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"Town breedin', town breedin'," muttered he; "it's curi's what it'll make of a lad. This chap'll grow up with his head full o' le'rnin' into a lawyer or parson or somethin' like, and my lads'll be skippers like their dad, with no le'rnin' to speak on. I'll warrant this lad could get off more book-stuff in five minutes 'an mine ever heerd on."
"You'll bide the night with us, and while you eats tell us about un, and the lads'll tell what were happenin' to they." Margaret was setting the table. She greeted Eli cordially, and arranged a plate for him while he washed at the basin behind the stove. "Come," invited Thomas, "set in. We've got a wonderful treat."
Thar's a bunch o' yer steers waitin' to be taken off. Happen I'm goin' to see to 'em right away. One o' these lads'll jest set some bracelets on yer hands, and leave yer tucked up and comfortable so you can't do any harm, and you can set right thar an' wait till some 'un comes along an' looses yer. So long, pard, an' remember, Foss River's the hottest place outside o' hell fur you, jest now."
He looked round for a space, said, "Ay, the lads'll be having a bonny night," then strode heavily to his "settle" once more, and prepared to chat with his daughter. When the lamp was lit, the grandeur of his face became finely apparent. His hair was coarse, and black, and lustreless; it hung heavily over a heavy brow.
Think I'd come and ask you to do this if I didn't feel what a plucky young orficer you are? Why, the lads'll follow you anywheres. They like Mr Howlett, too, but do you think they'd follow him like they do you? Not they, sir." "It's very tempting," said Mark, hesitating. "Tempting, sir?
It's all jolly, wi' the mil'tary band, an' the smell o' the waves, an' crowds an' crowds o' people an' she won't have occasion to think o' me. P'raps they've bid her wear her best the white frock Mavis gave her, with the stockings to match, and the new buckle-shoes and likely young lads'll eye her all over as they pass.
"Aye, Jamie's been workin' like a man, and he'll be keen for the trip," said Thomas. "And last night I were thinkin' after I goes to bed how fine 'tis that you're to be doctor to the coast. Indian Jake's to be my trappin' pardner th' winter, and the lads'll 'bide home. There'll be little enough for the dogs to do, and you'll be welcome to un.
"I allus knowed that Eben Megg and his mates must have a store hole somewhere, and p'raps if I'd ha' lay out to sarch for it I might ha' found it out. But I didn't want to go spying about and get a crack o' the head for my pains. The Revenoo lads'll find out for theirselves some day; and so you young gents have been the first?" "Stop a minute," said Aleck. "What about Eben Megg?"
But I don't know what some of our lads'll say." "Then I'd better tell my uncle that if anything happens to me he'd better get the Revenue cutter's men to hunt out the Eilygugg smugglers, because they pushed me off the cliff." "Nay, don't you go and do that," said the man, anxiously. "I didn't mean it." "Am I to believe that, Eben?" said the boy, sharply.
They came together expecting to find Bob and Bill awaiting them there, but the shack was empty. "We'll be havin' th' tilt snug an' warm for th' lads when they comes," said Dick, as he went briskly to work to build a fire in the stove "You get some ice t' melt for th' tea, Ed. Th' lads'll be handy t' gettin' in now, an' when they comes supper'll be pipin' hot for un."
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