By Englands Aid | Page 9

in sight of the bridge
above Colchester. A few miles below the town the river began to widen.
The banks were low and flat, and they were now entering an arm of the
sea. Half an hour later the houses and church of Bricklesey came in
sight. Tide was almost low when they ran on to the mud abreast of the
village, but John put on a pair of high boots and carried the boys ashore
one after the other on his back, and then went up with them to the
house where they were to stop for the night.
Here, although not expected, they were heartily welcomed by John's
daughter.
"If father had told me that you had been coming, Masters Vickars, I
would have had a proper dinner for you; but though he sent word
yesterday morning that he should be over today, he did not say a word
about your coming with them."
"He did not know himself," Geoffrey said; "it was only settled at ten
o'clock yesterday. But do not trouble yourself about the dinner. In the
first place, we are so pleased at going that we don't care a bit what we
eat, and in the second place we had breakfast on board the boat, and we
were both so hungry that I am sure we could go till supper-time without
eating if necessary."

"Where are you going, father?" the young woman asked.
"I am going to set about unloading the flour."
"Why, it's only a quarter to twelve, and dinner just ready. The fish went
into the frying-pan as you came up from the boat. You know we
generally dine at half-past eleven, but we saw you coming at a distance
and put it off. It's no use your starting now."
"Well, I suppose it isn't. And I don't know what the young masters'
appetite may be, but mine is pretty good, I can tell you."
"I never knew it otherwise, father," the woman laughed, "Ah, here is
my Sam. Sam, here's father brought these two young gentlemen. They
are the sons of Mr. Vickars, the parson at Hedingham. They are going
to stop here to-night, and are going with him in the Susan to-morrow to
London."
"Glad to see you, young masters," Sam said. "I have often heard Ann
talk of your good father. I have just been on board the Susan, for I am
sending up a couple of score sides of bacon in her, and have been
giving Joe Chambers, her master, a list of things he is to get there and
bring down for me. Now then, girl, bustle about and get dinner on as
soon as you can. We are half an hour late. I am sure the young
gentlemen here must be hungry. There's nothing like being on the water
for getting an appetite."
A few minutes later a great dish of fish, a loaf of bread and some
wooden platters, were placed on the table, and all set to at once. Forks
had not yet come into use, and table-cloths were unknown, except
among the upper classes. The boys found that in spite of their hearty
breakfast their appetites were excellent. The fish were delicious, the
bread was home-baked, and the beer from Colchester, which was
already famous for its brewing. When they had finished, John Lirriper
asked them if they would rather see what there was to be seen in the
village, or go off to the ketch. They at once chose the latter alternative.
On going down to the water's edge they found that the tide had risen
sufficiently to enable Dick to bring the barge alongside the jetty. They

were soon on board.
"Which is the Susan, Master Lirriper?"
"That's her lying out there with two others. She is the one lowest down
the stream. We shall just fetch her comfortably."

CHAPTER II.
A MEETING IN CHEPE.
A row of ten minutes took the boat with Master Lirriper and the two
boys alongside the ketch.
"How are you, Joe Chambers?" Master Lirriper hailed the skipper as he
appeared on the deck of the Susan. "I have brought you two more
passengers for London. They are going there under my charge."
"The more the merrier, Uncle John," the young skipper replied. "There
are none others going this journey, so though our accommodation is not
very extensive, we can put them up comfortably enough if they don't
mind roughing it."
"Oh, we don't mind that," Geoffrey said, as they climbed on board;
"besides, there seems lots of room."
"Not so much as you think," the skipper replied. "She is a roomy craft
is the _Susan_; but she is pretty nigh all hold, and we are cramped a
little in the fo'castle. Still we can sleep six, and