. Yo're safe so far: promise
me as yo' will na run i' danger--promise me as yo' will na see that man
again, that yo'll keep out o' his way till he leaves Riggan."

"I'll promise owt," cried Liz. "I dunnot care, I tell yo'. I'll promise
owt yo'll ax, if yo'll let me a-be," and she hid her face upon her arms
and wept aloud.

CHAPTER XXVII - Sammy Craddock's "Manny-ensis."

At least twice a week Jud Bates made a pilgrimage to Haviland Park.
Having been enlightened to the extent of two or three chapters of
"Robinson Crusoe," Sammy Craddock was athirst for more. He regarded the
adventures of the hero as valuable information from foreign shores, as
information that might be used in political debates, and brought forth
on state occasions to floor a presumptuous antagonist. Accordingly,
he held out inducements to Jud such as the boy was not likely to think
lightly of. A penny a night, and a good supper for himself and Nib, held
solid attractions for Jud, and at this salary he found himself engaged
in the character of what "Owd Sammy" called "a manny-ensis."

"What's that theer?" inquired Mrs. Craddock on first hearing this
imposing title. "A manny--what?"

"A manny-ensis, owd lass," said Sammy, chuckling. "Did tha ivver hear o'
a private gentleman as had na a manny-ensis?"

"Nay. I know nowt about thy manny-ensisses, an' I'll warrant tha does na
know what such loike is thysen."

"It means a power o' things," answered Sammy; "a power o' things. It's
a word as is comprehensive, as they ca' it, an' it's one as will do as
well as any fur th' lad. A manny-ensis!" and manny-ensis it remained.

Surely the adventures of the island-solitary had never given such
satisfaction as they gave in the cheery house room of the lodge. Sammy
listened to them over numerous pipes, with a respect for literature such
as had never before been engendered in his mind by the most imposing
display of bindings.

"I've allus thowt as th' newspaper wur enow fur a mon to tackle," he
would say, reflectively; "but theer's summat outside o' th' newspapers.
I nivver seed a paper as had owt in it about desert islands, let alone
cannybles."

"Cannybles, indeed!" replied Mrs. Craddock, who was occasionally one
of the audience. "I conna mak' no sense out o' thee an' thy cannybles. I
wonder they are na' shamt o' theirsens, goin' about wi'out so mich as a
hat on, an' eatin' each other, as if there wur na a bit o' good victual
i' th' place. I wonder th'