CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE FEN-MAN'S WAGES.
Dave did not keep his promise the next day, nor the next; but DickWinthorpe had his attention taken up by other matters, for a party ofmen arrived and stopped with their leaders at the Toft, where they wererefreshed with ale and bread and cheese, previous to continuing theirjourney down to the seaside.
The squire and Farmer Tallington accompanied them down to theirquarters, which were to be at a disused farm-house close to the mouth ofthe little river; and incidentally Dick learned that this was the firstparty of labourers who were to cut the new lode or drain from near theriver mouth right across the fen; that there was to be a lock with gatesat the river end, to let the drain-water out at low tide, and that thebanks of the drain were to be raised so as to protect the land at thesides from being flooded.
Fen people from far and wide collected to see the gang, and to watch thesurveyors, who, with measuring chain and staves and instruments, busiedthemselves marking out the direction in which the men were to cut; andthese fen people shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders, whilemore than once, when Squire Winthorpe addressed one or the other, Dicknoticed that they were always surly, and that some turned away withoutmaking any answer.
"Never mind, Dick," said the squire laughing. "Some day when we'vegiven them smiling pastures and corn-fields, instead of water and bogand ague, they will be ashamed of themselves."
"But--"
"Well, but what, sir?" said the squire as the lad hesitated.
"I was only going to say, father, isn't it a pity to spoil the fen?"
The squire did not answer for a few moments, but stood frowning. Thesevere look passed off directly though, and he smiled.
"Dick," he said gravely, "all those years at a good school, to come backas full of ignorance and prejudice as the fen-men! Shame!"
He walked away, leaving Dick with his companion Tom Tallington.
"I say," said the latter, "you caught it."
"Well, I can't help it," said Dick, who felt irritated and ashamed. "Itdoes seem a pity to spoil all the beautiful pools and fishing places,and instead of having beds of reeds full of birds, for there to benothing but fields and a great ugly drain. Why, the flowers, andbutterflies, and nesting places will all be swept away. What do we carefor fields of corn!"
"My father cares for them, and he says it will be the making of thispart of the country."
"Unmaking, he means," said Dick; and they went on to watch theproceedings of the strange men who had come--big, strong,good-tempered-looking fellows, armed with sharp cutting spades, and forwhose use the lads found that a brig had come into the little river, andwas landing barrows, planks, and baskets, with a variety of otherarticles to be used in the making of the drain.
"I'm afraid we shall have some trouble over this business, Tallington,"said the squire as they went back.
"Well, we sha'n't be the only sufferers," said the farmergood-humouredly. "I suppose all we who have adventured our few poundswill be in the people's black books. But we must go on--we can't stopnow."
The next day Tom came over, and the lads went down towards thefar-stretching fen, now once more losing a great deal of the water ofthe flood.
They passed the Solemn one apparently none the worse for his bath, forhe trotted away from the gate to thrust his head in the favourite cornerby the old corbel in the wall, and look back at them, as if as ready tokick as ever.
"Poor old Solomon!" said Dick laughing, "I should have been sorry if hehad been lost."
"Oh, never mind him," cried Tom; "is old Dave coming over to fetch us?Why, Dick, look!"
"I can't see anything," said Dick.
"Because you're not looking the right way. There! Now he's behind thatbed of reeds a mile away."
"I see!" cried Dick. "Why, it is Dave, and he's coming."
The lads ran down to the edge of the fen, and made their way to the endof a long, open, river-like stretch of water, which was now perfectlyclear, so that everything could be clearly distinguished at the bottom;and before long, as they walked to and fro, they caught sight of alittle shoal of small fish, and soon after of a young pike, with hisprotruding lower jaw, waiting for his opportunity to make a dash at someunfortunate rudd, whose orange fins and faintly-gilded sides made him adelectable-looking morsel for his olive-green and gold excellency thetyrant of the river.
"He's coming here, isn't he?" said Tom, gazing out anxiously over thereedy waste.
"Yes; I can see his old fox-skin cap. He's coming safe enough."
"Oh, Dick!" cried his companion.
"Well! What?"
"The powder. You've never given him the powder, and he'll be as gruffas can be. Has he had the horn?"
"Had two," said Dick, watching the approaching punt, which was stillhalf a mile away, and being poled steadily in and out of the windingwater-lane, now hidden by the dry rustling reeds which stood coveredwith strands of filmy conferva or fen scum.
"But he hasn't had the powder we promised him."
"No," said Dick loftily; "not yet."
"Why, you haven't brought it, Dick!"
"Haven't brought it, indeed! Why, what's this, then?"
He drew a bottle from his pocket, took out the cork, and poured a littleof its contents into his hand--dry, black grains, like so much sablesand, and then poured it back and corked it tightly.
"You are a good fellow, Dick; but I haven't paid my share."
"I don't want your share," said Dick loftily. "Father gave mehalf-a-crown the other day."
"I wish my father gave me half-crowns sometimes," sighed Tom; "but heisn't so rich as yours."
"There, don't bother about money!" cried Dick. "Let's think about thebirds. Hooray! here he comes! Hi, Dave!"
Sound travels easily over water, and the decoy-man must have heard thehail, but he paid no heed, only kept on poling his punt along, thrustingdown the long ash sapling, which the fen-men used as punt-pole, staff,and leaping-pole in turn; and then as the boat glided on, standing erectin her bows like some statue.
"Now, what a dried-up old yellow mummy he is!" cried Dick. "He can seeus, but he's pretending he can't, on purpose to tease us. Look at that!He needn't have gone behind that great reed patch. It's to make usthink he is going down to your place."
"Let's run down and meet him," said Tom eagerly.
"No, no; stop where you are. If he sees us go down there he'll doubleback directly and come here. He's just like an old fox. I know. Comealong!"
Dick started up and ran in the same direction as Dave had taken with thepunt before he disappeared behind the reed-bed. Tom followed, and theyraced on along the edge till a clump of alders was reached.
"Pst! Tom, round here," whispered Dick; and leading the way he doubledback, following the long low bed of swamp-loving wood, and keeping inits shelter till they were once more opposite to the spot where Daveshould have landed.
There, still hid among the trees, Dick stooped down in a thick bed ofdry reeds, pretty close to the water, and in full view of the roughwinding canal leading far and wide.
"Let's hide for a few minutes," said Dick chuckling. "You'll see he'llcome here after all."
The lad had a good idea of Dave's ways, for before they had beenwatching many minutes there was the splashing of the pole heard in thewater, and the rustling of the reeds, but nothing was visible, and Tombegan to be of opinion that his companion had been wrong, when all atonce the reeds began to sway and crackle right before them, and beforeTom recovered from his surprise the punt shot right out of the middle ofthe long low wall of dried growth, and in answer to a vigorous thrust ortwo from the pole, glided across to within a dozen yards of where thelads crouched.
"Come on, Tom!" said Dick, and they stepped out at once so suddenly thatthe decoy-man, in spite of his self-control, started. A curious smilepuckered his face directly and he stood staring at them.
"Why, you have been a long time, Dave," cried Dick.
"Long,
boy?"
"Yes, long. You asked us to come over and see the netting."
"Ay, so I did, boy; but there soon wean't be no netting."
"Then come on and let's see it while there is some," cried Dick. "Whenwe used to be home from school you always said we were too young. Youcan't say that now."
"Ay, bud I can," said the man with a dry chuckle.
"Then don't," said Dick. "You've brought your gun there!" he criedjoyfully.
"Ay, I've brote my gun," said Dave; "but I hevven't any powder."
"Yes, you have, Dave," cried Dick, tugging the wine-bottle from hispocket. "Here's some."
"Eh? Is that powder or drink?" said the man, taking the bottle andgiving it a shake. "It arn't full, though."
"No, it isn't full," said Dick in a disappointed tone; "but there's awhole pound, and it's the best."
"Ah, well, I daresay it'll do," said Dave slowly.
"Load the gun, then, and let's have a shot at the snipes as we go," saidTom.
"Nay, she wean't go off till she has had a new flint in. I'm going toknap one when I get back."
"Jump in, then," cried Dick. "I'm going to pole her across."
"Nay, I don't think it's any use to-day."
"Why, Dave, this is just the sort of day you said was a good one fornetting."
"Did I, lad?"
"Yes; didn't he, Tom? And what's that wisp of birds going over thewater, yonder?"
"Quick, in wi' ye, lads!" cried the decoy-man, with his whole mannerchanged. "The right sort. Look, lads, another wisp! See how low theyfly. They mean feeding."
The boys leaped into the punt, and Dick was about to seize the pole, butDave stopped him.
"Nay, lad, let me send her across. Save time."
"Then may I have a shot at the first heron I see?"
"Nay, nay; don't let's scar' the birds, lad. It's netting to-day.We'll shute another time when they wean't come near the net."
Dick gave way, and Dave took the pole, to send the light punt skimmingover the water, and in and out among the reed-beds through which,puzzling as they would have been to a stranger, he thrust the vesselrapidly. They were full of devious channels, and Dave seemed to preferthese, for even when there was a broad open piece of water in front heavoided it, to take his way through some zigzag lane with the reedsbrushing the boat on either side, and often opening for himself a waywhere there was none.
The man worked hard, but it seemed to have no effect upon him; and whenthe lads were not watching him and his energetic action, there wasalways something to take up their attention. Now a heron would rise outof one of the watery lanes, gaunt, grey, and with his long legsstretched out behind to look like a tail as his great flap wings beatthe air and carried him slowly away.
Then with a loud splash and cackling, up would spring a knot of ducks,their wings whirring as they rapidly beat the air in a flight wonderfulfor such a heavy bird. Again a little farther and first one and thenanother snipe would dart away in zigzag flight, uttering their strange_scape, scape_. And all tempting to a lad who sat there within touch ofa long heavy-looking gun, which had been cleaned and polished till everypart was worn.
But he had been told that it was not charged and that the flint-lock wasin a failing condition; and besides, Dick felt that it would bedishonourable to touch the gun now that it was almost trusted to hiscare.
In spite of Dave's ability and knowledge of the short cuts to the partof the fen where he lived, it took him nearly three-quarters of an hourto punt across, where the lads landed upon what was really an island inthe fen, though one side ran pretty close up to some fairly dry landfull of narrow water-lanes and pools, all favourite breeding ground forthe wild-fowl.
The boys leaped out while Dave fastened the punt to an old willow trunk,and, quite at home in the place, went on first to a rough-looking housenearly hidden among alders and willows, all of which showed traces ofthe flood having been right up, submerging everything to a depth ofthree to four feet.
"Hullo, Chip! Chip! Chip!" cried Tom, and the decoy-man's littlesharp-looking dog came bounding to them, to leap up, and fawn and whine,full of delight at seeing human faces again.
There was the twittering and piping of birds, and the scuffling,scratching noise made by animals in a cage, as they reached theroughly-fenced yard, more than garden, about Dave's cottage, the boyseager to inspect the birds, the ferrets, the eel-spear leaning againstthe reed thatch, and the brown nets hung over poles, stretching frompost to post, as if to dry.
"Why, it's months sin' you've been to see me," said Dave.
"Well, whose fault's that?" said Dick sharply. "I say, Dave, these netsare new."
"Ay, every one of 'em. Made 'em all this summer."
"Didn't you get lots of things spoiled when the flood came?" cried Tom.
"N-no, lad, no. Nearly had my birds drownded, but I got 'em atop of thethack yonder."
"But hasn't your cottage been dreadfully wet?" asked Dick, who waspoking his finger in a cage full of ferrets. "I say, what are JohnWarren's ferrets doing here?"
"Doin' nothing, and waiting to be took out, that's all, lad."
"But wasn't your place horribly wet?"
"What care I for a drop o' watter?" said Dave contemptuously.
"Look here, Dick, at the decoys," cried Tom running to a large wickercage in which were four of the curious long-legged birds known as ruffsand reeves.
"Was six," said Dave. "I lost two."
"How?"
"Fightin', lad. I niver see such bonds to fight. Gamecocks is babiesto 'em. I'm going to try a new improved way of ketching of 'em bychallenging the wild ones to fight."
"Never mind about them," said Dick eagerly; "are you going to startnow?"
"Ah! you're so precious eager to begin, lad," said Dave; "but whenyou've been sitting out there on the boat for about a couple of hoursyou'll be glad to get back."
"Oh, no, we sha'n't!" cried Dick. "Now, then, let's start."
"Ay, but we've got to get ready first."
"Well, that's soon done. Shall I carry the birds down to the boat?"
"Nay; we wean't take them to-day. I've sin more pie-wipes than ruffs,so let's try for them."
He went round to the back of the hovel and took from the roof a cagewhich the lads had not yet seen, containing seven green plovers, andthis was carried to the boat, where the frightened birds ran to and fro,thrusting their necks between the wicker bars in a vain attempt toescape.
This done, a bundle of net, some long stout cord, and poles werecarefully placed in the stern, after which Dave went into his cottage tobring out a mysterious-looking basket, which was also placed in thestern of the boat.
"That's about all," said the man, after a moment's thought; andunfastening the punt after the boys were in, he pushed off, but only toturn back directly and secure the boat again.
"Why, what now, Dave?" cried Dick. "Aren't you going?"
"Going, lad! yes; but I thowt if we caught no bohds you might like me toshute one or two."
"Well, we've got the gun and plenty of powder."
"Ay, lad; but I've lost my last flint, and I've got to knap one."
The boys followed him ashore, leaving the plovers fluttering in thecage, and Dave went inside his cottage, and returned directly with ahammer and a piece of flint, which he turned over two or three times soas to get the stone in the right position, as, taught by longexperience, he struck a sharp blow.
Now Dave, the duck-decoy-man of the fens, knew nothing about lines offracture or bulbs of percussion as taught by mineralogists, but he knewexactly where to hit that piece of flint so as to cause a nicesharp-edged flake to fly off, and he knew how and where to hit thatflake so as to chip it into a neat oblong, ready for his gun, thosepresent being ignorant of the fact that they were watching workmanshipsuch as was in vogue among the men who lived and hunted in England inthe far-distant ages of which we have no history but what they have leftus in these works. Dave Gittan chipped away at the
flint just as theancient hunters toiled to make the arrow-heads with which they shot theanimals which supplied them with food and clothing, the flint-kniveswith which they skinned and cut up the beasts, and the round sharp-edgedscrapers with which they removed the fat and adhering flesh as theydressed and tanned the skins to make them fit to wear.
Dave chipped one gun-flint very accurately, failed to make a second, butwas triumphant with the third attempt, and fitting it exactly in thelock of his piece with a piece of leather at top and bottom, he loadedthe gun with a great deal of ceremony, measuring the powder with a tinycup which fitted over the top of his powder-horn, and his shot with thesame vessel, so many times filled.
These rammed down in place with some rough paper on the top, and theramrod measured to see whether it stood out the right distance from thebarrel, the pan was primed and closed, and the gun carefully laid readyfor use.
"There," cried Dave in an ill-used tone, "I don't know why I'm tekkin'all this trouble for such a pair o' young shacks as you; but comealong."
"It's because he likes us, Dick," said Tom merrily.
"Nay, that I don't," cried Dave. "I hate the lot of you. Not one ofyou'll be satisfied till you've spoiled all my fen-land, and made it aplace where nivver a bird will come."
"Why, I wouldn't have it touched if I could help it--St! Dave, whatbird's that?" said Dick.
"Curlew," replied Dave in a low voice, whose tones were imitated by thelads as the boat was softly punted along. "See them, boys!"
He nodded in the direction they were going, towards where a number ofbirds were flying about over some patches of land which stood just overthe level of the water. Now they looked dark against the sky, now theydisplayed feathers of the purest white, for their flight with theirblunted wings was a clumsy flapping very different to the quiver andskim of a couple of wild ducks which came by directly after and droppedinto the water a quarter of a mile ahead.
"You come and see me next spring, my lads, and I'll show you wherethere's more pie-wipes' eggs than ever you found before in your lives."
"But you'll take us one day to the 'coy, Dave?" said Dick.
"Nay, I don't think I can," said Dave.
"But it's my father's 'coy," said Dick.
"Ay, I know all about that," said the man harshly; "but it wean't bemuch good to him if he dree-erns the fen."
Dave's voice was growing loud and excited, but he dropped it directlyand thrust away without making the slightest splash with his iron-shodpole.
As they came near one bed of reeds several coots began to paddle away,jerking their bald heads as they went, while a couple of moor-hens,which as likely as not were both cocks, swam as fast as their long thinunwebbed toes would allow them, twitching their black-barred white tailsin unison with the jerking of their scarlet-fronted little heads, andthen taking flight upon their rounded wings, dragging their long thintoes along the top of the water, and shrieking with fear, till theydropped into the sheltering cover ahead.
Snipes flew up from time to time, and more curlews and green ploverswere seen, offering plenty of opportunities for the use of the gun, asthe punt progressed till a long low spit of heathery gravel, about fortyfeet in length and five wide, was reached, with a patch of reeds acrossthe water about a couple of hundred yards away.
"Is this the place?" cried Dick excitedly; and upon being answered inthe affirmative--"Now, then, what shall we do first?"
"Sit still, and I'll tell you, lads," was the stern reply, as Dave, nowall eagerness, secured the boat and landed his net and poles.
"Don't tread on her, my lads," he said. "Now help me spread her out."
He showed them how to proceed, and the net, about a dozen yards inlength, was spread along the narrow spit of land, which was only about afoot wider than the net, at whose two ends was fixed a pole as spreader,to which lines were attached.
The net spread, the side nearest to the water was fastened down withpegs, so adjusted as to act as hinges upon which the apparatus wouldturn, while as soon as this was done Dave called for themysterious-looking basket.
This being produced from the punt and opened was found to contain abouta dozen stuffed peewits, which, though rough in their feathers, werevery fair imitations of the real things.
These were stuck along the edge of the net outside and at either end.
"Now for the 'coys," cried Dave, and Tom brought the cage of unfortunatepeewits, who had a painful duty to perform, that of helping to leadtheir free brethren into the trap that was being laid for them.
Each of these decoy-birds was quickly and cleverly tethered to a pegalong the edge of the net upon the narrow strip of clear land, a stringbeing attached to one leg so long as to give them enough freedom toflutter a little among the stuffed birds, which seemed to be feeding.
"There!" cried Dave, when all was ready; and at a short distance nothingwas visible but the group of birds fluttering or quiescent, for the netwas wonderfully like the ground in colour. "There, she's ready now, mylads, so come along."
He bade Dick thrust the punt along to the bed of reeds; and as the laddeftly handled the pole, Dave let out the line, which was so attached tothe ends of the poles that a vigorous pull would drag the net rightover.
It was quite a couple of hundred yards to the reeds, through which thepunt was pushed till it and its occupants were hidden, when, havingthrust down the pole as an anchor to steady the little vessel, the linewas drawn tight so as to try whether it would act, and then kept just sotense as to be invisible beneath the water, and secured to the edge ofthe punt.
"That ought to bring them, lads," said Dave, with his eyes twinklingbeneath his fox-skin cap, after beating a few reeds aside so that theycould have a good view of where the unfortunate peewits fluttered at thepegs.
"But suppose they don't come?" said Tom. "I know if I was a piewipe Iwouldn't be cheated by a few dummies and some pegged-down birds."
"But then you are not a piewipe, only a goose," said Dick.
"Hist!" whispered Dave, and placing his fingers to his mouth he sent outover the grey water so exact an imitation of the green plover's cry thatDick looked at him in wonder, for this was something entirely new.
_Pee-eugh, pee-eugh, pee-eugh_! And the querulous cry was answered froma distance by a solitary lapwing, which came flapping along in a greathurry, sailed round and round, and finally dropped upon the littlenarrow island and began to run about.
"You won't pull for him, will you, Dave?" whispered Dick.
Dave shook his head, and the boys watched as from time to time the manuttered the low mournful cry.
"Wonder what that chap thinks of the stuffed ones?" whispered Dick.
"Why don't the live ones tell him it isn't safe?" said Tom.
"Don't know; perhaps they're like old Tom Tallington," said Dick:"whenever they get into a mess they like to get some one else in ittoo."
"You say that again and I'll hit you," whispered Tom, holding up hisfist menacingly.
"Hist!" came from Dave, who uttered the imitation of the peewit'swhistle again, and a couple more of the flap-winged birds came slowlyover the grey-looking water, which to anyone else, with its patches ofdrab dry weeds and bared patches of black bog, would have seemed to be aterrible scene of desolation, whereas it was a place of enchantment tothe boys.
"They come precious slowly," said Dick at last. "I thought that therewould have been quite a crowd of birds, like you see them sometimes.Look at the old bald-heads, Tom."
He pointed to a party of about half a dozen coots which came slowly outof the reeds and then sailed on again as if suspicious of all being notquite right.
Then there was another little flock of ducks streaming over the fen inthe distance, and their cries came faintly as they dashed into thewater, as if returning home after a long absence.
"There goes a her'n," whispered Tom, who was not very good at seeingbirds and worse at telling what they were.
"'Tisn't," cried Dick; "it's only a grey crow."
&n
bsp; "If you two go on chattering like that we shall get no birds," said Davesharply. "What a pair o' ruck-a-toongues you are; just like two owdwomen!"
"Well, but the birds are so long coming," said Dick; "I'm getting thecramp. I say, Dave, are there any butterbumps [bitterns] close here?"
"Plenty; only they wean't show theirsens. Hah!"
They had been waiting a couple of hours, and the peewit's cry had beenuttered from time to time, but only a straggler or two had landed uponthe strip of land. Dick had been eager to capture these, but Dave shookhis head. It wasn't worth while to set the net and peg out decoys andstales, he said, to catch two pie-wipes that weren't enough for a man'sdinner.
So they crouched there in the punt, waiting and growing more cold andcramped, fidgeting and changing their positions, and making waves seemto rise from under the boat to go whispering among the reeds.
Every now and then Tom uttered a sigh and Dick an impatient grunt, whileat these movements Dave smiled but made no other sign, merely watchingpatiently. His eyes glittered, and their lids passed over them rapidlyfrom time to time; otherwise he was as motionless as if carved out ofold brown boxwood, an idea suggested by the colour of his skin.
"I say," said Dick at last, as there were tokens in the distance of theday coming to an end with mist and fine rain, "I am getting so hungry!Got anything to eat, Dave?"
"When we've done, lads."
"But haven't we done? No birds will come to-day."
Dave did not answer, only smiled very faintly; and it seemed as if thelad was right, for the sky and water grew more grey, and though thestuffed birds appeared to be diligently feeding, and those which weretethered hopped about and fluttered their wings, while the two free onesran here and there, flew away and returned, as if exceedingly mystifiedat the state of affairs on that long, narrow strip of land, Dave's callsseemed to be as vain as the snares he had made.
"I wonder whether these birds break their shins in running over themeshes of the net!" said Dick after a long yawn. "Oh, I say, Dave,there's no fun in this; let's go!"
"Hist! pee-eugh, pee-eugh!" whistled Dave loudly, and then in quite alow tone that sounded distant, and this he kept up incessantly and witha strange ventriloquial effect.
The boys were all excitement now, for they grasped at once the cause oftheir companion's rapid change of manner. For there in the distance,coming down with the wind in scattered flight and as if labouringheavily to keep themselves up, appeared a flock of lapwings pretty wella hundred strong.
"Hooray! At last, Tom!" cried Dick. "Will they come and settle on thenet, Dave?"
"Not a bird of 'em if thou keeps up that ruck," whispered the manexcitedly.
The next minute he was imitating the cry of the peewit, and it wasanswered from the distance by the birds coming along, while the twostragglers which had been hanging about so long now rose up, circledround, and settled again.
"Look at them!" whispered Dick. "Lie low, Tom; they're coming."
Both lads were on the tiptoe of expectation, but it seemed as if theywere to be disappointed, for the flock came on slowly, uttering itsquerulous cries, and circled round as if to pass over, but they wereevidently still attracted by the decoy-birds, and hesitated and flew toand fro.
"Oh, if they don't light now!" said Dick to himself. "They're going,"he sighed half aloud, and then he seized Tom's arm in his excitement,and gripped it so hard that the boy nearly cried out, and would havedone so but for the state of eagerness he too was in.
For after farther signs of hesitation and doubt, all of which were infavour of the flock going right away, one of them seemed to give aregular tumble over in the air, as if it were shot, and alighted.Another followed, and another, and another, till, to the intenseexcitement of the occupants of the boat among the reeds, the long, lowspit of gravel, almost level with the water, became alive with birdsrunning here and there.
It was on Dick's lips to cry, "Now, Dave, pull!" but he could not speak,only watch the thin, keen, yellow man, whose eye glittered beneath hisrough hairy cap as he slowly tightened the line, drawing it up till itwas above the surface of the water, which began to ripple and play aboutit in long waves running off in different directions. There was sogreat a length that it was impossible to draw it tight without movingthe spreader poles; and as the lads both thought of what theconsequences would be if the line broke, the movement at the ends of thelong net spread the alarm.
There was a curious effect caused by the spreading of the wings of thebirds, and the whole island seemed to be slowly rising in the air; butat that moment the water hissed from the punt right away to where theflock was taking flight, and as the line tightened, a long filmy waveseemed to curve over towards them. By one rapid practice-learned drag,the net was snatched over and fell on to the water, while a great flockof green plovers took flight in alarm and went flapping over reed-bedand mere.
"Oh, what a pity!" cried Dick, jumping up in the boat and stamping hisfoot with rage.
"And so near, too!" cried Tom.
"Sit down, lads," roared Dave, who was dragging the pole out of theground, and the next moment he was thrusting the light boat along overthe intervening space, and the more readily that the bottom there wasonly three or four feet below the surface, and for the most part firm.
"Why, have you caught some?" cried Dick.
The answer was given in front, for it was evident that the net hadentangled several of the unfortunate birds, which were flapping thewater and struggling vainly to get through the meshes, but drowningthemselves in the effort.
The scene increased in excitement as the boat neared, for the birdsrenewed their struggles to escape, and the decoys tethered on the islandto their pegs leaped and fluttered.
In an incredibly short time the skilful puntsman had his boat alongsidethe net, and then began the final struggle.
It was a vain one, for one by one the plovers were dragged from beneathand thrust into a large basket, till the net lay half-sunk beneath thesurface, and the feeble flapping of a wing or two was all that could beheard.
The boat was dripping with water and specked with wet feathers, and asolitary straggler of the plover flock flew to and fro screaming as ifreproaching the murderers of its companions; otherwise all was still asDave stood up and grinned, and showed his yellow teeth.
"There!" he cried triumphantly; "yow didn't expect such a treat asthat!"
"Treat!" said Dick, looking at his wet hands and picking some feathersfrom his vest, for he and Tom after the first minute had plungedexcitedly into the bird slaughter and dragged many a luckless bird outof the net.
"Ay, lad, treat!--why, there's nigh upon fourscore, I know."
Dick's features had a peculiar look of disgust upon them and his browwrinkled up.
"Seems so precious cruel," he said.
Dave, who was rapidly freeing his decoy-birds and transferring them tothe cage, stood up with a fluttering plover in one hand.
"Cruel!" he cried.
"Yes, and treacherous," replied Dick.
"Deal more cruel for me to be found starved to death in my place someday," said Dave. "Pie-wipes eats the beedles and wains, don't they?Well, we eats the pie-wipes, or sells 'em, and buys flour and bacon.Get out wi' ye! Cruel! Yow don't like piewipe pie!"
"I did, and roast piewipe too," cried Dick; "but I don't think I shallever eat any again."
"Hark at him!" cried Dave, going on rapidly with his task and packing uphis stuffed birds neatly in their basket, drawing out his pegs, and thenrolling up and wringing the wet net before placing it in the punt, andwinding in the dripping line which he drew through the water from thereed-bed. "Hark at him, young Tom Tallington!"--and he uttered now apeculiarly ugly harsh laugh--"young squire ar'n't going to eat any morebacon, 'cause it's cruel to kill the pigs; nor no eels, because they hasto be caught; and he wean't catch no more jacks, nor eel-pouts, nor yeteat any rabbud-pie! Ha--ha--ha--ha--ha!"
"Look here, Dave!" cried Dick passionately, "if you laugh
at me I'll shysomething at you! No, I won't," he shouted, seizing the cage; "I'lldrown all your decoys!"
"Ay, do!" said Dave, beginning to use the pole. "You're such aparticular young gentleman! Only, wouldn't it be cruel?"
"Ha--ha--ha!" laughed Tom.
"Do you want me to punch your head, Tom?" roared Dick, turning scarlet.
"Nay, lads, don't spyle a nice bit o' sport by quarrelling," said Dave,sending the boat rapidly homeward. "I wean't laugh at you no more,Mester Dick. I like you for it, lad. It do seem cruel; and sometimeswhen I weer younger, and a bud looked up at me with its pretty eyes, asmuch as to say, `don't kill me!' I would let it go."
"Ah!" ejaculated Dick with a sigh of relief.
"But what did that bud do, lad? If it was a piewipe, go and killhundreds o' worms, and snails, and young frogs; if it was a heron, spearfish and pick the wriggling young eels out of the mud. No, lad, itwean't do; buds is the cruellest things there is, pretty as they are--all except them as only eats seeds. Everything 'most is cruel; but ifthey wasn't the world would get so full that everything would starve.We've got say fourscore pie-wipes--not for fun, but for wittles--andwhat's fourscore when there's thousands upon thousands all about?"
"Why, Dave, you're a philosopher!" said Dick, who felt relieved.
"Yes," said Dave complacently, but with a very foggy idea of the meaningof the word; "it's being out so much upon the water. Now, there's anice couple o' ducks swimming just the other side o' them reeds, as alad might hit just as they rose from the water when we come round thecorner; and I'd say hev a shot at 'em, Mester Dick--on'y, if I did, itwould hurt your feelings."
Dick was silent for a moment or two as he tried to keep down his humannature. Then he spoke out:
"I beg your pardon, Dave, after what you did for us. May I take up thegun?"
"Ay. Steady, lad!--keep her head over the stem, and I'll turn the boatround and send you along gently. Now you lie down on your chesty andrest the barr'l on the net, for she's too heavy for you to handle. Thenwait till the ducks rise, and let go at 'em."
There was another interval full of excitement; the punt was sent quietlytoward the end of the reed-bed; and in obedience to his instructionsDick knelt ready to fire--Tom watching him enviously, and wishing itwere his turn.
Nearer, nearer, with the punt allowed to go on now by the force of thelast thrust given to it, till the last patch of reed was cleared; andthere, not twenty yards away, swam a fine shieldrake and four ducks.
As the punt glided into sight there was a splashing and whirring ofwings, a great outcry, and away went the birds.
"Now, lad!" cried Dave; and the gun was fired with a deafening report.But no feathers flew--no unfortunate duck or drake dropped,broken-winged, into the water. The only living being injured was Dick,who sat up rubbing his shoulder softly.
"I say," he said, "how that gun kicks!"
"Yes," said Dave dryly, "I put a big charge in her, my lad; but it was apity to waste it."
"I couldn't help missing," said Dick. "They were so quick."
"Nay, you wouldn't try to hit 'em, lad, because you thought you'd hot'em," said Dave, chuckling; and Tom laughed, while Dick sat and nursedthe gun in silence, till the punt was poled ashore and its contentslanded.
"Now," said Dave, "I've got a rabbud-pie as I made mysen. Come and heva bit, lads; and then you shall take home a dozen pie-wipes apiece.It'll be moonlight, and I'll soon punt you across."
That pie, in spite of the rough surroundings, was delicious; and Dickforgot to pity the poor rabbits, and he did not refuse to take his dozenlapwings home for a welcome addition to the next day's dinner.
"You see, Tom," he whispered, "I think I was a little too particular.Good-night, Dave, and thank you!" he shouted.
"Good-night, lads--good-night!" came off the water. Then there was asplash of the pole, and Dave disappeared in the moonlit mist whichsilvered the reeds, while the boys trudged the rest of their way home.
Dick o' the Fens: A Tale of the Great East Swamp Page 7