“I d’know, mester, I d’know.”
“I suppose not,” said Uncle Jack.
“Tek off that thing, mester; tek off that thing. It’s most cootin off my leg.”
I was ready to add my supplications, for I knew the poor wretch must be in terrible agony; but I felt as if I could not speak.
“I’ll take it off by and by, when I know how you came here.”
“I tell’ee it’s ’gen the law to set they montraps,” cried the fellow in a sudden burst of anger, “and I’ll have the law o’ thee.”
“I would,” said Uncle Jack, still making the light play over the dripping figure, and then examining the trap, and tracing the chain to the peg. “Hullo!” he cried, “what’s this?”
He was holding the lantern close to a dark object upon the ground quite close, and Gentles uttered a fresh yell, bounded up, made a clanking noise, and fell again groaning.
“Doan’t! Doan’t! Thou’lt blow us all to bits.”
“Oh, it’s powder, then, is it?” cried Uncle Jack.