The COURAGEOUS EXPLOITS OF DOCTOR SYN - Thorndike Russell - Страница 5

keeps it all shipshape.”

The Captain surveyed Mipps critically, then a smile twisted his lips and creased his one eye, as though he found

the figure astride the old donkey comical.

Now Mipps only liked to be thought comical when he had uttered a remark which he intended to be funny, so to

show his resentment at the Captain’s quizzing, he dismounted from his donkey as though he were tumbling ashore

from a boat, and touching his hat to the officer in nautical style, remarked dryly: “P’raps if them men of yours was

told by someone with sense how close they is to the ‘oly churchyard, they would batten down their noise a bit.

There’s many a good Dymchurch corpse lying yonder, enjoying a well-earned rest, as the Vicar will agree.”

“We shall not disturb your corpses, Mister Sexton,” replied the Captain sternly, “unless I suspect that their

coffins contain contraband. ‘Twould be a good ‘hide,’ and has been put into practice before now. It is likely then

that I shall order my Bos’n to pipe all coffins on deck for inspection.”

“I fear, Captain,” returned Doctor Syn, “ that as Vicar of this parish, I could never countenance sacrilege.”

“Contraband in coffins is sacrilege enough, so that I shall be on the side of the Church, Reverend Sir, by stopping

it.”

As he spoke the Captain became aware of Percy, who had followed in order to obtain an agreement for the

sailors’ necessary supplies of water.

“And what’s that fool staring at?” he demanded.

Doctor Syn explained Percy’s office in the village and advised the Captain to follow the example of the Dragoons

and employ him.

“I’ll refer him to the Bos’n,” replied the Captain, “and what the soldiers pay, why, so will we.”

Percy shook his head at this and said in his monotonous drawl: “Soldiers earn little. Sailors a lot. And that’s

proper, as sailors comes first with King George. I never yet met a sailor what a miser, but all soldiers is poor fish.”

The Captain let out an explosive chuckle. “The village idiot is not only a flatterer, but a man of business it

seems.” He then shouted in his sea voice, “Bos’n!”

Up came that rotund sea-dog at the double, followed by his men, and at the Captain’s orders he took Percy under

his care, and after some haggling it was arranged that water should be brought to the barn whenever the casks

needed filling. Since this did not entail the sailors sending fatigue parties to fetch it, like the Dragoons, Percy

insisted on a slightly higher rate of pay, which the Bos’n, who was a jovial and good-hearted old dog, respectfully

advised his officer to accept.

This the Captain did with a further chuckle at Percy’s business capacity, and then ordered the Bos’n to book him

a room at the Ship Inn.

This was Doctor Syn’s cue to interrupt. “Forgive me, Captain, but I have heard that you are to be invited to the

Court House yonder as the guest of Sir Anthony Cobtree, our Squire, who is already entertaining Major Faunce,

whom you have just seen, and Mr. Brackenbury, his lieutenant of Dragoons. I venture to suggest, however, that you

will find yourself less restricted in my house. You may go and come, just as you please, even in the night hours.

My old housekeeper is used to me setting off at all hours upon this pony to visit my sick parishioners, who are

scattered far over the Marsh there.”

He pointed out across the flat expanse of dyke-divided pasturages that stretched away until it met either the sea or

sky. He then went on, while the Captain appeared to be obsessed in the Marshlands which the Parson had pointed

out. It was somewhere there, in that mysterious distance, that the equally mysterious Scarecrow rode at night at the

head of his phantom horsemen.

“Indeed,” went on the Vicar, “I am setting out now to see a poor old woman who is sick, with my panniers here

filled, as you see, with new-laid eggs and other nourishment. But I must not weary you with my parochial cares and

chatter, or you will think twice before accepting my invitation, which I sincerely hope you will at least consider.”

“I do, Parson,” replied the Captain, “and upon my soul, I thank you. Very seamanly of you, I’m sure. As to the

Court House, from what you tell me, I shall be glad not to reside there, for I can see that I should quickly come to

loggerheads with those officers of the Junior Service. No doubt with the Squire, too, for I hear that he resents

outsiders coming to enforce the law upon his territory, since he is the chief magistrate of the district.”

“He is of my opinion,” said Doctor Syn, “that if the land is used as a smuggler’s base, there are none of his

tenants who are in any way implicated.

“Which remains to be seen, Parson,” said the Captain sharply. “I intend to stamp out a smuggling that is known

to exist. And I shall do it in my own way, and only collaborate with those who are willing to take my orders. By the

way, Reverend Sir, without presuming to dictate to you as mine host, I should be glad of a room in your Vicarage

which has a casement looking out over the Marsh.”

“I think that can be managed,” returned Doctor Syn. “And if you can allay the pangs of hunger for another two

hours, I can do myself the pleasure of dining with you. I must needs be some little time with old Mother Handaway,

who is as greedy for a long reading of the Scriptures as she is for good things to eat. I will send a message to the

Squire informing him that you are to be my guest, unless you would rather tell him yourself when you call to present

your credentials.”

“I have no credentials to present to him, nor any,” retorted the Captain. ‘I think rather it will be the other way,

and that I shall be demanding credentials from one and all. My position is like this, reverend Sir. The Preventive

men on this portion of coast, not able to cope with this notorious Scarecrow, who is terrorizing the neighbourhood,

frightening folk from the Marsh yonder, while he runs his contraband, first applied to General Troubridge at Dover

for some Dragoons, and then, since the Scarecrow still worsted these, they further approached the General’s brother,

Admiral Troubridge, who handed me the commission, for it seems that the Admiral is anxious to beat his brother at

the game of Scarecrow-scaring. I presume that most people here realize the vast sums that are involved. Yes sir,

vast sums, of money that never find their way to the Revenue coffers. It’s money that never find their way to the

Revenue coffers. It’s my duty to see that this state of things comes to an end, and you can lay to it I’ll do that duty

to the best of my powers, by thunder, and take no interferences neither. As for you, reverend Sir, I can promise you

this. Aboard your quarters I’m your guest, and will not worry you about my business outside. You will find me

courteous, and ready to join you in any general conversation, or in a game of chess or backgammon if you’ve the

fancy. Whatever I think of folk in your parish, I’ll keep to myself and not put you in an awkward position. That’s

fair, I take it?”

“Perfectly fair,’ assented the Doctor. He then turned to Mipps who had naturally heard the whole conversation.

“Mister Mipps, you will about-ships with your donkey, and give Mrs. Fowey the necessary orders from me for

the Captain’s accommodation in the panelled room overlooking the Marsh. You will then trot after me, across the

Marsh. You will easily catch me up, as I must do little more than a walk, or I shall be breaking the eggs.”

“Aye, aye, Vicar,” exclaimed Mipps, once more perching himself upon Lightnings’s hindquarters, and

manipulating the reins as though pulling round the rudder of a boat.