Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/146

 kindly for that bolster whack, for if something hadn't happened I believe I should have bust."

"But what is it? There must have been something to make you laugh like that."

"If there was, I'm blessed if I knows wot," returned the sexton, "for I gives you my word that I never felt solemner than I does now, no, not never in my life." Doctor Syn took no notice of this extraordinary occurrence.

When the captain was dressed they all three set out for the vicarage.

"Well, now, what is wrong with it?" said the captain, surveying the little house that looked so pretty in the morning sun.

"That's just what we want to know," answered Doctor Syn. "In the first place, short of forcing the door, I don't see how we're going to get in. The place is all locked up, and, though we have battered and hammered on the doors and windows for a good hour, we can get no answer from the sailors inside."

"And my men in the barn, where are they?" said the captain, looking across at the building in question.

"I'm afraid. Captain, that you are too liberal to your men, for their rum barrel is empty and the whole lot of them are still asleep."

The captain swore and walked to the back door, raised his foot, and with one kick sent the door in, splintered and cracked from the bolt sockets.