`` Heaven forgive us ! '' said Sir John . `` If we find him at all , we shall find him lying at the bottom . '' And he slapped his great hand upon his great thigh , and said - `` Who will go down over Lewthwaite Crag , and see if that boy is alive ? Oh that I were twenty years younger , and I would go down myself ! '' And so he would have done , as well as any sweep in the county . Then he said - `` Twenty pounds to the man who brings me that boy alive ! '' and as was his way , what he said he meant . Now among the lot was a little groom-boy , a very little groom indeed ; and he was the same who had ridden up the court , and told Tom to come to the Hall ; and he said - `` Twenty pounds or none , I will go down over Lewthwaite Crag , if it 's only for the poor boy 's sake . For he was as civil a spoken little chap as ever climbed a flue . '' So down over Lewthwaite Crag he went : a very smart groom he was at the top , and a very shabby one at the bottom ; for he tore his gaiters , and he tore his breeches , and he tore his jacket , and he burst his braces , and he burst his boots , and he lost his hat , and what was worst of all , he lost his shirt pin , which he prized very much , for it was gold , and he had won it in a raffle at Malton , and there was a figure at the top of it , of t ` ould mare , noble old Beeswing herself , as natural as life ; so it was a really severe loss : but he never saw anything of Tom . And all the while Sir John and the rest were riding round , full three miles to the right , and back again , to get into Vendale , and to the foot of the crag . When they came to the old dame 's school , all the children came out to see . And the old dame came out too ; and when she saw Sir John , she curtsied very low , for she was a tenant of his . `` Well , dame , and how are you ? '' said Sir John . `` Blessings on you as broad as your back , Harthover , '' says she -- she did n't call him Sir John , but only Harthover , for that is the fashion in the North country -- `` and welcome into Vendale : but you 're no hunting the fox this time of the year ? '' `` I am hunting , and strange game too , '' said he . `` Blessings on your heart , and what makes you look so sad the morn ? '' `` I 'm looking for a lost child , a chimney-sweep , that is run away . ''
`` Oh , Harthover , XXXXX , '' says she , `` ye were always a just man and a merciful ; and ye 'll no harm the poor little lad if I give you tidings of him ? ''
Beeswing Crag Harthover John Malton Tom chimney-sweep groom-boy pounds right