performing his part of this rite in the still-room. Mipps would no more have missed that ceremony than he would
have missed accompanying the Vicar through the toils and trial of a Daily Service.
So now to the still-room Doctor Syn hurried, and found Mipps sitting by the rum barrel, with a pannikin in his
hand, and being watched over by the housekeeper who wished to see that he did not help himself to a further
allowance, which he would assuredly have done if left to his own devices.
“Ah, Mipps,” exclaimed the vicar pleasantly. “ I think it is nearing the time to ring the bell. I must go and robe.
I am glad to see that Mrs. Fowey is fortifying you to pull the bell rope. But before I go to the study there is just
something I wish to point out to you in the kitchen garden. Oh, Mrs. Fowey, pray take your keys to the wine cellar
and fetch me a bottle of sherry for the Captain and his guest. I find I could do with a glassful myself. I fear I an not
so partial to rum as our good Sexton is.”
As Mrs. Fowey strode away, Mipps favoured his master with a sly wink behind his back.
No sooner had the housekeeper taken herself from earshot than the Vicar whispered quickly: “Slip into the study
by the garden door, Mipps. Conceal yourself in the usual spot behind the cloaks hanging in the alcove. I want you
to listen to whatever the Captain is about to say to young George Lee, the cooper, who has come up to see him for
some reason. That reason we have got to discover. It is very vital. Remember, he is making those special casks to
the Scarecrow’s orders, and before those casks are used for the purpose for which they have been planned, we must
know exactly how much the Captain knows, and whether it has anything to do with the peculiarity of those casks.
Now, Mipps, remember, if by ill-chance he should discover you eavesdropping behind the cloaks, you must be
asleep and very drunk. Then I shall reprimand you. The old dodge which has worked well before this.”
Mipps nodded. “He may or mayn’t look into the alcove, sir. In any case I shall be ready for him.
“I don’t think he will,” said Syn. “He will think you are at the church, and when he hears the bell, which I shall
ring directly I get there, he will think you are safely out of the way. Make haste now.”
Mipps went out to the garden, while the Vicar followed his housekeeper into the wine cellar with a “Make haste,
my good woman.”
Armed with the bottle of sherry he returned to the hall.
“Here you are, Captain,” he said, putting the bottle on the table and laying a corkscrew beside it.
“Now while I put on my gown for church perhaps you, George, will draw that cork, and perhaps you, Captain
will fill the glasses. At the risk of being abandoned by Mipps I will have a glass before I set off.”
Having set them both a task which would keep them for the moment in the hall, the Vicar went towards the study
door, taking off his long black jacket as he went. There was a hook upon the back of the door, so that he had every
excuse to close the door in reaching for the peg.
Meanwhile George pulled the cork, and then the Captain signed to him to fill the glasses too.
In the study Doctor Syn saw that the garden door was fastened, and as he unhooked his Geneva gown, he was
amused to see Mipps peeping out at him from the voluminous folds of cloaks and cassocks that hung in the alcove.
Mipps not only grinned, but winked, and then pulled a face of a drunkard feeling sleepy. Syn nodded approval and
the folds fell back and covered Mipps.
This same hiding-place having served the rascals well in the past, caused the Vicar no anxiety, so that he did not
bother to look down to see whether or no Mipps was fully concealed, for he knew that the riding cloaks were very
ling and full, reaching the floor. Indeed he knew that his henchman was so well hidden that he purposely left the
curtains drawn back, in order to appear the less suspicious.
Having pulled on his gown, he picked up a Bible from his table. Not that he would need this for reading from,
since he would use the large one upon the pulpit cushion, but he thought it would lend a further tone of piety which
would be good for the Captain to see. He realized that it would be policy to play the good man automatically on
every occasion, since the Captain was not above suspecting even him.
Leaving the study door wide open he rejoined the others in the hall.
“Ah, I see that the glasses are charged. Splendid,” he cried. “You are thirstily awaiting me to propose friend
George’s health, with a hope that he may have a long life in a settled trade.” He picked up his glass. “I do wish you
and honoured career, George, from my heart. Take after your grandfather and father in the business and you’ll come
to no harm. Also think sometimes of the teachings I was able to give you here, when you were a lad. Here’s to you,
George. You were a good boy, and I know you are now going to be a good man. Remember, too, the slogan of the
Marsh: ‘Serve God. Honour the King. But first, Maintain the Wall.’ And the last sentence means this, my lad.
You must not only protect your home by maintaining the sea-wall with your strength and courage, but you must
cheerfully pay such scotts as are imposed upon you by the Lords of the Level. And lastly, bear in mind that I
christened you at the Dymchurch font with His Majesty’s own name, and so you must obey his Government, as well
as that of the Marsh.”
“And have naught to do with the wicked smugglers, eh, Vicar,” laughingly added the Captain, as he raised his
glass to the cooper.
The Doctor shook his head. “I do not think that our young friend here will do aught to hinder the Revenue
officers in their duty, eh, George? But I must be off, and at once. Recharge your glasses and carry them into the
study where you can discuss your business undisturbed.”
“Aye, it’s good sherry,” said the Captain. “So fill up, Master Cooper, and let us accept the Vicar’s hospitality.
You will not take another glass yourself, Parson?”
“Good heavens, no,” he replied, as though horrified at the idea. “I have a service to read, and who knows? There
might be something of a congregation after all, and I assure you that some of our parochial ladies can be very
quizzical.”
As the laughing Vicar let himself out of the front door he had the satisfaction to seeing the Captain signing to
George Lee to follow him into the study. Now he would soon know the Captain’s business with the young cooper.
There happened to be no one about in the churchyard, and he know that the study windows had no view of it, so
he ran across to the church, which he found empty, and pulled the bell rope three or four times, in order to give the
Captain reminder that the Sexton was in the church. He then proceeded to the pulpit and began the service by
himself, though shortly after he had started Lady Cobtree tiptoed in and supported him by reading the responses.
Meanwhile Mipps sat hunched up in the alcove. He heard the Captain come in with George Lee and close the
door, and much to his relief heard also the noise of them both sitting in the Doctor’s chairs.
“I am glad you took my warning seriously,” began the Captain. “It shows you to be a young man of sense. You
have now passed your apprenticeship, and have begun to take your place amongst your fellow-craftsmen. Well, I
assure you that I have no wish to interrupt your career, though should you disobey my orders I shall not hesitate to
have you pressed for naval service. You are a likely lad, and cooperage is a valuable asset on any ship. There