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"Nay, nay, lad," said Dave, with his eyes twinkling, and his face looking less grim. "Keep on thy coat, lad, I wean't hev it. Thankye, though, all the same, and thou shalt hev a good bit o' sport for that, Mester Dick. But, theer, you two had best go back." "But we don't like leaving you," said Tom. "Thankye, lads, thankye. Bud nivver yow mind about me.
"Don't yow fret, lad," said Dave. "Bahds is all reight. They wean't hoort. Wait till watter goos down a bit and you an' me'll have rare sport." "Ay, and rabbuds is all reight too, young mester," added John Warren. "They knows the gainest way to get up stairs. They're all happed up warm in their roons, ready to come out as soon as the watter goos down." "But how did it happen?"
"Nay, lad, I don't," said Dave with sudden emphasis. "It's agen nature, and it wean't be done. Hey and we must be getting back."
"Hush! hush! bairn!" said the big fellow thickly. "Don't I tell thee I'm going to begin again! What say, Mester Dick? Nay, nay, lad, nay." "What did Dick say?" said the squire sharply. "Hush, Hicky!" whispered Dick quickly. "Nay, lad, I wean't hoosh! Said, squire, as he's got thretty shillings saved up, and he'd give it to me to start wi'."
"Hark at him, young Tom Tallington!" and he uttered now a peculiarly ugly harsh laugh "young squire ar'n't going to eat any more bacon, 'cause it's cruel to kill the pigs; nor no eels, because they has to be caught; and he wean't catch no more jacks, nor eel-pouts, nor yet eat any rabbud-pie! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"The 'coy-ducks wean't be hungry and come for their food, so we'll wait for another time." "Don't the 'coy-ducks ever go right away, Dave?" asked Tom, as the boat was being quietly poled back. "Sometimes; but not often, and if they do some others taks their places, and stops. They get fed reg'lar, and that's what a duck likes. Good uns to eat, ducks.
"Ay, theer's some deep holes hereabouts," said the man, trying in vain to reach the bottom with his long pole. "They wean't dree-ern they in a hurry, Mester Dick." "Good job too, Dave! We don't want our fishing spoiled. Now, then, how much further are you going?" "Strite across to wheer we saw that big pike rise, my lad." "Shall we catch him, Dave?" "Mebbe yes; mebbe no, my lad.
"Load the gun, then, and let's have a shot at the snipes as we go," said Tom. "Nay, she wean't go off till she has had a new flint in. I'm going to knap one when I get back." "Jump in, then," cried Dick. "I'm going to pole her across." "Nay, I don't think it's any use to-day." "Why, Dave, this is just the sort of day you said was a good one for netting." "Did I, lad?" "Yes; didn't he, Tom?
"I don't know," said Farmer Tallington, scratching his head as they walked out into the home close. "You see, squire, it wean't be open enemies we shall have to fear " "The Winthorpes never feared their enemies since they settled in these parts in the days of King Alfred," said Dick grandly. "Hear, hear, Dick!" cried his father, laughing.
It's a long time since we've had a fish." "Nay; don't ask me," was the reply. "I wean't leave the work. Ay, bud it's nice to be a boy," he added, with a smile. "Couldn't you do your work afterward?" cried Tom. "Nay, nay, don't tempt a poor weak fellow," he cried. "I'm going to do that bit o' sawing 'fore I leave it. Now, theer, in wi' you!"
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