DUNDAS'S BAILIFF 



EW may jest as well save 

 yerself trouble, and git 

 back accrost the sands 

 afore they be flooded by 

 the tide ; for Oi tell 'ee, 

 maister, there be only 

 one red-leg partridge and 

 a blaimed owd dun- 

 coloured heer on the 

 whole island. Be there 

 any wildfowl and fish 

 in the fleets, did yer ask, 

 maister ? No, no ; 'tain't noways loikely." 



" Very strange," replied young Dundas to the foxy- 

 looking, ruf US-haired little marsh bailiff ; adding, " Mr 

 Beal told me there were plenty of hares, partridges and 

 wildfowl, and that the fleets swarmed with pike, tench 

 and eels, other wise I shouldn't have dreamed of purchasing 

 the beastly place." 



" Bought the island, did yer say, maister ? Bought 

 the island from Maister Beal ? Umph ! Oi suppose 

 yew reckon on sacking we, don't 'ee ? But 'ee on't, for 

 Oi've been on this yer island, man and boy, for over fifty 

 year, and reckon as 'ow it belongs to me loike, and my 

 missus do reckon so, too." 



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