’Lad, I have known men risk their lives for many things:  for gold, and love, and hate; but never one would play with death that he might see a tree or stream or stones.  And when men say they love a place or town, thou mayst be sure ’tis not the place they love but some that live there; or that they loved some in the past, and so would see the spot again to kindle memory withal.  Thus when thou speakest of Moonfleet, I may guess that thou hast someone there to see—­or hope to see.  It cannot be thine aunt, for there is no love lost between ye; and besides, no man ever perilled his life to bid adieu to an aunt.  So have no secrets from me, John, but tell me straight, and I will judge whether this second treasure that thou seekest is true gold enough to fling thy life into the scale against it.’

Then I told him all, keeping nothing back, but trying to make him see that there was little danger in my visiting Moonfleet, for none would know me in a carter’s dress, and that my knowledge of the place would let me use a hedge or wall or wood for cover; and finally, if I were seen, my leg was now sound, and there were few could beat me in a running match upon the Down.  So I talked on, not so much in the hope of convincing him as to keep saying something; for I durst not look up, and feared to hear an angry word from him when I should stop.  But at last I had spoken all I could, and ceased because I had no more.  Yet he did not break out as I had thought, but there was silence; and after a moment I looked up, and saw by his face that his thoughts were wandering.  When he spoke there was no anger in his voice, but only something sad.

‘Thou art a foolish lad,’ he said.  ’Yet I was young once myself, and my ways have been too dark to make me wish to darken others, or try to chill young blood.  Now thine own life has got a shadow on’t already that I have helped to cast, so take the brightness of it while thou mayst, and get thee gone.  But for this girl, I know her for a comely lass and good-hearted, and have wondered often how she came to have him for her father.  I am glad now I have not his blood on my hands; and never would have gone to take it then, for all the evil he had brought on me, but that the lives of every mother’s son hung on his life.  So make thy mind at ease, and get thee gone and see these streams and trees and stones thou talkest of.  Yet if thou’rt shot upon the Down, or taken off to jail, blame thine own folly and not me.  And I will walk with thee to Purbeck Gates tonight, and then come back and wait.  But if thou art not here again by midnight tomorrow, I shall believe that thou art taken in some snare, and come out to seek thee.’