"I don't," growled Jerry, "and don't want——"
"The Captain does and you'll ride with him. At the ruined mill then to-morrow night a half after ten—sharp."
"And what then, Nick—ha?" enquired the Captain, taking a pinch of snuff.
"Why then——" Here Joseph sunk his voice so low as to be inaudible to any but those craning their necks to listen.
"'Tis a simple plan and should be no great matter!" nodded the Captain. "Aye, rat me, I like your plan, Nick——"
"Aye, but the genty mort," demurred Jerry, "now if she squeal and kick—burn me I've had 'em scratch and tear d-damnably ere now——"
"Squeeze her pretty neck a little," suggested the Captain.
"Or choke her with her furbelows," grinned Benno.
"No!" said Joseph, scowling, "there's to be no strangling—no rough work, d'ye take me—it's to be done gentle or——"
"Gentle, ho—gentle, is it!" cried Jerry fiercely. "And how if she gets her claws into me—the last one as I culled for a flash sportsman nigh wrung my ear off—gentle? 'Tain't fair to a man it don't give a man a chance, it d-don't——"