Doctor Syn A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh by Russell Thorndike Page A
Authors: Russell Thorndike
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opened his eyes, and the figure swung the dangerous weapon above his head, and Jerk thought that the
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sextons last moment had come, but Mipps, uttering a piercing cry, kicked out most lustily against the chimney-piece, and backward he went along with the settle.
Perhaps it was the horrible cry that frightened the thing, because it came running out of the front door with the harpoon still in its hand, and leaping the churchyard wall disappeared among the tombstones in the direction of the Marsh.
Mipps got up and ran to the door, crying out for Rash, and at the same time the door of the Court House opened and Doctor Syn came striding toward the vicarage.
No more parochial work, I trust to-night, Mr. Sexton? he said cheerily, but then noticing Mippss terrified demeanour he added: Whats the matter, Mr. Mipps? You look as grave as a tombstone.
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So would you, sir, if you seen wot I seed. It was standin over me lookin straight down at me, as yellow as a guinea.
What was? said the Doctor.
A thing! said the sexton.
Come, come, what sort of thing? demanded the vicar.
The likes of a man, replied the sexton, thinking, but not a livin mana sort of shapea dead unand yet I cant help fancying Ive seed it somewheres before. By thunder! he cried suddenly. I know. Thats why it took Cleggs harpoon. For Gods sake, come inside, sir. And in they went hurriedly, followed by Rash, who had just arrived back on the scene. Inside the room Mr. Mipps again narrated in a horrified whisper what he had just seen, pointing now out of the window in the direction taken by the thing and now at the empty nail where Cleggs harpoon had hung.
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Doctor Syn went to the window to close the shutters and saw Sennacherib Pepper crossing the far side of the churchyard.
Good-night, Sennacherib, he cried out, and shut the shutters. A minute later out came the schoolmaster, but instead of going round for his horse, as Jerry expected, he walked quickly after Sennacherib Pepper. How long is this going on for, I wonder? thought young Jerk, as he picked himself up and set off after the schoolmaster.
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Chapter 9
The End of Sennacherib Pepper
For half a mile out of the village Mr. Rash kept well in the rear of Sennacherib Pepper, and Jerk kept well behind the schoolmaster. It was a weird night. Everything was vivid, either very dark or very light; such grass as they came to was black grass; such roadways they crossed were with roads; the sky was brightly starlit, but the mountainous clouds were black, and the edges of the great dyke sluices were pitch black, but the water and thin mud, silver steel, reflecting the light of the sky. Sennacherib Pepper was a black shadow
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ahead; the schoolmaster was a blacker one; and Jerkwell, he couldnt see himself; he rather wished he could, for company.
Although Mr. Rash was a very black-looking figure, there was something small and ugly that kept catching the silver steel reflected in the dyke water. What was it? Jerry couldnt make out. It was something in Mr. Rashs hand, and he kept bringing it out and thrusting it back into the pocket of his overcoat. But the young adventurer had enough to do, keeping himself from being discovered, else he might have understood and so saved Sennacheribs life.
When they got about a mile from the village Mr. Rash quickened his pace; Jerry quickened his accordingly, but Sennacherib Pepper, who had no object in doing so, did not quicken his. Once the schoolmaster stopped dead, and the young hangman only just pulled up in time, so near was he; and once again the silver thing came out of the pocket, but this time Mr. Rash looked at it before thrusting it back again. Then he began to run.
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Is that you, Doctor Pepper? he called out.
Now this is strange, thought Jerk, for the schoolmaster must surely have known what man he was following, and why
92
sextons last moment had come, but Mipps, uttering a piercing cry, kicked out most lustily against the chimney-piece, and backward he went along with the settle.
Perhaps it was the horrible cry that frightened the thing, because it came running out of the front door with the harpoon still in its hand, and leaping the churchyard wall disappeared among the tombstones in the direction of the Marsh.
Mipps got up and ran to the door, crying out for Rash, and at the same time the door of the Court House opened and Doctor Syn came striding toward the vicarage.
No more parochial work, I trust to-night, Mr. Sexton? he said cheerily, but then noticing Mippss terrified demeanour he added: Whats the matter, Mr. Mipps? You look as grave as a tombstone.
93
So would you, sir, if you seen wot I seed. It was standin over me lookin straight down at me, as yellow as a guinea.
What was? said the Doctor.
A thing! said the sexton.
Come, come, what sort of thing? demanded the vicar.
The likes of a man, replied the sexton, thinking, but not a livin mana sort of shapea dead unand yet I cant help fancying Ive seed it somewheres before. By thunder! he cried suddenly. I know. Thats why it took Cleggs harpoon. For Gods sake, come inside, sir. And in they went hurriedly, followed by Rash, who had just arrived back on the scene. Inside the room Mr. Mipps again narrated in a horrified whisper what he had just seen, pointing now out of the window in the direction taken by the thing and now at the empty nail where Cleggs harpoon had hung.
94
Doctor Syn went to the window to close the shutters and saw Sennacherib Pepper crossing the far side of the churchyard.
Good-night, Sennacherib, he cried out, and shut the shutters. A minute later out came the schoolmaster, but instead of going round for his horse, as Jerry expected, he walked quickly after Sennacherib Pepper. How long is this going on for, I wonder? thought young Jerk, as he picked himself up and set off after the schoolmaster.
95
Chapter 9
The End of Sennacherib Pepper
For half a mile out of the village Mr. Rash kept well in the rear of Sennacherib Pepper, and Jerk kept well behind the schoolmaster. It was a weird night. Everything was vivid, either very dark or very light; such grass as they came to was black grass; such roadways they crossed were with roads; the sky was brightly starlit, but the mountainous clouds were black, and the edges of the great dyke sluices were pitch black, but the water and thin mud, silver steel, reflecting the light of the sky. Sennacherib Pepper was a black shadow
96
ahead; the schoolmaster was a blacker one; and Jerkwell, he couldnt see himself; he rather wished he could, for company.
Although Mr. Rash was a very black-looking figure, there was something small and ugly that kept catching the silver steel reflected in the dyke water. What was it? Jerry couldnt make out. It was something in Mr. Rashs hand, and he kept bringing it out and thrusting it back into the pocket of his overcoat. But the young adventurer had enough to do, keeping himself from being discovered, else he might have understood and so saved Sennacheribs life.
When they got about a mile from the village Mr. Rash quickened his pace; Jerry quickened his accordingly, but Sennacherib Pepper, who had no object in doing so, did not quicken his. Once the schoolmaster stopped dead, and the young hangman only just pulled up in time, so near was he; and once again the silver thing came out of the pocket, but this time Mr. Rash looked at it before thrusting it back again. Then he began to run.
97
Is that you, Doctor Pepper? he called out.
Now this is strange, thought Jerk, for the schoolmaster must surely have known what man he was following, and why
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