Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/149

 and covered with a nightcap. Dreadful moans he was making as he lay there.

The captain pulled the bedclothes off, and discovered that the faithful fellow was tied to the bed. Grateful he looked, though troubled, when the captain cut his bonds and pulled him up; and he owned in a shamefaced manner that he never had endured such a horrible night in his life, and that Parson Syn (saving his presence) must be the foul fiend himself to be able to sleep in such a devil-haunted house.

Doctor Syn went downstairs and fetched the brandy bottle, and administered a good dose to the bo'sun, and also to the other seamen who had followed them upstairs.

"And where's the schoolmaster got to?" said the captain.

"He's gone."

"Gone?" they all repeated together.

"Aye, sir, gone! And if ever a man has gone body and soul, I declares he has; for I solemnly and soberly declares that I seed him hoisted up and removed downstairs by a couple of horrible light-faces."

"Light-faces?" roared the captain.

"Yes, sir, coves with faces all a-shine. Why, I wouldn't settle down and live within a hundred miles of Romney Marsh for a thousand guineas a year pension, I wouldn't; for talk about devils, the place stinks of them!"