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Updated: May 8, 2025
"I'm not a harsh man, but I'd give a hundred pounds down to see the wretch who did this lying dead in the ruins." "Ay, mester," said Hickathrift in a low hoarse voice; "it be a shaame. Will it spoil the dreern, and stop all the work?" "Ay," said Dave, as he stood leaning upon his pole, which he had brought over his shoulder; "will it stop dreern?"
"The big stack was afire!" whispered Hickathrift, "and burning so as they knew it would be impossible to put it out, and just as they realised the terrible state of affairs there was the sound of a shot, and then of another and another from somewhere down among the cottages, and directly after the beating of feet, and a party of the labourers hurried up, startled from their beds.
"Why, Hickathrift, were you hit?" "S'pose I weer, sir. Something came with a whuzz and knocked my hand aside." "Oh!" ejaculated Dick; while Mr Marston sat with his heart beating, since in spite of his efforts to be cool he could not help recalling the evening when he was shot, and he glanced round, expecting to see a flash and hear another report.
"Here, coom in to missus and " Hickathrift's speech was cut short by the coming of the squire, who hurried up. "Here, boys," he cried; "what's all this?" Dick told all he knew, and the squire drew a long breath and turned by the light of the lanthorn to gaze first in the lads' faces, and then to speak to the wheelwright. "This is bad, Hickathrift," he said hoarsely.
"And so he shall, my man, and other neighbours will help you too. I'll make Dick's thirty shillings a hundred guineas." "Well, I can't do that, Hickathrift," said Farmer Tallington; "but if ever you want to borrow twenty guineas come to me; and there's my horse and sled to lead wood wheniver you like, and a willing hand or two to help."
"No; each take a hand, my lad," said the squire, "and then let's move together for the path as quickly as possible." "Reight!" cried Hickathrift, laconically; and, stooping down, they each took a hand, and half ran half waded through the black boggy mud, till they reached the path from which the young man had strayed. "Poor chap! he were a bit scar'd to find himself in bog."
"It's straange and horrible it's straange and horrible," he said: "only yesterday he was like I am: as strong and well as a man can be; while now Hickathrift, my lad, do you think he'll die?"
Dick never felt half so much inclined to disobey his father before, as he slowly took his place in the bottom of the punt, while Hickathrift sent it forward so quickly that it was the first to touch the gravelly shore. When the squire sprang out Hickathrift followed him, after driving down the pole and securing the boat. "I say, Tom," said Dick. "I say, Dick," replied Tom.
Hickathrift did not hesitate, but waded towards him, breaking opposing sheets of ice with a thump of his fist, and at last, with some little difficulty, all got ashore. "Theer, both of you, run for it to the Toft and get to bed. The missus knows what to do better than I can tell her. Nivver mind your pattens."
The boys parted, with the promise that Tom was to come over from Grimsey to breakfast the next morning but one, well provided with lunch; that in the interim Dick was to arrange with Hickathrift about his punt, and that then they were to have a thoroughly good long exploring day, right into some of the mysterious parts of the fen, Dick's first journey being so much scouting ready for the following day's advance.
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