“Why should I?” asked his superior. “Your time is your own. Had I not business in Town to attend to I should
have been delighted to join you in the enterprise.”
“As to that,” replied His Lordship, “there is a proverb about ‘too many cooks’. Four is a concise number for such
an undertaking. We will pledge ourselves to work under the leadership of Sir Harry, and he will at least be
confident that his lieutenants are all loyal and sympathetic friends.”
“And you may count on the old Parson for any help he may be able to give,” said Doctor Syn. “At least I know
the district, which may prove useful, and understand the temper of the parish, who are all members of my flock,
black sheep and white. I think also I have shown sufficient spirit in declaring myself a public enemy to this troubler
of our local peace.”
“And since both my brother and myself are also his declared antagonists,” added the Admiral, “and have
guaranteed an equal reward to that offered officially against the Scarecrow, I’ll write to Captain Blain, who is
residing at Doctor Syn’s vicarage, and my brother will write to the Dragoons encamped in the ship Field, to place
themselves entirely at Sir Harry’s disposal.”
Doctor Syn smiled and shook his head. “I have the greatest respect for my guest, Captain Blain, but in his work
he is, perhaps rightly, as close as an oyster. He is so determined to catch the scarecrow himself that I fancy we
cannot look for much co-ordination in that quarter. It is another case of Lord Strathway’s proverb, “Too many
cooks’.”
“Well, join us at our table, gentlemen,” said the Admiral. “You may as well know as much about the scarecrow
as we can tell you, for remember, Doctor Syn, my brother, myself and Major Faunce have all had the experience of
seeing him at work, and out testimony may be a service to you, Sir Harry.”
“ I shall welcome such a conversation,” replied Sales warmly. Then changing his tone he bowed to Major
Culland, saying, “I shall hope to settle our wager here in one week.”
As the other gentlemen bowed stiffly and began to move, Major Culland stopped them. “Just a moment,
gentlemen, before leaving me in this cold fashion. You convey plainly enough by your manners that you are
displeased with mine. Yet I protest that I am willing to show that I have as much sporting instinct as Sir Harry
Sales, who is about to risk his life as leader of this expedition to the Romney Marsh. Let us not deceive ourselves as
to his danger. However secret we may be on the matter, and believe me I shall not breathe a word of it, the
Scarecrow is likely to strike first. It is a way he has. Out of regard for this, I will raise the stakes against myself.
Suppose now Sir Harry’s luck is better in adventure than in cutting cards, and that he wins the reward for the
Scarecrow, alive or dead, I will tear up his I O U if today week at this hour of nine in the evening he shall bring the
Scarecrow into this clubroom so that such members and guests who are then present shall have the fun of seeing the
rascal unmasked for the first and last time. I am willing to forfeit my thousand guineas for such an honor to our
Club.”
“We can hardly bring such a dirty scoundrel into a respectable,” club objected Lord Strathway, by way of
excusing Sales from taking up such a difficult wager.
“But he may be a member, for all we know to the contrary,” laughed the Major. “No one knows who the devil he
is, though many think he is the devil himself. At least judging by his cleverness and grim humor, I incline to the
opinion that he is a man of breeding and education.”
“His handwriting hardly warrants such an assumption,” said the Admiral.
“As to that, sir,” suggested Doctor Syn, “his handwriting would be surely disguised, and as to His Lordship’s
suggestion that his distinguished club is hardly the place for such niceness as members might feel. The Major has
suggested a wager that would be regarded in the best society as a piece of skylarking in the heroic vein.”
“And a great feather in the club’s cap, sir,” agreed Mr. Briston.
“What do you say, Sales?” asked His Lordship.
“That I never refused a challenge yet, my lord,” the young man replied stoutly. “I’ll do my best, and with so
many good friends at my back I see no reason why we should not be unmasking the outlaw here at this time next
week. And now, Admiral, let us by all means talk it over with the General and Major Faunce. Good evening, Major
Culland, and thank you for you stakes.”
The group followed his example of another formal bow to the Major before leaving him alone. The Major
surveyed them through his quizzing-glass and with a smile of inward amusement strolled out of the club.
An hour later Doctor Syn also left the club, took a hackney coach to the Mitre Inn in the City, collected his
baggage and his henchman, Sexton Mipps, and then took the night coach for the Kent coast.
The next evening the news spread round the village of Dymchurch that five gentlemen had booked the best
rooms at the Ship Inn. Mrs. Waggetts, the landlady, informed Sexton Mipps that they were pleasant-spoken
gentlemen and had bespoken the rooms for six nights. They had satisfied her curiosity as to their presence in such a
remote village by stating that they sought sea air and quiet after a hectic season in Town, and that Dymchurch had
attracted their attention owing to the much-talked of activities of the Scarecrow and his followers.
Mrs. Waggetts advised them for their own good not to venture on to the Marsh or sea-wall after dark.
“We thought we might see something of the fun, and have a good story to take back with us,” laughed one of
them.
Mrs. Waggetts shook her head and advised them to be cautious. Disregarding her motherly advice they put on
their cloaks after supper and strolled out upon the sea-wall.
Here they were questioned by the naval patrol under command of Captain blain. To him they told much the same
story, but the Captain rudely warned them to mind their own business and not to interfere with his plans for
capturing the Scarecrow.
“Let us understand one another, sir,” replied Sir Harry. “There is a public reward posted for the scoundrel. You
can hardly prevent anyone from trying to earn it, and if you interfere with us you may find that you are interfering
with the Law.”
“And you may find yourselves with your throats cut in a dyke.” Retorted Captain Blain, who on returning to the
vicarage told the Vicar that things had come to a pretty pass when a party of dandy Sleuths were attempting to do his
work.
The conversation had been carried on upon the sea-wall beneath the windows of the City of London Tavern, and
the five dandies were unaware that a man who had followed their coach from London on horseback, and had taken a
room at the ‘Tavern’ for six nights, had overheard all that had been said from behind the half-closed shutters.
News reaching Mipps of this man’s arrival, the Sexton went round to the ‘Tavern’ for a drink, had a quick look at
the stranger as he supped alone in the parlor, and then carried his description to the Vicar.
Applauding his factotum’s eye for detail, Doctor Syn remarked: “So Major Cullund, so busy in Town, has taken
a week off business to keep an eye upon his opponents in the wager. No doubt he will try to gain the reward
himself. Well, the more the merrier, and we’ll give them a run for their money. We will lie quiet for five nights,
and then organize a spectacular ‘run’ of contraband upon the sixth. And we will see which of them can catch the