"The boy's as greedy for glory as Nelson himself," he laughed. "But the Navy can't do it all, you know. Give us a chance…. When we've got the best pair of legs South of Thames trained to a tick, and fighting mad for their chance, we may as well use em."
Kit gasped.
"Nipper Knapp!" and added in a flash, "May I go with him, sir?"
"To the mouth of the drain," said the Parson. "No further."
II
He turned about.
"Blob, come here. Keep a sharp look-out at this window, and give a holloa if anything stirs. You can sing em a little song, if you know one to keep em quiet."
He slid down into the twilight of the kitchen. There only the old foretop-man was to be seen, patient at his post of watch.
"Where's Knapp, Piper?"
"Why, sir, in the cellar. Wanted to be alone with his trouble, I reck'n. Tarrabul down-earted, the poor lad be."