Chapter 1. In The Fen
_ CHAPTER ONE. IN THE FEN
Dick Winthorpe--christened Richard by order of his father at the Hall-- sat on the top of the big post by the wheelwright‘s door.
It was not a comfortable seat, and he could only keep his place by twisting his legs round and holding on； but as there was a spice of difficulty in the task, Dick chose it, and sat there opposite Tom Tallington--christened Thomas at the wish of his mother, Farmer Tallington‘s wife, of Grimsey, the fen island under the old dyke.
Tom Tallington was seated upon one side of a rough punt, turned up to keep the rain from filling it, and as he was not obliged to hold on with his legs he kept swinging them to and fro.
It was not a pleasant place for either of the lads, for in front of them was a ring of fire where, upon the ground, burned and crackled and fumed a quantity of short wood, which was replenished from time to time by Mark Hickathrift, the wheelwright, and his lad Jacob.
At the first glanc

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