icky, may I have the punt to-morrow?"

"Sewerly, Mester Dick, sewerly. I'll set Jacob to clear her oot a bit
for you. Going fishing?"

"Well--no," said Dick, hesitating. "I was--er--thinking of doing a
little shooting."

"What at fend o' June! Nay, nay, theer's no shooting now."

"Not regular shooting, but I thought I might get something curious,
perhaps, right away yonder."

"Ay, ay, perhaps so."

"Might see a big pike basking, and shoot that."

"Like enough, my lad, like enough. Squire going to lend you a goon?"

Dick shook his head, but the wheelwright was busy taking a shaving off a
piece of wood, so did not see it, and repeated his question.

"No, Hicky, I want you to lend me one of those new ones."

"What, as squire and Mr Marston left for me and Jacob! Nay, nay, lad,
that wean't do."

"Oh, yes, it will, Hicky. I'll take great care of it, and clean it when
I've done. Lend me the gun, there's a good fellow."

"Nay, nay. That would never do, my lad. Couldn't do it."

"Why not, Hicky?"

"Not mine. What would squire say?"

"He wouldn't know, Hicky. I shouldn't tell him."

"Bud I should, lad. Suppose thou wast to shoot thee sen, or blow off a
leg or a hand? Nay, nay. Yow can hev the boat, bud don't come to me
for a gun."

Hickathrift was inexorable, and what was more, he watched his applicant
narrowly, to make sure that Dick did not corrupt Jacob.

His visitor noticed it, and charged him with the fact.

"Ay," he said, laughing, "that's a true word. I know what Jacob is.
He'd do anything for sixpence."

"I hope he wouldn't set fire to the house for that," said Dick angrily.

Hickathrift started as if stung, and stared at his visitor.

"Nay," he said, recovering himself, "our Jacob nivver did that. He were
fast asleep that night, and his bed were afire when I wackened him.
Don't say such a word as that."

"I didn't mean it, Hicky; but do lend me the gun."

"Nay, my, lad, I wean't. There's the poont and welcome, but no gun."

Dick knew the wheelwright too well to persevere; and in his heart he
could not help admiring the man's stern sense of honesty; so making up
his mind to be content with some fishing and a good wander in the
untrodden parts of the fen, he asked Hickathrift to get him some baits
with his cast-net.

"Ay, I'll soon get them for you, my lad," said Hickathrift. "Get a
boocket, Jacob, lad."

The next minute he was getting the newly-made circular net with i