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Updated: June 14, 2025
"I don't like Eben Megg, and I don't like smugglers in general," Tom Bodger; "but human natur's human natur', even with old King's pensioned men as oughtn't to; but if Eben comes to me with that there hankychy and slips a big wodge of hard Hamsterdam 'bacco and a square bottle o' stuff as hasn't paid dooty into my hands in the dark some night, what am I to do? Say I can't take it?
The next minute the boat had been run into the narrow jaws of the great chasm, the sail had been lowered, and after they had glided some distance along, helped by the boat-hook deftly wielded by Tom Bodger, the smuggler suddenly sprang out on to a shelf of rock at the side. "What are you doing?" cried Aleck. "You can't get up there in the dark." "Can't I, sir?
But it was nothing of the sort, being only his pigtail carefully bound with ribbon, and the thickest and longest pigtail in the "Ryal Navee." Tom Bodger, or as he was generally known by the Rockabie boys Dumpus, trotted down the slope in a wonderful way, for how he managed to keep his balance over the rough cobbles and on the storm-worn granite stones of the pier was a marvel of equilibrium.
"You cowardly brute!" he muttered; and then his aspect changed in the dim light shed by the candle, for there was a look of joyous pride in his countenance, disfigured though it was, as he said, hurriedly: "I didn't half tell uncle that I thoroughly whipped him, after all. But old Tom Bodger he'll be as pleased as Punch."
Here Tom Bodger was quite at home, and as active as the boat's owner, stumping about inside, and then hopping off one of the thwarts on to the rocks, ready to take mast, yard, oars, and boat-hook up into their places, securing the boat's painter to the big ring-bolt, and then taking one side while Aleck took the other and swinging her right up on to the rocks.
"I've never told my uncle what I've seen or heard, but I must now, and you know what to expect." "Master Aleck!" "That's it, is it?" said the middy. "He's one of the gang, and of course I shall make him a prisoner as soon as we get out. Here, you, Bodger, I order you in the King's name to take that man prisoner." "Ay, ay, sir," cried Tom, and he made a move towards the gardener.
"No, Master Aleck, not gone, as you may say, right off," replied Tom Bodger, a few days later, as he adzed and planed and hammered away at the kittiwake down in front of the natural boat-house. "They're a-dodging of it, strikes me. King's skippers is artful when they wants men.
"You don't see any marks, do you?" "Nay, I don't see no marks; but whatever did make you so late, Master Aleck?" "Someone broke a hole in the boat, and we had to mend it, that's all. Now cut me some bread and ham for Tom Bodger down at the boat-shelter; he's nearly starved." The provender was willingly out and carried down, and soon after Aleck lay dreaming over the adventures of the day.
"I fear, my gentle Roger, You'll be as wet as Bodger!" said Gerald. "Who is Bodger?" asked little Kitty. "Bodger, my blessed child, was a stodger, and a codger, and a very artful dodger; he carried his bones to David Jones, and asked to be took as a lodger." "Do be quiet, Jerry!" said Bell. "Father, can the canoe stand such a gale as this?"
You seem to know nothing." "Bother the spring tides," said Aleck, testily. "I know there are spring tides, and that sometimes you can walk dry-shod half way down our gully; but I can't tell the times. Tom Bodger would know." "What, that wooden-legged sailor?" "Yes." "Then you'd better go and fetch him here." "I wish I could," said Aleck, sadly. "What's the good of wishing? Here, I'm hungry.
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