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MAN。 Oh！ then that sap is not your father？
MYSELF。 What； the snake？ Why； no！ Did you think he was？
MAN。 To be sure we did。 Didn't you tell me so？
MYSELF。 Why； yes； but who would have thought you would have
believed it？ It is a tame one。 I hunt vipers； and tame them。
MAN。 O…h！
'O…h！' grunted the woman； 'that's it； is it？'
The man and woman； who during this conversation had resumed their
former positions within the tent； looked at each other with a queer
look of surprise； as if somewhat disconcerted at what they now
heard。 They then entered into discourse with each other in the
same strange tongue which had already puzzled me。 At length the
man looked me in the face； and said； somewhat hesitatingly； 'So you
are not one of them there after all？'
MYSELF。 One of them there？ I don't know what you mean。
MAN。 Why； we have been thinking you were a goblin … a devilkin！
However； I see how it is： you are a sap…engro； a chap who catches
snakes； and plays tricks with them！ Well； it comes very nearly to
the same thing； and if you please to list with us； and bear us
pleasant company； we shall be glad of you。 I'd take my oath upon
it； that we might make a mort of money by you and that sap； and the
tricks it could do； and； as you seem fly to everything； I shouldn't
wonder if you would make a prime hand at telling fortunes。
'I shouldn't wonder；' said I。
MAN。 Of course。 And you might still be our God Almighty； or at
any rate our clergyman； so you should live in a tilted cart by
yourself； and say prayers to us night and morning … to wifelkin
here； and all our family； there's plenty of us when we are all
together： as I said before； you seem fly； I shouldn't wonder if
you could read？
'Oh yes！' said I； 'I can read'； and； eager to display my
accomplishments； I took my book out of my pocket； and； opening it
at random； proceeded to read how a certain man； whilst wandering
about a certain solitary island； entered a cave； the mouth of which
was overgrown with brushwood； and how he was nearly frightened to
death in that cave by something which he saw。
'That will do；' said the man； 'that's the kind of prayers for me
and my family； aren't they； wifelkin？ I never heard more delicate
prayers in all my life！ Why； they beat the rubricals hollow！ … and
here comes my son Jasper。 I say； Jasper； here's a young sap…engro
that can read； and is more fly than yourself。 Shake hands with
him； I wish ye to be two brothers。'
With a swift but stealthy pace Jasper came towards us from the
farther part of the lane； on reaching the tent he stood still； and
looked fixedly upon me as I sat upon the stool； I looked fixedly
upon him。 A queer look had Jasper； he was a lad of some twelve or
thirteen years； with long arms； unlike the singular being who
called himself his father； his complexion was ruddy； but his face
was seamed； though it did not bear the peculiar scar which
disfigured the countenance of the other； nor； though roguish
enough； a certain evil expression which that of the other bore； and
which the face of the woman possessed in a yet more remarkable
degree。 For the rest； he wore drab breeches； with certain strings
at the knee； a rather gay waistcoat； and tolerably white shirt；
under his arm he bore a mighty whip of whalebone with a brass knob；
and upon his head was a hat without either top or brim。
'There； Jasper！ shake hands with the sap…engro。'
'Can he box； father？' said Jasper； surveying me rather
contemptuously。 'I should think not； he looks so puny and small。'
'Hold your peace； fool！' said the man； 'he can do more than that …
I tell you he's fly： he carries a sap about； which would sting a
ninny like you to dead。'
'What； a sap…engro！' said the boy； with a singular whine； and；
stooping down； he leered curiously in my face； kindly； however； and
then patted me on the head。 'A sap…engro；' he ejaculated； 'lor！'
'Yes； and one of the right sort；' said the man； 'I am glad we have
met with him； he is going to list with us； and be our clergyman and
God Almighty； ain't you； my tawny？'
'I don't know；' said I； 'I must see what my father will say。'
'Your father； bah！' … but here he stopped； for a sound was heard
like the rapid galloping of a horse； not loud and distinct as on a
road； but dull and heavy as if upon a grass sward； nearer and
nearer it came； and the man； starting up； rushed out of the tent；
and looked around anxiously。 I arose from the stool upon which I
had been seated； and just at that moment； amidst a crashing of
boughs and sticks； a man on horseback bounded over the hedge into
the lane at a few yards' distance from where we were： from the
impetus of the leap the horse was nearly down on his knees； the
rider； however； by dint of vigorous handling of the reins；
prevented him from falling； and then rode up to the tent。 ''Tis
Nat；' said the man； 'what brings him here？' The newcomer was a
stout burly fellow； about the middle age； he had a savage
determined look； and his face was nearly covered over with
carbuncles； he wore a broad slouching hat； and was dressed in a
gray coat； cut in a fashion which I afterwards learnt to be the
genuine Newmarket cut； the skirts being exceedingly short； his
waistcoat was of red plush； and he wore broad corduroy breeches and
white top…boots。 The steed which carried him was of iron gray；
spirited and powerful； but covered with sweat and foam。 The fellow
glanced fiercely and suspiciously around； and said something to the
man of the tent in a harsh and rapid voice。 A short and hurried
conversation ensued in the strange tongue。 I could not take my
eyes off this new…comer。 Oh； that half…jockey； half…bruiser
countenance； I never forgot it！ More than fifteen years afterwards
I found myself amidst a crowd before Newgate； a gallows was
erected； and beneath it stood a criminal； a notorious malefactor。
I recognised him at once； the horseman of the lane is now beneath
the fatal tree； but nothing altered； still the same man； jerking
his head to the right and left with the same fierce and under
glance； just as if the affairs of this world had the same kind of
interest to the last； gray coat of Newmarket cut； plush waistcoat；
corduroys； and boots； nothing altered； but the head； alas！ is bare；
and so is the neck。 Oh； crime and virtue； virtue and crime！ … it
was old John Newton； I think； who； when he saw a man going to be
hanged； said； 'There goes John Newton； but for the grace of God！'
But the lane； the lane； all was now in confusion in the lane； the
man and woman were employed in striking the tents and in making
hurried preparations for departure； the boy Jasper was putting the
harness upon the ponies and attaching them to the carts； and； to
increase the singularity of the scene； two or three wild…looking
women and girls； in red cloaks and immense black beaver bonnets；
came from I know not what direction； and； after exchanging a few
words with the others； commenced with fierce and agitated gestures
to assist them in their occupation。 The rider meanwhile sat upon
his horse； but evidently in a state of great impatience； he
muttered curses between his teeth； spurred the animal furiously；
and then reined it in； causing it to rear itself up nearly
perpendicular。 At last he said； 'Curse ye for Romans； how slow ye
are！ well； it is no business of mine； stay here all day if you
like； I have given ye warning； I am off to the big north road。
However； before I go； you had better give me all you have of that。'
'Truly spoken； Nat； my pal；' said the man； 'give it him； mother。
There it is； now be off as soon as you please； and rid us of evil
company。'
The woman had handed him two bags formed of stocking； half full of
something heavy； which looked through them for all the world like
money of some kind。 The fellow； on receiving them； thrust them
without ceremony into the pockets of his coat； and then； without a
word of farewell salutation； departed at a tremendous rate； the
hoofs of his horse thundering for a long time on the hard soil of
the neighbouring road； till the sound finally died away in the
distance。 The strange people were not slow in completing their
preparations； and then； flogging their animals terrifically；
hurried away seemingly in the same direction。
The boy Jasper was last of the band。 As he was following the rest；
he stopped suddenly； and looked on the ground appearing to muse；
then； turning round； he came up to me where I was standing； leered
in my face； and then； thrusting out his hand； he said； 'Good…bye；
Sap； I daresay we shall meet again； remember we are brothers； two
gentle brothers。'
Then whining forth； 'What a sap…engro； lor！' he gave me a parting
leer； and hastened away。