United States or South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"When the watter's down, my lad." "It's low enough now. There are plenty of places where you can spread your nets." "Ay, but plenty of places don't suit me, my lad. You wait a bit and we'll see. Get John Warren to tek you ferreting." "Yes, that will do," cried Tom. "When are you going, John?" The man addressed shook his head. "Rabbuds don't want no killing off. Plenty on 'em drownded."
"Ay, lad, and rabbuds," assented Dave; "and it weer nivver meant to grow corn and grass. Yow can't do it, and yow'll nivver make fen-land fields. It's agen natur." "So it is to ride in a cart or on a sled, lad," said Hickathrift good-humouredly; "but I make 'em, and folk rides in 'em and carries things to market." "Ay, but that's different," said Dave.
"Don't I tell you he's got the ager!" growled the man; and without more ado he took the basket from the extended hand, opened the lid, and turned it upside down, so that its contents rolled upon the sand, and displayed the kind-heartedness of Mrs Winthorpe. Dick glanced at Marston and laughed. "Theer's your basket," growled John Warren. "Want any rabbuds?"
"Ay, lad, many as I like." "And rabbits too?" "Nay, I don't say that. I hev ketched rabbuds that ways, but not often. Rabbud always makes for his hole." As he spoke he walked back to where he had left his pole standing in the bog earth, and they trudged on again to where a lane of water impeded their further progress. "Too wide for you, lads?" said Dave. "No," replied Dick, "if it's good bottom."
There was silence for a few minutes a terrible painful silence to me, as I felt that I was face to face with death. Then Shock seemed to have grasped the situation, for he said coolly enough: "Like the rabbuds. Well, we shall have to get out." "Yes, but how?" I cried. "Same's they do. Scratch yer way, and make a hole. I don't mind, do you?" "Mind!" I said, "it's horrible."
"Don't yow fret, lad," said Dave. "Bahds is all reight. They wean't hoort. Wait till watter goos down a bit and you an' me'll have rare sport." "Ay, and rabbuds is all reight too, young mester," added John Warren. "They knows the gainest way to get up stairs. They're all happed up warm in their roons, ready to come out as soon as the watter goos down." "But how did it happen?"
"That's the way I do with the rabbuds, shipmet," said the man laughing. "You dog! you scoundrel!" panted Hilary, continuing his ineffectual struggle. "Better be still, boy," said the man coolly. "You'll only hurt yourself." As he spoke he wrested the cutlass from the young man's hand, after which he coolly took out a tobacco-bag and helped himself to a quid.
When they reached the dyke where the men were standing delving out the peat, it was to find a group of three fresh arrivals in the persons of Hickathrift the wheelwright, Dave, and John Warren, and all in earnest converse upon some subject. "Yow may say what yow like," cried Dave, "but fen-land's fen-land, and meant for the wild birds." "And rabbuds," put in John Warren.
Word Of The Day