Cutlass and Cudgel | Page 7

Shackle--I thank you warmly. You see her
ladyship is very fond of the taste of a fresh gathered mushroom, and if I
see a few I like to take them to the Hoze."
"Ay, to be sure," said Shackle, as he thought to himself "And precious
glad to get them, you two poor half-starved creatures, with your show

and sham, and titles and keep up appearances."
"I--er--I have not got many, Master Shackle. Would you like to see?"
continued the tall thin gentleman, raising the flap of one of his salt-box
pockets.
"I don't want to see," growled the other, as he stood patting the neck of
his old grey horse. "Been to the cliff edge?"
"I--yes, Master Shackle."
"See the cutter?"
"I think I saw a small vessel lying some distance off, with white sails."
"That's the White Hawk, Luff Brough. And I wanted to speak to you, Sir
Risdon."
The gentleman started.
"Not about--about that--" he stammered.
"Tchah! Yes. It was about that, man," said the other. "Don't shy at it
like a horse at a blue bogey in a windy lane."
"But I told you, man, last time, that I would have no more to do with
that wretched smuggling."
"Don't call things by ugly names."
"My good man, it is terrible. It is dishonourable, and the act is a
breaking of the laws of our country."
"Tchah! Not it, Sir Risdon," cried the other so sharply, that the grey
horse started forward, and had to be checked. "Not the king's laws, but
the laws of that Dutchman who has come and stuck himself on the
throne. Why, sir, you ought to take a pleasure in breaking his laws,
after the way he has robbed you, and turned you from a real gentleman,
into a poor, hard-pressed country squire, who--"

"Hush! Hush, Master Shackle!" said the tall gentleman huskily. "Don't
rake up my misfortunes."
"Not I, Sir Risdon. I'm full o' sorrow and respect for a noble gentleman,
who has suffered for the cause of the real king, who, when he comes,
will set us all right."
"Ah, Master Shackle, I'm losing heart."
"Nay, don't do that, Sir Risdon; and as to a few mushrooms, why,
you're welcome enough; and I'd often be sending a chicken or a few
eggs, or a kit o' butter, or drop o' milk, all to the Hoze, only we're
feared her ladyship might think it rude."
"It's--it's very good of you, Master Shackle, and I shall never be able to
repay you."
"Tchah! Who wants repaying, Sir Risdon? We have plenty at the farm,
and it was on'y day 'fore yes'day as I was out in my little lugger, and
we'd took a lot o' mackrel! `Ram,' I says to my boy Ramillies, `think Sir
Risdon would mind if I sent him a few fish up to the Hoze?'
"`Ay, father,' he says, `they don't want us to send them fish. My lady's
too proud!'"
Sir Risdon sighed, and the man watched him narrowly.
"It's a pity too," the latter continued, "specially as we often have so
much fish we puts it on the land."
"Er--if you would be good enough to send a little fish--of course very
fresh, Master Shackle, and a few eggs, and a little butter to the Hoze,
and let me have your bill by and by, I should be gratified."
"On'y too glad, Sir Risdon, I will.--Think any one's been telling tales?"
"Tales?"
"'Bout us, Sir Risdon."

"About us!"
"You see the revenue cutter's hanging about here a deal, and it looks
bad."
"Surely no one would betray you, Master Shackle?"
"Hope not, Sir Risdon; but it's okkard. There's a three-masted lugger
coming over from Ushant, and she may be in to-night. There's some
nice thick fogs about now, and it's a quiet sea. Your cellars are quite
empty, I s'pose?"
The last remark came so quickly, that the hearer started, and made no
reply.
"You see, Sir Risdon, we might run the cargo, and stow it all up at my
place, for we've plenty o' room; but if they got an idea of it aboard the
cutter, she'd land some men somehow, and come and search me, but
they wouldn't dare to come and search you. I've got a bad character,
but you haven't."
"No, no, Master Shackle; I cannot; I will not."
"The lads could run it up the valley, and down into your cellar, Sir
Risdon," whispered the man, as if afraid that the old grey horse would
hear; "nobody would be a bit the wiser, and you'd be doing a
neighbour a good turn."
"I--I cannot, Master Shackle; it is against the law."
"Dutchman's law, not the laws of Bonnie Prince Charlie. You will, Sir
Risdon?"
"No--no, I dare not."
"And it gives a neighbour