human
There they go, a regular flight! said Dick.
gpt
If Dave hears them won't he wish he'd got plenty of powder and lead!
human
Think the old monks'll mind?
gpt
What! that flock of wild-geese going over?
human
No-o-o! Our taking the lead.
gpt
Oh! I say, Tom, you are a chap, cried his companion.
human
I know you believe in ghosts.
gpt
No, I don't, said Tom stoutly;
human
What! because it's part of the old monastery?
gpt
Yes. The old fellows were all killed when the Danes came up the river in their boats and burned the place.
human
Well, father and I aren't Danes, and we didn't kill them. What stuff!
gpt
No, but it's not nice all the same to live in a place where lots of people were murdered.
human
Tchah! who cares! I don't. It's a capital old place, and you never dig anywhere without finding something.
gpt
Yes, said Tom solemnly,
human
Well, you do sometimes, said Dick,
gpt
Yes; it's all capital, said Tom.
human
I like it ever so; but it is precious monky.
gpt
Well, so are you! Who cares about its being monky! The old monks were jolly old chaps, I know.
human
How do you know? Sh! what's that?
gpt
Fox. Listen.
human
He's got him, cried Tom.
gpt
I wish we had Hicky's Grip here; he'd make him scuffle and run.
human
Think it was a fox?
gpt
Sure of it; and it was one of those old mallards he has got. Come on. Why shouldn't the fox have duck for supper as well as other people?
human
Ah, why not? said Tom.
gpt
But how do you know the monks were jolly old chaps?
human
How do I know! why, weren't they fond of fishing, and didn't they make my ponds? I say, let's have a try for the big pike to-morrow. I saw him fly right out of the water day before yesterday, when it rained. Oh, I say, it is a shame!
gpt
What's a shame?
human
Why, to do all this draining. What's the good of it?
gpt
To make dry fields.
human
But I don't want any more dry fields. Here have I been thinking for years how nice it would be, when we'd done school to have all the run of the fen, and do what we liked, netting, and fishing and shooting, and helping Dave at the 'coy, and John Warren among the rabbits.
gpt
And getting a hare sometimes with Hicky's Grip,
human
Yes; and now all the place is going to be spoiled. I say, are we going right home with you?
gpt
I suppose so, said Tom.
human
There's the light. Old Boggy'll hear us directly. I thought so. Here he comes.