it occurs to me that anyone who can look such a fool and yet act so promptly should be enrolled on the scarecrow’s
pay list. I’ll leave you to deal with him, while I devise a scheme for snatching Fred Hart from the Captain’s guard.”
3
THE SCARECROW RUNS UP HIS FLAG
In the bedroom of a little white-washed cottage tucked away under the sea-wall, Doctor Syn sat one morning reading
the Scriptures to a young mother propped up with pillows nursing her new-born son. Her beautiful face was stained
with tears, for despite the fact of the comforting presence of the Vicar, whom all the parish of Dymchurch knew as
the holiest of men, she had black despair in her heart. For three days she had received no news of her husband, alive
or dead. The boat in which he had been fishing had been washed into Dymchurch Bay, capsized and badly holed.
Mrs. Hart could not believe that her Fred had been picked up by some ship outward bound, which was the only
comfort held out to her by sympathetic villagers. Four Dymchurch men, however, knew that he was alive and near
at hand: the Vicar, the Sexton, the Highwayman and the water-carrier. Captain Blain from the guard Ship at Dover
knew it too, and so did his sea-dogs who were billeted for the time being in the Tythe Barn during their search for
smugglers. But Blain saw to it that his men kept the knowledge to themselves when talking to the villagers.
He had kept Fred Hart a close prisoner in the barn and had by mental and physical torture compelled him to
confess that he had not only worked for the scarecrow and his gang of smugglers, but had made him betray the place
of landing for the next cargo. Unfortunately for the traitor, the scarecrow had been warned in time by Percy, the
half-witted water-carrier, and so it appeared to the Captain that Hart had deliberately lied, and he determined to
show him no mercy. Neither had he any intention of putting his young wife out of her misery.
Doctor Syn was more merciful, and although he could not impart knowledge that he had gained as the Scarecrow,
he resolved to drop a hint to the wife that she was not yet a widow.
With this end in view, he selected for his reading such passages from Holy Writ, that dealt with God visiting
mankind in dreams as a means of giving warnings, orders or comfort.
“And now, my daughter,” he said kindly as he closed his bible, “perhaps you are wondering why I have read
about so many God-sent dreams. I will tell you. The age of such miracles is not yet over, for last night I dreamed a
dream, which may be full of comfort to you. I seemed to see your husband riding with the Scarecrow’s men, and
when I upbraided him for thus breaking the law, he told me that he had done so in order to make more money for
your happiness. The scene then changed and I saw him fishing in the Hart boat. Captain blain and his men hailed
him from the beach, and when he rowed ashore they fell upon him and then until he betrayed the Scarecrow. I
awoke with the feeling that this was true, and while we keep this to ourselves I will try to find out the truth. Perhaps
this very day I may discover where he is, and then I will do what I can to restore him to you.”
Leaving the young woman with this ray of hope, Doctor Syn proceeded to the Coffin Shop for a word with
Mipps, whom he found busy at his bench.
“Any more news about Hart, my good Mipps?” he asked.
“Only a bit of guesswork, Vicar,” replied the Sexton, “which I takes to be as good as news. If Hart was ever in
the Tythe Barn as a prisoner, which according to Percy is a fact, well then, there he is still, ‘cos I’ve had both doors
watched as you ordered, and no one but the King’s men have gone out or in. Even Percy ain’t allowed inside when
he carries round the water-buckets from the well. Why? ‘Cos they don’t wish him to know that Hart’s alive and in
their power. One comfort is that he don’t know nothing that can harm the Scarecrow, and if you was to leave him to
his fate, well it might be hard on his wife, but no more than he deserves for having tried to betray us.”
“If we leave him to his fate, my good Mipps,” said the Vicar quietly, “he’ll be shipped to the Plantations, and his
wife will never hear of him again. We must be merciful to her, and thwart this Captain Blain. Besides, it touches
the reputation of the scarecrow. Anyone betraying him must be judged by him. I have settled how to punish Fred
Hart, but to carry out the punishment he must first be rescued from the Captain. And for that end, my friend, I want
you to cut me a strong wooden wedge from the outside of the Captain’’ room at the Vicarage.”
“I was wondering when you was going to batten him down,” chuckled the sexton. “Been a bit awkward having
had him on top of us, so to speak.”
“It had had its advantages, too,” replied the Vicar. “I billeted him at the Vicarage for two reasons. First that he
would have no suspicions that I could be connected with the scarecrow, and secondly, so that I could keep an eye on
him, and an ear, too. I confess that he’’ s close an oyster as ever I met, for not even in his cups can I make him talk
about his plans. He confines his conversation to naval gossip concerning our old friend Admiral Troubridge, and to
the family history and qualities of his junior officers abroad the Dover Guard ship. I know all about them, but of his
plans, nothing.”
By this time Mipps had fashioned a neat wedge which he handed to his master, saying, “Whether the Captain
snores or no, I should put that in his door whenever things move at night on the Marsh.”
Doctor Syn put it in his pocket. “Thank you, I will, for the Captain’s snores are no longer reassuring to me.
They sound convincing enough, but last night during his nasal trumpetings I heard the squeak of his shutter’s hinge
as he crept to look out of the casement. I know now that the Captain does not snore when asleep, but only when
he’s very much awake. I shall therefore wedge his door when I am ready to join the Nightriders at the Oast House
at Doubledyke’s. You have passed the word for arms and horses?”
Mipps nodded. “thirty, s you ordered, with a spare horse. I suppose now that the extra mount is for Fred hart,
and that we attack the barn.”
Doctor Syn nodded back. “In the meantime continue the watch on the doors, although I think the Captain will
not attempt to move his prisoner in daylight, since it is against his interest to let anyone know that hart is alive.
Keep watch though, all the same.”
Later, at dinner, Doctor Syn tested Captain Blain by asking whether he would be attending the memorial service
to Fred Hart which would be held for the parish if no one brought news that he was alive.
“I think, Vicar, that there can be no doubt as to his death, and that it is quite right to hold the service. I dare say
some of my men would like to attend. I shall come myself out of respect to his widow.”
For which piece of hypocrisy Doctor Syn scored up another mental black mark against his guest.
Earlier than usual that night Doctor Syn suggested retiring to bed. “One of my flock is very ill,” he explained.
“and Doctor Pepper tells me the crisis is at hand, so I must hold myself in readiness for being awakened in the night.
I have also told the Hart family to summon me should poor Fred’s wife need spiritual comfort. We must do what
little we can.”
“I applaud you for taking your duties so seriously, Parson,” replied the Captain.
“I suppose you are right, and that Hart is dead,” went on Doctor Syn, “but what mystifies me is not that such a