The Vicar's People Part 58

"I've been thinking that I ought to send you for Mrs Mullion, Trethick."

"What! Is she in danger?"

"No; oh, no, poor la.s.s; she'll be better soon. You are going to wait about, I suppose?"

"Oh, yes," said Geoffrey; "you may want me to fetch something more, and I'll wait to walk back with you."

The doctor went in, and old Prawle came up from below and touched him on the arm.

"Come and sit down here," he said, gruffly. "I've lit a fire below."

"Well, I am cold," said Geoffrey; and he followed the old man down into a rough cave in the rock, where he kept old nets, a boat, and various pieces of fishing gear. A bright fire of wreck-wood was burning, and to this, with a shiver, Geoffrey walked up, whereupon the old man took a bottle out of a battered sea-chest, whose outside was splintered by the rocks in coming ash.o.r.e, and poured him out a little spirit in a chipped and footless gla.s.s, frosted by the attrition of the sand in which it had been found.

"Smuggled?" said Geoffrey, with a smile.

"Drink it, and don't ask questions, my lad."

"Your health, Father Prawle," said Geoffrey, tossing it down. "It was rude. By George! what nectar. It puts life in a fellow. Shall we hear the doctor when he comes out?"

"Yes, don't be afeard, man, sit down," said the old fellow. "I'm going to smoke."

"I'll join you," said Geoffrey, "if you have any tobacco. Mine's soaked."

"Oh, yes," said the old man. "I've pa.s.sed many a night in sea-soaked clothes, but it won't hurt you, my lad. Here's some tobacco."

"I hope not," said Geoffrey, taking the tobacco, filling, and lighting his pipe.

"You got her out of the water then, eh?"

"Yes," said Geoffrey, shortly.

"Poor la.s.s!"

Geoffrey nodded acquiescence, and they smoked for some time in silence.

"It is very kind of Miss Prawle to take her in and attend her," said Geoffrey at last; "but I'm sure poor Madge Mullion will be very grateful."

"My Bess arn't made of stone," said the old man, gruffly, as he sat staring hard across the ruddy fire, whose smoke went up through a rift.

Then, re-filling the gla.s.s, he handed it to Geoffrey, who drank gladly of the spirit at the time; after which the old man refreshed himself, put on some more driftwood, and stared at his visitor.

"I should have liked to hold some shares in that mine," he said.

"Yes, you ought to have had some, Father Prawle. Hush! was that the doctor?"

"No, only the washing of the sea in the rock holes. Maybe you'll get me some of those shares. I can pay for them."

"There is not one to be had, Father Prawle," replied Geoffrey.

"Maybe you'll sell me some of yours, Master Trethick. I'll pay you well."

"Mine!" cried Geoffrey, laughing. "I don't hold one."

The old man looked at him very keenly, and then let his eyes fall.

"If you would really like to have some," said Geoffrey, "and I see a chance, I'll secure them for you."

"Do, my lad. I'm doing you a good turn here without asking questions."

"And I'm very grateful to you," said Geoffrey; "very grateful."

"Then do me a good turn."

"Because you were so free in telling me all about the mine?"

"Let that bide, Master Trethick," said the old man. "But, look here, I will tell you now, if you'll get me a lot of shares."

"It's too late, man--too late."

"Nay, but it isn't. You get me shares, and you'll see. I worked in yon mine."

"And did not make the proprietors' fortune," said Geoffrey, with a smile.

"n.o.body tried to make mine," growled the old fellow, "and they treated me like a dog. I had to think of self. Look here, Mas'r Trethick, I hated you when you come here, for I thought you meant my Bess."

"I know you did," said Geoffrey.

"But I don't think so now, and I tell you this. You get me shares, and it'll be worth thousands to you. Get shares yourself too; and mind this, you've got to take care of your enemy."

"And who's that?"

The old man chuckled, and pointed with his pipe-stem out of the mouth of the cave, looking curiously weird and picturesque in the glow of the fire, with the black, uncouth shadows of the pieces of wreck-wood and boat-gear behind.

"I don't understand you," said Geoffrey.

"The sea, boy--the water's your enemy, so look out."

"I will," said Geoffrey; and then they smoked and chatted on, the old man going up three or four times to see if the doctor was ready to go; and at last, soon after three, he came back, looking more grim than ever, and not to trim the fire this time.

"Doctor will come in five minutes," he said, gruffly. "Will you have any more brandy?"

"No, thanks, no," said his visitor.

"There, mind this, boy, get me shares, and get some yourself, but keep it secret from every one."

"I'll help you if I can," said Geoffrey, "for old acquaintance' sake; but your promise of news comes too late."

"Nay, nay, we'll see, we'll see," said the old man. "But look here, Master Trethick, are you going to marry that gal?"