| 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 |
| 1 | 88 | 177 | 265 | 353 |
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"What meaneth this?" asked Dick.
"
Why, my master, if I steal you across, it must be under force or fear,"
replied the ferryman; "for else, if John Fenne got wind of it, he were
like to prove my most distressful neighbour."
"Do these churls ride so roughly?" Dick inquired. "Do they command Sir
Daniel's own ferry?"
"Nay," whispered the ferryman, winking. "Mark me! Sir Daniel shall
down. His time is out. He shall down. Mum!" And he bent over his
oars.
They pulled a long way up the river, turned the tail of an island, and
came softly down a narrow channel next the opposite bank. Then Hugh
held
water in midstream.
"
"
"
I must land you here among the willows," he said.
Here is no path but willow swamps and quagmires," answered Dick.
Master Shelton," replied Hugh, "I dare not take ye nearer down, for your
own sake now. He watcheth me the ferry, lying on his bow. All that go
by and owe Sir Daniel goodwill, he shooteth down like rabbits. I heard
him swear it by the rood. An I had not known you of old days--ay, and
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