So cast myself down on the turf, but had not lain there long when
I saw someone coming to me through the brambles, and Master Ratsey said,
'Well, Jack, so thou and Elzevir are leaving Moonfleet, and I fain would
flit myself, but then who would be left to lead the old folk to their
last homes, for dead do not bury their dead in these days.'
I was half-asleep, and took little heed of what he said, putting him off
with, 'That need not keep you, Master; they will find others to fill your
place.' Yet he would not let me be, but went on talking for the pleasure
of hearing his own voice.
'Nay, child, you know not what you say. They may find men to dig a grave,
and perhaps to fill it, but who shall toss the mould when Parson Glennie
gives the "earth to earth"; it takes a mort of knowledge to make it
rattle kindly on the coffin-lid.'
I felt sleep heavy on my eyelids, and was for begging him to let me rest,
when there came a whistle from below, and in a moment all were on their
feet. The drivers went to the packhorses' heads, and so we walked down to
the strand, a silent moving group of men and horses mixed; and before we
came to the bottom, heard the first boat's nose grind on the beach, and
the feet of the seamen crunching in the pebbles. Then all fell to the
business of landing, and a strange enough scene it was, what with the
medley of men, the lanthorns swinging, and a frothy Upper from the sea
running up till sometimes it was over our boots; and all the time there
was a patter of French and Dutch, for most of the _Bonaventure's_ men
were foreigners.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124