Pole, and of a castle in
the air and a chateau in Spain, together with all the rents and income
therefrom accruing. She further made over to him the cargo of a certain
ship laden with salt of Cadiz which she herself by her necromantic arts
had caused to founder ten years before in the deepest part of
mid-ocean. If the salt were not dissolved and could be brought to
market, it would fetch a pretty penny among the fishermen. That he
might not lack ready money, she gave him a copper farthing of
Birmingham manufacture, being all the coin she had about her, and
likewise a great deal of brass, which she applied to his forehead, thus
making it yellower than ever.

"With that brass alone," quoth Mother Rigby, "thou canst pay thy way
all over the earth. Kiss me, pretty darling! I have done my best for
thee."

Furthermore, that the adventurer might lack no possible advantage
toward a fair start in life, this excellent old dame gave him a token
by which he was to introduce himself to a certain magistrate, member of
the council, merchant, and elder of the church (the four capacities
constituting but one man) who stood at the head of society in the
neighboring metropolis. The token was neither more nor less than a
single word, which Mother Rigby whispered to the scarecrow and which
the scarecrow was to whisper to the merchant.

"Gouty as the old fellow is, he'll run thy errands for thee when once
thou hast given him that word in his ear," said the old witch. "Mother
Rigby knows the worshipful justice Gookin, and the worshipful justice
knows Mother Rigby!"

Here the witch thrust her wrinkled face close to the puppet's,
chuckling irrepressibly, and fidgeting all through her system with
delight at the idea which she meant to communicate.

"The worshipful Master Gookin," whispered she, "hath a comely maiden to
his daughter. And hark ye, my pet. Thou hast a fair outside and a
pretty wit enough of thine own. Yea, a pretty wit enough! Thou wilt
think better of it when thou hast seen more of other people's wits. Now
with thy outside and thy inside thou art the very man to win a young
girl's heart. Never doubt it; I tell thee it shall be so. Put but a
bold face on the matter, sigh, smile, flourish thy hat, thrust forth
thy leg like a dancing-master, put thy right hand to the left side of
thy waistcoat, and pretty Polly Gookin is thine own."

All this while the new creature had been sucking in and exhaling
the vapory fragrance of his