nd to hear. 'Tis this way: Queen Victoria,
as have given of the best she've got wi' both hands to the high men of
the land, so they tell me, caan't forget nought, even at such a time as
this here. She've made gert additions to all manner o' men; an' to me,
an' the likes o' me she've given what's more precious than bein' lords
or dukes. I'm free--me an' all as runned from the ranks. The Sovereign
Queen's let deserters go free, if you can credit it; an' that's how I
stand here this minute."

A buzz and hum with cheers and some laughter and congratulations
followed Will's announcement. Then the people scattered to spread his
story, and Mr. Blee spoke.

"Come you down home to wance. Ban't none up here as cares a rush 'bout
'e but me. But theer 's a many anxious folks below. I comed up for auld
sake's sake an' because ban't in reason to suppose I'll ever see another
joy fire 'pon Yes Tor rock, at my time o' life. But us'll go an' carry
this rare news to Chagford an' the Barton."

They faded from the red radius of the fire and left it slowly dying.
Will helped Billy off rough ground to the road. Then he set off at a
speed altogether beyond the old man's power, so Mr. Blee resorted to
stratagem.

"'Bate your pace; 'bate your pace; I caan't travel that gait an' talk
same time. Yet theer's a power o' fine things I might tell 'e if you'd
listen."

"'T is hard to walk slow towards a mother an' wife like what mine be,
after near a month from 'em; but let's have your news, Billy, an' doan't
croak, for God's sake. Say all's well wi' all."

"I ban't no croaker, as you knaws. Happy, are 'e?--happy for wance? I
suppose you'll say now, as you've said plenty times a'ready, that you 'm
to the tail of your troubles for gude an' all--just in your auld, silly
fashion?"

"Not me, auld chap, never no more--so long as you 'm alive! Ha, ha,
ha--that's wan for you! Theer! if 't isn't gude to laugh again!"

"I be main glad as I've got no news to make 'e do anything else, though
ban't often us can be prophets of gude nowadays. But if you've grawed a
streak wiser of late, then theer's hope, even for a scatterbrain like
you, the Lard bein' all-powerful. Not that jokes against such as me
would please Him the better."

"I've thought a lot in my time, Billy; an' I haven't done thinking yet.
I've comed to reckon as I caan't do very well wi'out the world, though
the world would fare easy enough wi'out me."

Billy nodded.

"That's sense so fa