”I think, if you don't mind, farmer, I'll have a little taste of that I came back to tell you that your cider is rather harsh and hard, not to say sour, and I'm a man accustomed to rum”
As he spoke, Gurr the master stepped into the room, took the bottle frolass, and poured out and smelt the spirit
”I say, farht sort or the wrong sort, according to which side you are”
”Only a little drop given me by a friend”
”French friend, for any lass
”Yes, that's right Nantes I thought so froht”
He went off again, and Shackle stood shaking his fist after hiot off so well,” he muttered ”I knew that rascal suspected us”
”Say ed you hundreds of times not to meddle with the business, but you would, and I'ing home that cow?”
”Yes,” said Shackle drily ”Very”