Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/167

Rh '“He’s got more need to lean on that stick than to flirt it around like that,” muttered  Captain Saulsby. “Ah—h!”

The last swing had cut off the heads of a half-dozen tall white poppies, whereupon Jarreth turned about with an impudent grin to  see if the old man dared protest.

“Don’t take any notice of him,” growled the Captain; “that is what will hurt him worst  of anything.”

So Billy, by great effort, managed to keep quiet, and the disagreeable visitor walked  away without the satisfaction of a word of  comment.

“Do you really think he can get your land, Captain Saulsby?” Billy asked anxiously, as  soon as Jarreth was safely out of hearing.

“I don’t quite know,” the sailor admitted slowly; “you see the place has belonged to  my people so long I never thought about having much proof of the ownership. Harvey is right when he says I’ve been careless about  taxes and things. He held a mortgage on the land once, and though it was paid off in my  father’s time I’m blessed if I know if there is  anything to show for the payment at my end. There’s sure to be plenty of documents of all