Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/217

 THE FIGHT AT MILL HOUSE FARM

ILL HOUSE FARM was the last on Beelzebub's list, and in the dyke facing the house, but on the other side of the highroad crouched the King's men, commanded by the captain's bo'sun. They were as still as mice, for the captain had given strict orders to the bo'sun on that score, but they need not have put themselves to such pains, for owing to the extreme vigilance of Sexton Mipps the smugglers knew exactly where they were and what they were going to do.

Now it is depressing to the most seasoned fighters to have to crouch for hours in a soaking muddy dyke waittingwaiting [sic] for an outnumbering enemy; for it was common knowledge that if smuggling was carried on upon the Marsh, it was well manipulated and relied for its secrecy upon the strength and numbers of its assistants. So the bo'sun had no easy task in keeping his men from grumbling; for whatever Captain Collyer's opinion may have been with regard to maintaining the law according to his duty, it was pretty evident that his men had no great relish for the task, and the bo'sun