Wot size?
Big enough and strong enough to hang a man on, of course, and allowin for a good foot or two of timber in the earth.
The sexton scratched his head. Well, Im cursed! he said.
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Thats nought to me, replied Jerry. Come on! Your price?
Well, say two crowns for making and one for fixin.
One for makin and one for fixin, said Jerk, holding them out.
No! said the sexton, eying the coins.
Then hang the fixin! cried the boy, for Ill fix it myself. So its one for makin and the wood, aint it, Mister Sexton?
No, its two for makin, and I lose on that.
Very well, agreed Jerk desperately, handing over the money, and please, Mister Sexton, make it now, cos I wants it quick.
So the bargain was struck there and then, and off they both set to the coffin shop to carry it out; and the gallows was made by nightfall and set up on Jerks property, the sexton carrying it there himself, digging the hole and fixing it up a regular professional affair with a jangly rusty chain a-swing through the
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hookand all this for the nominal price of two silver crowns, lately received by the purchaser from Dr. Syn.
Ah! cried Jerk, as they viewed the completed erection from the other side of the dyke; aint it fust rate?
Slap up, agreed the sexton.
Quite strong, aint it? inquired the owner anxiously, to which the sexton replied imperiously:
It were Mipps as knocked it up, as you seed yourself; and when Mipps knocks up, you can lay its solid wots knocked, saying which he turned and strode off toward the village, followed by Jerk.
When they had gone about half a mile Jerk looked back and called to the sexton to do the same. Darkness was already creeping over the Marsh, but sharp and black against the skylineno toy, but real, weird, and convincing stood Jerks gibbet.
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What do you think of Lookout Mountain now? sang out the boy.
That you can better the name of it, Hangman Jerk. Why not call it Gallows Tree Hill?
Why, so I will! cried the singular youngster. Its a good name, and so I willand lets hope as how the treell bear fruit.
As how it wont, muttered the sexton.
But it will, you can lay to that. Jerk could already picture the schoolmaster hanging there.
As they neared the village, with sudden fear Jerk said to the sexton:
I suppose the smugglers wont take my gibbet as a personal offence and knock it down? But the wary Mipps disarmed his fears with:
There aint no smugglers, for one thing; sides, if there was, how could they knock down wots knocked up so solid?
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Well, dig it up, praps, suggested Jerk, cos, Mister Sexton, it do catch the eye somewot, dont it? Look, you can see it even from here, and it dont look exactly pleasant, do it?
Pleasant aint exactly the word, I agrees, but you neednt worry yourself on that score. If them damned Kings men had put it up now, I dont say as how it mightnt get mobbed and knocked about a bit, cos them damned Kings men aint wot you might term popular favourites in the village, but as it werent, dont you worry, for Ill soon pass the word, young Jerry, as how its you wot owns it.
Thank you, said Jerry. They wouldnt knock it over if you asked em not to, Ill be bound.
Asked who not to? demanded the sexton quickly.
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Why, any of em, replied Jerk innocently: Marshmen, smugglers, jack-olanterns, demon riders, wot you will; for Ill lay theyre all a-scared of Sexton Mipps, aint they?
But Sexton Mipps was not going to be caught by such dangerous flattery, and he replied:
There aint no such things as smugglers hereabouts, as I thinks Ive already remarked; and as for demon riders, why, uncanny they be, and I holds no truck with em, thank the Lord. Folks wot has dealins with em has sold their souls for the bargain, and I aint a-goin to do that!
Bein such a very good and respectable Christian? Oh, no! said Jerk winking.
Why, certainly, answered the sexton, and might I ask wot youre awinkin about?
NothinI was only thinkin!
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Wot about?
A dreama nightmare I had last night, thats all.
Wot about? asked the sexton again.
Nothin particular, returned the boy casually.
They had now reached the coffin shop, so, thanking the sexton for his assistance, Jerk bade him good-night.
Where are you bound for now? Mr. Mipps called after him.
The vicarage.
Wot for?
To tell the vicar as how Ive borrowed a crown off of him, thats all!
Wots that? cried the sexton, making as if to follow, but the boy waved him back with a fierce gesture.
Taint nothin to do with you. Youre paid, aint you? And it didnt get stole from the poor-box, neither, so dont you start a-worritin.
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And thrusting his hands deep into his breeches pocket, Jerk set off for the vicarage to tell Doctor Syn that although he couldnt accept the silver crown for holding his tongue, he had taken the liberty of borrowing it off him.
And in this way was the gibbet set up on Lookout Mountain, and the name changed to Gallows Tree Hill.
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Chapter 16
The Schoolmasters Suit
It was now dark. Jerk passed through the cluster of quaint little houses that make up the one street of Dymchurch-under-the-wall, and so on to the vicarage. Just at the corner where the Court House stands amid the great trees he heard singing, and recognized the voice and figure of Imogene. She was carrying a basket from the direction of the Ship and was probably bound, like himself, for the vicarage. Bus as she passed the Court House she paused, and to Jerks astonishment felt among the ivy that grew around the old front door. There in a certain branch was a piece of paper, which she took from its hiding
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place as if she had expected to find it. The message it contained she read by the light of the lantern that hung above the door, and then, thrusting it into the bosom of her rough dress, she went on toward the vicarage gate. But out from the shadows of the trees stepped a man, whom Jerk perceived to be the schoolmaster. Imogene hesitated when she saw him, for he was standing directly in her path, but when she tried to hurry past, Rash stopped her and spoke.
So, Mistress, now that you have got your lovers written promise from the ivy there, you think you can afford to pass by such a humble one as the schoolmaster, but youre mistaken, and Ill trouble you to show me that letter.
The girls hand went involuntarily to her bosom, where the note in question was securely tucked away, and she answered back clear and straight: No, Mister Rash, youve no right.
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Right is might, Mistress, as youll find, and I think we shall be able to come to terms now. I want you to come along with me to the vicarage; Doctor Syn is there, and Ive something to say before you both.
Let us go, then, said Imogene, trying to pass.
All in good time, returned the schoolmaster, stopping her. Theres no immediate hurry, I think, for the Doctor wont come out of that shuttered room of his till morning, so we can afford to keep him waiting, and Ive something to say to you firstalone.