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Updated: May 14, 2025
He had sufficient time to see Gaffin, and he at once recognised the men who had captured him, while young Miles was standing by, though he kept at a respectful distance from his elbows. At this juncture he heard a voice exclaiming "Are you still at your old work, ye hard-hearted ruffians, dragging off the young and helpless to be drowned in the salt, salt sea.
He did not stop till he got out of her sight, when sitting down to rest, he tried to recover himself before venturing to enter the mill. Miles Gaffin listened to his son's account with a contemptuous sneer on his lips. Another subject was at that moment occupying his thoughts. He had just received notice from Sir Ralph's steward to quit the mill the day his lease expired.
"You will find the maintenance of a child in addition to your own somewhat burdensome in these hard times," observed the miller. "We can judge better than our neighbours whether the burden is more than we can bear," answered the dame; "so you see, Mr Gaffin, that need not make any one uneasy on our account."
You have our answer, I speak for myself and dame; there is no use wasting more time in talking about the matter." "Well, well, neighbour, I cannot take your reply as conclusive," said Gaffin, trying to conceal his annoyance; "just think it over, and you will be doing a great pleasure to my wife and lay us under an obligation if you agree to my proposal."
"Do you wish to be convinced, lad? Look here, I know you can read," and Gaffin drew from his pocket a paper signed by Mr Pitt desiring any naval officers or others, who might fall in with Miles Gaffin, the bearer, not to interfere with him, he being engaged in the secret service of His Majesty's Government.
He caught sight, as he approached the cottage, of May, as she and Harry Castleton were setting off on their way to Downside. "Who can that be?" he thought, a strange feeling oppressing his heart. "It is not that scoundrel young Gaffin.
The lugger, however, had not again made her appearance, and it was supposed by some that she had been lost, but others asserted, and among them Adam Halliburt, that during the war time she had plenty to do in procuring information from France, as well as in carrying it to that country from England, for Jacob had told his father of the papers Gaffin had shown him, and Adam saw no reason why he should keep the matter secret.
"I cannot say that I am unacquainted with your name, for I have just heard it mentioned, and I shall be glad to hear that you can give me the assurance that the young man has not been carried away," said Headland. "I know nothing about the matter," answered Gaffin, "so I cannot tell whether the story I have heard is true or not.
"Every man's thoughts are his own, Mr Gaffin," answered Jacob, "and I do not see how you can know mine more than I can know yours." Miles Gaffin laughed, not pleasantly. "The old can read the thoughts of the young better than you may think. Now, lad, I tell you that you are following a will-o'-the-wisp if you ever think to make the girl your father saved from the wreck your wife.
I have no reason to do otherwise," he said in his most insinuating tone. "It's no use your wasting words on me, Mr Gaffin; if you are going to the south'ard you had better go I am homeward-bound." "That was not a civil remark, my lad; but I will overlook it, and perhaps you will think better of the matter." "I can't think better of a bad matter, Mr Gaffin," answered Jacob, firmly, hurrying on.
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