“Ah, lad, the Scotchmen keep early hours,” said Will, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. “The dawn has scarcely broke, surely. He is right, though, thou hast a long ride before thee, and it’s as well to be off by times, though it would have been prudent to lay in a store of provender before you depart; however, two or three hours’ ride before breakfast will do thee no harm, lad. And now, Master Deane, I have a word to say before you leave me. Thou hast a fair opening, lad, and an important commission to execute. Take this advice from an old man. Keep your own counsel on all occasions. Judge which is best for your master’s interests, and let nothing turn you aside from following that out. Avoid quarrelling with any one, and let no one pick a quarrel with thee. Mr Sanderson seems a fair-spoken man, but there’s one thing I would have you remember, that he is not Jock McKillock himself. Jock I have known well-nigh a score of years, and an honest and fair dealer, as I doubt not thou wilt find, if he is afoot and well again when you get to the north. And now, fare-thee-well, John Deane, an old man’s blessing go with thee! Thou hast shown thyself to be ready-witted and brave, and if thou rememberest always that it is better to please God than man, thou wilt not fail to succeed in thy undertakings.”
With these words the old man put on his clothes, and accompanying Jack down-stairs, assisted him in getting his horse ready for his journey.
“Weel, weel, laddy, you’re o’er long in mounting your nag!” shouted Master Sanderson.
“I am ready for you now, at all events,” answered Jack, as he threw himself into his saddle, and once more shook hands with Brinsmead.
“Stop, stop, Mr Sanderson, you be off without your stirrup-cup!” exclaimed the landlord, who at that moment appeared at the door with a tankard in his hand. “Such doings are never allowed at my house, however early in the morning my guests depart. It will do thee good, man, and help to keep the cold mists of our fen-country out of thy throat this morning; and thou, lad, must not break through our rules, either,” he said, turning to Jack, who, it must be confessed, took the proffered tankard and drained its contents, then touching the flank of his horse with his spur, and giving a farewell wave of the hand to honest old Brinsmead, rode after his new acquaintance nothing loath.
Chapter Thirteen.
Jack and Pearson’s Journey to the North, and how Jack was employed on the Road.
The sky was clear overhead, and a damp mist was swept by a south-east wind over the face of the country. Jack and the Scotchman rode on till they were clear of the village without speaking.