Oh, the Marsh dont approve, eh? And who or what might be the power on the Marsh to tell you so?
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The great ruler o the Marshthe man with no name who successfully runs his schemes and makes his sons prosperous.
Thatll be the squire, then, said Jerry promptly, for hes the Leveller of the Marsh Scots, aint he? He makes the laws for the Marshmen, dont he?
He does that certainly, agreed the sexton. But whether or no hes the power what brings luck to the MarshmenMarshmen, mind you, worthy of the nameneither you nor me nor nobody can tell. Sufficient for us that the Marsh is ruled by a power, a mysterious power, wot brings gold and to spare to the Marshmens pockets.
Ah, then, said Jerry, with his eyes blazing, then I was right. There are smugglers on the Marsh.
There are, said the sexton; and its wealthy men they be, though youd never guess at it, and darin, adventurous cusses they be, and rollickin good times they gets, and no danger to speak of, cos the whole blessed concern is
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run by a master brain wot never seems to make mistakes, and it was this same master brain wot agreed that you should share the privileges o the Marsh, and I was ordered to recruit you.
Oh! and whatll be required o me? asked Jerk, supposin I thinks about it.
Youll be given a horse, and youll ride with the Marsh witches, learn their trade, and be apprehended to their callin.
And how do you know I wont blab and get you and your fellows the rope? asked Jerry bravely.
Because weve sized you up, we as, and we dont suspect you of treachery. If we did, it wouldnt much matter to us, though I should be right sorry to have been disappointed in you, for I declare I dont know when I took to a young man like I as to you. Youre my fancy, you are, Jerry. Just like I was at your age. Mad for adventure and for the life of real men.
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Yes, but just supposin that I did disappoint you, Mister Sexton? Its well to hear all sides, you know.
Aye, its well and wise, too, and Ill tell you. If it was to your advantage to betray usto that captain prapswell, I daresay youd do it now, wouldnt you?
I dont know, said Jerk; all depends. Praps I might, though. You never knows, does you?
No, you never knows. Quite right. But youd know one thing: that go where you would, or hide where you liked, wed get you in time, and when we did get you it ud be short shrift for youyou may lay to that.
I daresay, said Jerry, unless, of course, I got you first.
Youd have a good number to get, my lad, laughed the sexton. But its no use a-harguin like this. You wont betray us when it dont serve your turn to do so, and it wont do that, cos we has very fine prospects open for you, and
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advantages. Why, we can set you in the way of rollin in a coach before weve done with you, and who knows, years hence, when youre older than you be now, who knows but what you might not succeed to the headship. If anything was to happen to the great chief wots to prevent you from taken his place, eh? Youre smart, aint you? Theres no gainsayin that, now, is there, Missus Waggetts?
No, indeed, replied that lady.
Then take my tip, the straight tip of an old gentleman o fortune, and you join us.
Whatll I have to do and what is it Im a-joinin, though? asked the boy.
The great scheme of wool-runnin, said Mr. Mipps.
Ah, sighed Jerry, I thought as much. And what am I to do, always supposin that Im willin to join?
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Weve a vacancy in the horsemena man short, you see, though weve got the horse. Its Mr. Rashs horse, but weve turned out the schoolmaster and kept his horse. He werent one of us, you see, so we found that we didnt want him no more.
Youve killed him? cried the hangman, starting up.
I didnt say that, retorted the sexton. I merely remarked that we didnt want him no more. And now just give me your attention. Ive every reason to believe, and so has the great chief that I work for, that you are gettin very thick with that swap of a Kings captain. Well, now, dont go suddenly a-givin him the cold shoulder, do you see? You cant drop a friend all at once like a hot potato without excitin the gossip and suspicion of folk; so remember what I says and keep civil to him. But its my opinion that after to-night youll know which side you be on, for once get the thrill of the demon ride and youll not
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want to get dismissed. Besides, gettin dismissed by our chief aint exactly
what you might term a pleasant form of bein entertained.
And what do I do, Mister Sexton?
Youll get told all in good time.
But what do the demon riders do? persisted the boy.
Frighten folk from the Marsh when the ponies are trottin under the wool packs.
And where do the wool packs come from?
From nearly every farm on the Marsh.
And they put it all in packs and send em down to the coast?
Thats the ticket, my lad. Pack em all up on ponies and bring back coffins full of spirit from France.
Coffins full of spirit from France? repeated the amazed boy.
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Yes, thats why Im a coffin-maker. What would you expect to see inside a nailed-up coffin, eh?
Why, a dead un, said the boy.
Exactly; and as folk aint particular fond of amusin themselves with a sight of dead uns they lets my coffins alone, do you see, and the spirit is treated with every respect and is allowed to go on its way very snug and all knocked up most particular solid.
And the head of it alls the squire, is it?
I never said so, replied the sexton quickly; but the less you think and say on that subject the better, for those who know the identity of the great chief would sooner have their eyes put out than betray him; so dont you hamper your young career with thinkin about it. All youve got to do is to obey.
And what do I get out of it?
Gold and the time of your life.
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And when do I start?
To-night.
To-night? faltered Jerk much relieved, for he had thought of his promise to help the captain, and was greatly thankful that the dates had not clashed.
At half-past twelve at Old Tree Cottage; but dont go to the coffin-shop side. Tap at the back kitchen window.
And half-past twelve, you say?
Thats the time, answered Mipps, holding out his hands and seizing Jerks in both his. And I can tell at a glance that your a-goin to be a credit to the undertakin.
And a minute afterward he was gone and Jerk was sent by Mrs. Waggetts into the bar to polish up the tankards.