Cutlass and Cudgel Part 9

"Well, never mind, dear. You made ever so much more than that last night, I'll be bound!"

"Will you hold your tongue?" roared the farmer. "There, make haste and finish that food, boy. Take Jemmy Dadd and the boat and find her.

Skin's worth a few s.h.i.+llings. I must have that."

"Did you look over the cliff, father?" asked Ram.

"I looked over? Of course, but how could I see in that fog?"

Ram was soon out and away, to hunt up Jemmy Dadd, whom he found at last with his eyes half-closed, yawning prodigiously. They went down to the boat, launched her, and rowed out along under the tremendous cliffs, and were about to give up in despair, convinced that the unfortunate cow had been swept right out to sea, when Ram exclaimed--

"Look yonder, Jem?"

"What for?" grumbled the man; "I'm half asleep, now."

"Never mind that! Look at the cutter."

"Shan't! I've seen un times enough."

"Yes, yes; but look on her deck."

"What for?" said Jemmy, who was steadily pulling homeward.

"Oh, what an obstinate chap you are, Jemmy! Look there; Tally's on deck."

"Ck!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the man, this being meant for a derisive laugh. "Why don't you say she's having a ride in the Saxham coach."

"I tell you she is. They've got her there, and the sailors are trying to milk her."

"Then I wish 'em luck," said Jemmy. "There's only one man as can milk Tally, and that's me."

"Turn the boat's head, and let's go for her."

"Ck!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jemmy again. "What a one you are to joke, Ram Shackle; but it won't do this mornin'. I'm burst up with sleep."

"Open your stupid eyes, and look for once. I tell you they've got Tally on the deck of the cutter."

"And I tell you, you young Ram Shackle, I'm too sleepy to see fun anywhere. Won't do, my lad--won't do."

Ram jumped up, stepped over the thwart, seized the man's head, and screwed it round toward the cutter, where the scene previously described was plain in the suns.h.i.+ne.

"Well!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jemmy, "so she be."

"Why couldn't you believe me before, when I told you?"

"Thought you was gammoning me, my lad!"

"There, row away!" cried Ram; and as soon as they were well within hearing he answered the hail, and next shouted--

"I've come after our cow."

"Very undignified proceeding, Mr Raystoke," said the lieutenant, busily walking up and down as the boat with Ram in it was being rowed alongside. "It all comes of being appointed to a wretched, little cobble boat like this, and sent on smuggling duty. If I--if we had been aboard a frigate, or even a sloop-of-war, we shouldn't have had such an affair as this. Why, confound that boy's impudence, he has jumped on board. Go and speak to him; order him off; pitch him overboard; anything. How dare he!"

Archy drew himself up, laid one hand upon his dirk, and strutted up to Ram, looking "as big as a small ossifer," as Dirty d.i.c.k said afterwards; and gave him a smart slap on the shoulder as he was going after the cow.

"Here, you sir!" cried Archy, as the boy faced round. "What do you mean by coming aboard one of His Majesty's s.h.i.+ps like that?"

"Eh?"

"Touch your hat, sir, when an officer speaks to you."

"Touch my hat to you like I do to Sir Risdon?"

"Like you do to any gentleman, sir."

"Oh, very well," said Ram giving one of his fair brown curls a tug, and showing his teeth.

"That's better. Now then, what do you want?"

"Our Tally."

"Your what?"

"Our cow, Tally."

"How do I know it's yours?"

"Why, it is. She must have walked over the cliff in the fog. Was your cutter close under so as she fell on deck?"

"Of course not, b.u.mpkin," said Archy impatiently, as the men burst into a guffaw, and then looked horribly serious as if they had not smiled.

"We saw her swimming and fetched her on board."

"Thank ye," said Ram. "I say, how am I to get her home? Can you lend us a rope?"

"Who are you, boy?" said the lieutenant, marching up.

Ram faced round, stared at the officer's rather shabby uniform, and gave his curl another tug before pulling his red cap over his brow.

"Ram Shackle, sir."

"Is--is that your name, sir," said the lieutenant pompously, "or are you trying to get a laugh at my expense?"

Ram stared.

"Do you hear what I say, sir?"

"Yes, but I dunno what you mean."

"Here, my man, what's that boy's name?" cried the lieutenant to Jemmy Dadd in the boat.