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Updated: June 18, 2025
To be sure we have plenty to do, and not many people to do it out in this place, and so a good deal falls to our lot but come, Elizabeth, we will go and prepare the supper for Mr Deane and Ned Burdale, who has come with him; and, perhaps before it is ready, others may make their appearance." Saying this, she, followed by the little girl, glided from the room, leaving Jack to his own reflections.
On every side was heard the loud croaking of frogs; their heads poked up in all the shallower marshes, with the object, it seemed, of observing the travellers, and then their croaking became louder than ever, as if they were amusing themselves by talking about them. "We call those animals `Holland-waits," observed Burdale.
"Well, I must wait his arrival; though how to pass away the time till he comes I scarcely know." "We can give you some sporting, sir," said Burdale. "We lack not a variety as wild-duck shooting, and fishing; and we have a new decoy establishment not far off. You may be interested in seeing that work, for we sometimes catch a great number of wild-fowl in it."
Jack watched his countenance, and now was more convinced than ever that he was Burdale. As the "Weymouth" drew near, the stranger hoisted French colours, and finding that escape was impossible, hauled up her courses, and fired a gun in defiance, which was answered by one from the "Weymouth." Both of the shots, however, fell short of their aim.
It had evidently been a hunting-lodge in olden times, and from the balcony ladies fair used to shoot with cross-bow, or, perhaps, in later times with fire-arms, at the deer as they were driven past. An old man and woman, apparently as old as the building itself, came forth at the sound of the horses' hoofs. They looked somewhat askance at Jack, but welcomed Burdale as an acquaintance.
He had to walk round some distance indeed before he could find an entrance. More than once he gave a whistle, the sign agreed on, without receiving any answer. The idea occurred to him that Burdale had turned traitor, or, weary of waiting for him, had gone back with the horses. At length he shouted, "Master Burdale! Master Burdale! where are you?"
Now again a few mounds were seen just rising above the ground, which, Burdale told his companion, were the huts of the inhabitants. "Well, what sort of people can live here?" asked Jack. "An odd sort, I must own; something between fish and geese. They must be waders, at all events.
The following morning, with Burdale as a guide, Long Sam and Jack set off to visit the decoy which had been spoken of, mounted on rough-looking fen horses, with broad feet which enabled them to get over the soft ground at a considerable rate, while, they kept the legs of their riders out of the water.
"Never mind!" said the stranger; "sit down, Ned; say not a word about it, man!" and he gave him at the same time a significant glance. Burdale obeyed; but he evidently stood greatly in awe of the person who had spoken to him.
Come, I'll show you the way; follow me. Don't turn either to the right hand or to the left, or you will get into trouble!" Saying this, Burdale spurred on his somewhat unwilling horse, who seemed to understand the difficulties of the way before him.
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