Doctor Syn on the High Seas - Thorndike Russell. Страница 3

again.

- 7 -

“And I drink to you,” returned the Doctor, “and to all Marshmen, and

may the Customs never get a one of them to hang upon the grisly tree of

old Jack Ketch.” Then, looking round the interior of the bastion, he

added: “No wonder you preferred to shoot a Riding Officer rather than

being carried away from here. It is all very cozy. I envy you this

gypsy life. It is adventurous; it is simple and natural.”

“Aye, sir,” said Mipps, looking pleased. “A good clod fire always

burning for food and warmth, and that there hurdle with broom on top for

shelter; what more can a man want?”

“Only brandy, it seems, and that you have,” laughed Syn. “How long

have you been in hiding here?”

“Couple of weeks,” replied Mipps. “Though I’m thinki ng of moving

myself on, and legging it down coast for Portsmouth.”

“What do you want to go there for?” asked the parson.

“To ship for the West Indies,” replied the little man. “Thinking of

working my passage on a man o’war as ship’s carpenter. Then I’ll

desert, ‘cos they won’t want for to lose me, being good at my work, and

then I’ll get down amongst the Brethren of the Coast.”

“You mean go pirating?” asked Syn. “For that’s all they are these

days, I understand. The jolly buccaneers have given place to a scum of

bloodyminded pirates. I suppose as a parson I should rebuke you for

such a wish.”

“Never rebuke a man for wishing to live a man’s life and playing the

man when he’s in it,” returned the other. “There’s good and bad in

every trade, and I expects piracy included. And I’ll play the man with

the dirtiest of ‘em. Small I may be, but I’ve grit sharp as flint. A

life of adventure for me. And from all accounts you gets it there.

Battle, murder—”

“Aye, and sudden death,” completed th e Doctor.

“Aye, aye, sir,” grinned Mipps; “but always allowing that you don’t

shoot first and straight.”

“There’s Execution Dock too,” argued the parson. “Have you thought

of that?”

“It’s better to die in old England at the last,” said Mipps.

“Besides, some of us has been born with a rare talent for escape, and

I’d never believe no one could hang me till I felt myself cut down.”

“A true adventurer, I see,” replied Doctor Syn; “and once more I envy

you. Whether you are boasting of your talents or not, I cannot say as

yet, though it seems that they are to be put to an immediate test.

While we have been talking, I have had my eye on Lympne Castle, and it

may interest you to know that three horsemen are riding down along the

western wall. It is significant to me that they are heading in our

direction, and that their leader is riding a dappled grey, very similar

to mine.”

“Sandgate swine,” hissed Mipps, grasping his blunderbuss. “Well,

I’ll at least prove my boast about shooting first and straight.”

‘You’ll attempt no such folly,” retorted Syn sharply. “Unless of

course you wish to forgo all possibility of becoming a good and bloodyminded pirate. You leave the officers to me, and you may yet see your

battle and murder on the Spanish Main. Hold these, and keep yourself

most religiously out of sight.”

Doctor syn had quickly unbuttoned his long black riding-coat, and

from one of his breeches pockets had taken out a handful of coins. Then

he counted into the little man’s hand, saying: “Three guinea spades,

two crowns and a new fourpenny. Keep them safely and yourself hidden,

or you’ll hang.”

- 8 -

Waiting a few moments till the approaching riders were behind a clump

of trees, he slipped out of the bastion walls and untethered his horse.

By the time the officers had emerged from the trees he was slowly

climbing the hill towards them, and since there were many other ruins

scattered about the hillside, there was nothing to connect with the

bastion occupied by Mipps. Meanwhil e, the fugitive, with his weapon at

the ready, cautiously peeped through a hole in the wall, straining his

ears

to listen to whatever the parson might say. This was easy enough, since

the voice of the officer turned out to be coarse, loud and overbearing,

while that of the parson extremely clear -spoken.

The officer was the first to speak. “Have you seen anything, you,

sir, of a dirty-looking little rat of a man in this immediate

neighbourhood?”

“I was about to put the very same question to you, sir,” replied

Doctor Syn; “for he must have passed within a few yards of you as he

went up the hill but now. I hope for your own sakes that you are not

anxious as I am to lay him by the heels.”

“Considering he’s an approved smuggler and we are Riding Offi cers for

Customers,” replied the officer, “I should say that no one could be more

anxious than we are to shackle him. What’s your quarrel with the

rascal?”

‘Just this,” replied Syn, making a wry face as he turned out the

empty lining of his breeches pocket. “He came upon me unawares, and

relieved this very pocket of three guinea-pieces, two crowns, and a

sliver fourpenny.”

“And you offered no resistance?” asked the officer scornfully. “An

agile man like you, tall, young and commanding, should have been a match

for that little rat. Or did you resist him and let him get the better

of you?”

Doctor Syn shook his head. “I did not resist for two reasons.

First, I am a parson and man of peace. And, Secondly, I preferred to

give him my gold rather than let him give me his lead.”

“Aye, and the revered young gentleman’s quite right,” said one of the

other officers. “That there Mipps would pull a blunderbuss at a man as

soon as I would at a rabbit.”

“Which way did he go? Up the hill, you said? An d it’s just time for

the carrier’s cart to start for Ashford. He’ll no doubt use some of

your money to save his legs. Come on, my lads, we’ll ride him down

yet,” And the officer turned his horse.

“I’ll be vastly obliged if you catch him,” called out the parson. “I

am but now on my way to lodge complaint with Sir Henry Pembury, who is a

Justice of the Peace. I am Doctor Syn, residing at the Court-House of

Dymchurch, and I shall be grateful if you can return at least some of

the money to that house. Sir Charles Cobtree is also a magistrate, as

you may know.”

“We’ll catch the bit of gallows meat before he gets much farther,

don’t you worry,” and, followed by his assistants, the officer set his

spurs to his horse and galloped up the hill.

When it w as safe for Doctor Syn to return to the bastion, he found

his comical little companion chuckling. “Well, you certainly settled

them very neat, sir. But I must first give you the lie and retun the

money. Here it is.”

“No indeed,” smiled the parson. “So long as you have it I have told

no lie except that you went up the hill. Instead, I strongly advise you

to go down it. Get on to the friendly Marsh, and use the money to help

you the quicker towards Portsmouth. Were it not for my cloth and duty,

I should be tempted to accompany you. Together we could rule it royally

amongst the pirates. Who knows but that we might not terrorize the

Spanish Main?”

- 9 -

“Well, sir,” replied Mipps with a wink, “if ever you should tire of

your pulpit, go avoyaging and fall into my hands, I pledge you my

solemn word that I will not make you walk the plank. You shall walk the

poop-deck with a sword at your side and a sash stuffed with pistols.

Success to us both. Long life for the King, and Down with the

Government and Customs.”