At any rate there was the body of a man in a wonderful state of preservation, kept from decay by the action of the peat; and, judging from the clothing, the body must have been in its position there for many hundred years.
"What's got to be done now ?" said Bargle.

"We want to get on." Mr Marston gave prompt orders, which resulted in a shallow grave being dug in the peat about fifty yards from where the drain was being cut, and in this the strange figure was carefully laid, ready for exhumation by any naturalist who should wish to investigate farther; and after this was done, and a careful search made for remains of weapons or coins, the cutting of the drain progressed; till, after an enjoyable day with the engineer, the boys said good-bye, and tried to escape without having to shake hands with Bargle.
But this was not to be.

The big fellow waylaid them, smiling and holding out his hand to Dick for a farewell grip, and a declaration that they were mates.
About half-way back, and just as it was growing toward sundown, they were met by Hickathrift, who came up smiling, and looking like a Bargle carefully smoothed down.
"Thought I'd see you safe back," said Hickathrift so seriously that a feeling of nervousness which had not before existed made the boys glance round and look suspiciously at a reed-bed on one side and a patch of alders on the other.
"What are you talking like that for ?" cried Dick angrily; "just as if we couldn't walk along here and be quite safe! What is there to mind ?" The wheelwright shook his head and looked round uneasily, as if he too felt the influence of coming danger; but no puff of smoke came from clump of bushes or patch of reeds; no sharp report rose from the alders that fringed part of the walk, and they reached the wheelwright's cottage without adventure.
Here Hickathrift began to smile in a peculiar way, and, having only one hand at liberty, he made use of it to grip Dick by the arm, and use him as if he were an instrument or tool for entrapping Tom, with the result that he packed them both into his cottage, and into the presence of his wife, who was also smiling, as she stood behind a cleanly-scrubbed table, upon which was spread a tempting-looking supper.
"Here, Hicky, don't! What do you mean ?" cried Dick, whom the great fellow's grip punished.
"Wittles," said the wheelwright, indulging in a broad grin.
"Oh, nonsense! We're off home.

Tom Tallington's going to have supper with me." "Nay, he's going to hev his supper here along o' uz," said Hickathrift.
"Didn't I say, missus, I'd bring 'em home ?" "Yes, Mester Dick," cried Mrs Hickathrift; "and thank ye kindly, do stop." "Oh, but we must get back!" cried Dick, who shrank from partaking of the wheelwright's kindly hospitality.
"Theer, I towd you so," cried Mrs Hickathrift to her husband, and speaking in an ill-used tone.

"They're used to table-cloths, and squire's wife's got silver spoons." "Nay, nay, never mind the cloths and spoons, Mester Dick; stop and have a bite." "But, Hicky--" "Nay, now," cried the wheelwright interrupting; "don't thee say thou'rt not hungry." "I wasn't going to," said Dick, laughing, "because I am horribly hungry.
Aren't you, Tom ?" Tom showed his teeth.