Nic Revel Part 48

"But it zeems zo long, zir. I zay, though, it's rather queer, isn't it, for me to be water bailiff and keeper over the vish as I used to take.

Think Humpy Dee and them others will get away and come back again?"

"I hope so," said Nic slowly and thoughtfully. "They deserved their punishment, but they will have had enough by now."

"Nay, you're a bit too easy, Master Nic. Humpy's a down bad one, and I should like the others to have one year more out yonder, and Humpy too."

"Too long for white slaves, Pete," said Nic. "We have suffered with them, and know what the sufferings are; so I forgive them. What say you?"

"Zame as you do, Master Nic; o' course, that is, if they don't come back and meddle with our zalmon again--_our zalmon_! That zounds queer, Master Nic, don't it? I can't quite feel as if it's all true."

"But it is true, Pete; and we are here safe in the good old home, after what seems now like an ugly dream."

"Dinner-bell's rung twice, Master Nic," said William Solly, coming upon them suddenly from behind the trees; "and you can't 'spect to get your strength up proper if you aren't reg'lar at the mess. I run out to look for you, to keep the skipper from--Well, there now--if he aren't come to look for you hisself! Give him a shout, and say you're coming."

Nic hailed, and hurried back to meet the old officer, while William Solly turned to Pete:

"Come along, messmet; the beef and soft tack's waiting. And so you're going to stop here altogether!"

"I s'pose so," said Pete.

"And we're to be messmets reg'lar sarving under Captain Revel and Master Nic?"

"That's it," said Pete st.u.r.dily.

"Well," said Solly, "I aren't jealous, for you did the right thing by the young master; so let's shake hands."

This was solemnly done, and Solly went on:

"As good a skipper as ever stepped a deck, and as fine a boy as ever breathed. Pete, messmet, you've dropped into a snug thing."

"Which that zame I know," said Pete gruffly.

"But you saved Master Nic's life, and the skipper's too, by bringing the young master back; and I'm glad you're going to stay. So suppose we shakes hands agen?"

They did, as if they meant it, too.

They did mean it, and somehow a great attachment sprang up between those two men, while as time rolled on Nic smiled more than once on meeting them consulting together about matters connected with the estate, and made Solly wince.

At last, after a good deal of hesitation, Solly turned upon his young master.

"Beg pardon, sir," he said; "speaking respeckful like--"

"What is it?" said Nic, for the man stopped.

"Well, sir, you know; and it goes hard on a chap as is doing his dooty and wants to keep things straight."

"I still don't understand you, Solly," said Nic.

"Well, sir, it's all along o' that there chap, Pete: you never ketch me a-talking to him, and giving him a bit o' good advice about what the skipper likes done, but you grins."

"Grins?"

"Oh, it's no use to make believe, Master Nic, because you do, and it hurts."

"They were not grins," said Nic. "I only smiled because I was glad to see you two such good friends."

"Ho!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Solly; "that was it, sir? I thought you was grinning and thinking what an old fool I was."

"Nothing of the sort."

"Well, I'm glad o' that, Master Nic, though it do seem a bit queer that I should take a lot o' notice of a feller as fought agen us as he did.

But we aren't friends, sir."

"Indeed!" said Nic.

"It's on'y that I can't help taking a bit to a man as stood by you as he did over yonder in furren abroad. You see, a man like that's got the making of a good true mate in him."

"Yes, Solly, of as good a man as ever stepped."

Two years had pa.s.sed, when one day Solly watched his opportunity of catching Nic alone in the grounds, and followed him.

"Master Nic!" he whispered hoa.r.s.ely.

The young man turned round, and Solly "made a face" at him. That is to say, he shut his left eye very slowly and screwed up the whole of his countenance till it was a maze of wrinkles.

"What is it, Solly?"

"Pete's over yonder, sir, by the combo, and wants to speak to you."

"Oh, very well, I'll go," said Nic, and the old sailor nodded, looked mysterious, slapped his mouth to indicate that it was a secret mission, and hurried away.

"What does it all mean?" said Nic to himself. "Why, I do believe Pete is going to tell me that he wants to be married, and to ask if my father will object."

He reached the combe, to find Pete, now a fine st.u.r.dy-looking Devon man in brown velveteen jacket and leather gaiters, counting the salmon in the pool.

Pete turned sharply directly he heard Nic approach, and the serious look in the man's face told that something unusual had occurred.

"Morn', Master Nic, zir."

"What is it, Pete? Surely you don't mean that we've had poachers again?"

"Poachers it be, zir," said the man mysteriously; "but they won't come here again. Master Nic, there's three on 'em come back, and I've zeen 'em."

"What! From the plantation?"

"Yes, zir; after a long spell of it they managed to give the dogs zome poison stuff they got out of the woods. The blacks told 'em of it.