Dreadfully and frightened i was, so shaky i was that i grip him with both hands, and said, if you would kindly please keep me upright, sir, perhaps i shouldn't be sick, and perhaps i could attend more.
He gave me a most tremendous dip and roll, so that the church jumped over it's own weather-cock. Then he held me by the arms in an upright position on the top of the stone, and went on these fearful terms:
'Bring me that file and them wittles to-morrow morning early. You bring the lot to me, at that old battery over yonder. You do it, and you never dare to say a word or dare to make a sign concerning your having seen such a person as me, or any person sum-ever, and you shall be let to live.
You fail, or you go from my words in any partickler, no matter how small it is, and your heart and liver shall be tore out, roasted and ate. Now, i ain't alone, as you may think i am. There's a young man hid with me, in comparison with which young man i am a angel. That young man hears the words i speak. That young man has a secret way pecooliar to himself, of getting at a boy, and at his heart and at his liver. It is in wain for a boy to attempt to hide from that young man.
A boy may lock his door, may be warm in bed, may tuck himself up, may draw the clothes over his head, may think himself comfortable and safe, but that young man will softly creep and creep his way to him and tear him open. I am keeping that young man from harming of you at the present moment, with great difficulty. I find it very hard to hold that young man off of your inside. Now, what do you say?.
I would get him the file, and i would get him what broken bits of food i could, and i would come to him at the battery, early morning. I said.
He said, say the Lord strike you dead if you don't!, i said so and he took me down.
'Now', he pursued, remember what you've under-took, and you remember that young man, and you get home!
'Goo-good night sir,' i faltered.
'Much of that!' said he, glancing about him over the cold wet flat.
'I wish i was a frog. Or a eel !'
TO BE CONTINUED>>>