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With a stern effort to be firm Dick watched the progress of the punt toward the island that was to have been his abode when he felt huffed at home, and wondered whether Dave were there now. "He isn't there," thought Dick; and he turned to telegraph a look at Tom Tallington, who he felt sure would be as anxious as himself about Dave's escape.
"That's so," replied Cotherstone, so imperturbably that all three looked at him in astonishment "That's quite so, Mr. Tallington." "And this is an accurate report of what happened?" asked Tallington, trailing the pencil over the newspaper. "That is, as far as you can see at a glance?" "Oh, I daresay it is," said Cotherstone, airily. "That was the best paper in the town I daresay it's all right.
"Yes," said the squire hoarsely; "the bank has gone, my boy." "Hadn't we better push on, father, before it gets any deeper?" "Stop a moment, Dick," said the squire, "and let me try to think. Home's safe, because the Priory's on the Toft; but there's Tallington and his wife and boy. We must try and help them." "Come on, then, father!" cried Dick excitedly.
"Ay, ay, squire!" roared the great fellow, and he rushed down to the water's edge like a bull, while the squire went to the other end. "Neighbour," cried Farmer Tallington excitedly, "you'll go on, wean't you? I must get in and bring out a few writings and things I'd like to save." "Here, Tom, let's you and me get out the clothes and things."
"We're getting on, neighbour," said the squire to Farmer Tallington one evening. "Ay, but it's slow work," said Tom's father. "It'll be years before that lode is cooten." "Yes, it will be years before it is finished," said the squire, "certainly." "Then, what's the good of us putting our money in it, eh? It'll do us no good, and be robbing our boys."
The commercial traveller's homely face grew grave, and he shook his head with an unmistakable gesture. "No, Stoner," he said. "None o' that! Play straight, my lad! No hush-money transactions. Keep to the law, Stoner, keep to the law! Besides, there's others than you can find all this out. What you want to do is to get in first. See Tallington as soon as you get back."
"Poor old Solomon!" said Dick, smiling at the recollections the rough tablet evoked; "how he could kick!" "And so you and young Tom I beg pardon, sir," said Hicky, "Mester Tallington are going to help Mester Marston wi the big dreerning out in Cambridgeshire, eh?" "Yes, Hicky, ours is a busy life now; but we're beginning to find people more sensible about such matters.
Jacob was a most obedient apprentice, so he proceeded to "finish it," while the wheelwright and Dave went to the workshop, and as he was raising the vessel high Tom Tallington stooped, picked up a chip of wood from a heap, gave Dick a sharp look, and pitched it with so good an aim that it hit the jug, and before the drinker could lower it, Tom had hopped back against the cart, striking against the gun, and nearly knocking it down.
"Nay, not a sign of it," said Farmer Tallington; "and at last I turned back and poled gently home, keeping a sharp look-out and listening all the way, but I niver see nowt nor heered nowt. But if I'd kept out on the waiter I should p'raps have seen and saved my poor owd neighbour."
"That you, squire?" shouted Farmer Tallington from the trees beyond the hut, which now appeared before them, sombre and gloomy, half hidden by the growth. "Yes, we are here," was the reply. "He's in here some'ere's, for his poont's ashore." "Where are you?" came from the other side, and, guided by the voices, Marston soon came up, with his men.
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