Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/122

 needn't worry yourself on that score. If them damned King's men had put it up now, I don't say as how it mightn't get mobbed and knocked about a bit, 'cos them damned King's men ain't wot you might term popular favourites in the village, but as it weren't, don't you worry, for I'll soon pass the word, young Jerry, as how it's you wot owns it."

"Thank you," said Jerry. "They wouldn't knock it over if you asked 'em not to, I'll be bound."

"Asked who not to?" demanded the sexton quickly.

"Why, any of 'em," replied Jerk innocently: "Marshmen, smugglers, jack-o'-lanterns, demon riders, wot you will; for I'll lay they're all a-scared of Sexton Mipps, ain't they?"

But Sexton Mipps was not to be caught by such dangerous flattery, and he replied:

"There ain't no such things as smugglers hereabouts, as I thinks I've already remarked; and as for demon riders, why, uncanny they be, and I holds no truck with 'em, thank the Lord. Folks wot has dealin's with 'em has sold their souls for the bargain, and I ain't a-goin' to do that!"

"Bein' such a very good and respectable Christian?, Oh, no!" said Jerk winking.

"Why, certainly," answered the sexton, "and might I ask wot you're a-winkin' about?"

"Nothin'—I was only thinkin'!"

"Wot about?"