CHAPTER XXXI
A CERTAIN TREE BEARS FRUIT
JERK was kept busy all day at the Ship Inn, for Imogene had left her post and Mrs. Waggetts, who appeared to have grave matters of her own to fuss about, kept the young potboy in command. He was sorry about this, for he was unable to visit his estate upon the Marsh, and he was eager to view his latest purchase, the gallows. But to his great satisfaction he heard it discussed by a farmer and a fisherman who sat drinking at the bar.
"I tell you that there's a gallows erected on the Marsh nigh Littlestone Point," the fisherman was saying. "I could see it quite plain at sunrise when we were running up on to the beach."
"And you say that there was a man a-hangin' from it?" said the farmer.
"Aye, that's what I said, and I thought as how you could tell me what man it was."
"I don't know nothing," replied the farmer, "except that the demon riders was out again last night, and if what you says is right, why, they're at their tricks again, I suppose." And the farmer gave the fisherman a know-
234
