"Yes," said I, "but more often, I think, like a fine gentleman!"
"I never heerd tell o' the devil in a bell-crowned 'at afore, but
p'r'aps you 'm right, Peter--tak' another pinch o' snuff."
"No more," said I, shaking my head.
"Why, it's apt to ketch you a bit at first, but, Lord! Peter, for
a man as 'as fou't wi' the devil--"
"One pinch is more than enough, Ancient."
"Oh, Peter, 'tis a wonnerful thing as you should be alive this day!"
"And yet, Ancient, many a man has fought the devil before now and
lived--nay, has been the better for it."
"Maybe, Peter, maybe, but not on sech a tur'ble wild night as
last night was." Saying which, the old man nodded emphatically
and, rising, hobbled to the door; yet there he turned and came
back again. "I nigh forgot, Peter, I have noos for ye."
"News?"
"Noos as ever was--noos as'll surprise ye, Peter."
"Well?" I inquired.
"Well, Peter, Black Jarge be 'took' again."
"What?" I exclaimed.
"Oh! I knowed 'twould come--I knowed 'e couldn't last much
longer. I says to Simon, day afore yesterday it were, 'Simon,' I
says, 'mark my words, 'e'll never last the month out--no.'"
"How did it happen, Ancient?"
"Got tur'ble drunk, 'e did, over to Cranbrook--throwed Mr.
Scrope, the Beadle, over the churchyard wall--knocked down Jeremy
Tullinger, the Watchman, an' then--went to sleep. While 'e were
asleep they managed, cautious-like, to tie 'is legs an' arms, an'
locked 'im up, mighty secure, in the vestry. 'Ows'ever, when 'e
woke up 'e broke the door open, an' walked out, an' nobody tried
to stop 'im--not a soul, Peter."
"And when was all this?"
"Why, that's the very p'int," chuckled the Ancient, "that's the
wonnerful part of it, Peter. It all 'appened on Sat'day night,
day afore yesterday as ever was--the very same day as I says to
Simon, 'mark my words, 'e won't last the month out.'"
"And where is he now?"
"Nobody knows, but theer's them as says they see 'im makin' for
Sefton Woods." Hereupon, breakfast done, I rose, and took my hat.
"Wheer away, Peter?"
"To the forge; there is much work to be done, Ancient."
"But Jarge bean't theer to 'elp ye."
"Yet the work remains, Ancient."
"Why then, if you 'm goin', I'll go wi' ye, Peter." So we
presently set out together.