Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/206

 and you, Beelzebub, go and paint the horses with what's left in that cauldron."

Beelzebub obeyed the sexton promptly and, picking up the cauldron, went to the back of the house, Satan accompanying him on his different errand—namely, that of bringing in the scarecrow, a thing that puzzled Jerry exceedingly.

Mipps seemed to read his thoughts, for he approached and whispered: "Jack Ketch, you're a-wonderin' about the scarecrow now, ain't you? Well, you've noticed him, I dare say, all dressed in black, at the bottom of my turnip field, ain't you?"

"Yes," replied the new christened Jack Ketch; "I've noticed him as long as I can remember, and a very lifelike scarecrow I considers him to be."

"You're right," replied the sexton; "it's the best scarecrow I ever seed, for it's lifelike and no mistake, and if you keeps your eyes open you'll see him a bit more lifelike to-night—you wait."

Satan soon reappeared bearing on his shoulder the dead lump of the scarecrow. Mipps indicated an old coffin that lay on the floor behind the counter of the shop and Satan at once pushed the scarecrow into it, and covered him with a lid.

"He'll be there till the work's done," said Mipps, "for you see the great man himself rides out at nights as the scarecrow, and if you keep your eyes open you'll spot him. Now, Beelzebub," as that terror reappeared,