And see ye here , John Matcham -- sith John Matcham is your name -- I , Richard Shelton , tide what betideth , come what may , will see you safe in Holywood . The saints so do to me again if I default you . Come , pick me up a good heart , Sir White-face . The way betters here ; spur me the horse . Go faster ! faster ! Nay , mind not for me ; I can run like a deer . '' So , with the horse trotting hard , and Dick running easily alongside , they crossed the remainder of the fen , and came out upon the banks of the river by the ferryman 's hut . CHAPTER III -- THE FEN FERRY The river Till was a wide , sluggish , clayey water , oozing out of fens , and in this part of its course it strained among some score of willow-covered , marshy islets . It was a dingy stream ; but upon this bright , spirited morning everything was become beautiful . The wind and the martens broke it up into innumerable dimples ; and the reflection of the sky was scattered over all the surface in crumbs of smiling blue . A creek ran up to meet the path , and close under the bank the ferryman 's hut lay snugly . It was of wattle and clay , and the grass grew green upon the roof . Dick went to the door and opened it . Within , upon a foul old russet cloak , the ferryman lay stretched and shivering ; a great hulk of a man , but lean and shaken by the country fever . `` Hey , Master Shelton , '' he said , `` be ye for the ferry ? Ill times , ill times ! Look to yourself . There is a fellowship abroad . Ye were better turn round on your two heels and try the bridge . ''
`` Nay ; time 's in the saddle , '' answered XXXXX .
Dick FEN Shelton White-face betideth betters crumbs dimples martens wattle