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Read Ebook: Fast as the Wind: A Novel by Gould Nat
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Ebook has 1985 lines and 61101 words, and 40 pages
Brack looked indignant.
"Yer don't recollect? Well I'm blessed! Fancy forgettin' things like that!"
"Out with it," said Dick.
"I give yer the winner of the Leger three year runnin', and it's forgotten. Lor' bless us, what memories young gents has!" growled Brack.
Dick laughed heartily as he said: "So you did, old man. You're a real good tipster for the Yorkshire race."
"So I ought'er be. Don't I hail from there? I can always scent a Leger winner, smell 'em like I can the salt from the sea, comes natural somehow," said Brack, as he moved away and allowed Dick to step in. He pulled with long steady strokes and was soon out of the inner harbor, making for the yacht.
"Nowt like Yorkshire," growled Brack.
Dick laughed as he said: "You're a lucky man to be at Torquay, all the same; much warmer, fine climate."
"You haven't told me your news," said Dick.
"It'll keep," said Brack.
"I don't bet," said Brack.
"You mean you dare not in this case, or you would lose."
"Very like I should, because I see yer burstin' to hear it, and I wouldn't like to disappoint yer," said Brack, as he ceased rowing and leaned on his oars.
"Tired?" said Dick.
"With that bit of a pull," said Brack, disgusted; "I should think not!"
"Then what are you resting for?"
"I baint restin', I'm easin' my oars."
"Oh, that's it: the oars are tired," said Dick.
"No more tired than I am, but when I gives 'em a spell for a few minutes they seems to work better," said Brack. "What's more, I talks better when I leans on 'em, sort o' gives me composure, and time to think; I'm a beggar to think."
"You must have done a lot of thinking in your time," said Dick, falling into his humor.
"I'm thinking now," said Brack.
"What about?"
"That poor devil who escaped from Dartmoor five days ago."
Dick smiled.
"Is that your news?"
"Yes."
"There have been several escapes lately."
"But they've all been caught in no time; this chap ain't, and by gum, lad, if he come'd my way I'd help him out. I don't believe they'll get him; at least I hopes not."
"They'll have him right enough," said Dick. "A convict at large is a danger to all on the moor."
"This one ain't," said Brack. "'Sides, he may be innocent."
"Innocent men don't get into Princetown," said Dick.
"That's just where yer wrong," said Brack. "I've a brother in there now, and he's innocent, I'll swear it."
Dick maintained a diplomatic silence.
"Of course you'll not believe it, but it'll come out some day. He was on a man-o-warsman, and they lagged him for knocking a petty officer overboard; the chap was drowned, but Bill swore he never had a hand in it, and I believes him. At the trial it came out Bill had a down on the man; and no wonder--he was a brute, and a good riddance."
"Do you know who knocked him over?"
"No, but it's my firm belief Bill does, and that he's sufferin' for another, won't give him away."
Dick smiled.
"You don't know Bill; I does," said Brack emphatically.
"But what about this man who escaped? Why do you think he'll get away?"
"'Cause he's a good plucked 'un, a fighter, a brave man," said Brack.
"In what way?"
"Go on," said Dick eagerly.
"The trackers found the hound dead, and alongside him was a suit of convict clothes--nice well marked suits, ain't they; you can't mistake 'em," said Brack.
"You don't mean to say the fellow killed the hound, and left his clothes beside it!" exclaimed Dick.
"That's just what I have said, mister. Clever, weren't it? When the other hound found his mate, he found the clothes, and he lost the scent."
"How?"
"'Cause the man must have fled stark naked, and the hound only had the scent of his clothes; must have been that, 'cause he couldn't follow him. He'll get off right enough--you see if he don't. I wish Bill could do the same."
"How did he kill the hound?" asked Dick. "And where did you hear all this?"
"Strangled it. He's a good 'un he is; I'd like to have seen it. As for how I come to know by it, one of the men from the prison was here. He questioned me," said Brack with a grin. "Asked me if I'd seen a man like the one he gave a description of."
"What did you say?" asked Dick.
"Kept him talking for half an hour or more, gave 'im heaps of information. I filled him up, never you fear."
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