and all dappled with the shadows of rolling leaden clouds with silver fringes. Miles away a church spire stuck like a spike out of the hollow, and the smoke of a village dimmed the trees behind. No nearer habitation could I see. I have mentioned a hamlet which we passed in the spring-cart. It lay hidden behind some hillocks to the left. My landlady told me it was better than half a mile away, and “nothing when you get there; no shop; no post-office; not even a public - house.”
I inquired in which
“I can’t hardly say,” said the captain awkwardly. “We found the gig o’ the Lady Jermyn the week arter we found you, bein’ becalmed like; there wasn’t no lady aboard her, though.”
“Was there anybody?”
“Two dead ‘uns - an’ this here paper.”
“Let me see it!”
The skipper hesitated.
“Hadn’t you better wait a bit?”