ink there's only one cuckoo, one fox, one giant, one devil,
and one reddleman, when there's lots of us all."

"Is there? You won't carry me off in your bags, will ye, master?
'Tis said that the reddleman will sometimes."

"Nonsense. All that reddlemen do is sell reddle. You see all these
bags at the back of my cart? They are not full of little boys--only
full of red stuff."

"Was you born a reddleman?"

"No, I took to it. I should be as white as you if I were to give up
the trade--that is, I should be white in time--perhaps six months: not
at first, because 'tis grow'd into my skin and won't wash out. Now,
you'll never be afraid of a reddleman again, will ye?"

"No, never. Willy Orchard said he seed a red ghost here t'other
day--perhaps that was you?"

"I was here t'other day."

"Were you making that dusty light I saw by now?"

"Oh yes: I was beating out some bags. And have you had a good bonfire
up there? I saw the light. Why did Miss Vye want a bonfire so bad
that she should give you sixpence to keep it up?"

"I don't know. I was tired, but she made me bide and keep up the fire
just the same, while she kept going up across Rainbarrow way."

"And how long did that last?"

"Until a hopfrog jumped into the pond."

The reddleman suddenly ceased to talk idly. "A hopfrog?" he inquired.
"Hopfrogs don't jump into ponds this time of year."

"They do, for I heard one."

"Certain-sure?"

"Yes. She told me afore that I should hear'n; and so I did. They say
she's clever and deep, and perhaps she charmed 'en to come."

"And what then?"

"Then I came down here, and I was afeard, and I went back; but I
didn't like to speak to her, because of the gentleman, and I came on
here again."

"A gentleman--ah! What did she say to him, my man?"

"Told him she supposed he had not married the other woman because he
liked his old sweetheart best; and things like that."

"What did the gentleman say to her, my sonny?"

"He only said he did like her best, and how he was coming to see her
again under Rainbarrow o' nights."

"Ha!" cried the reddleman, slapping his hand against the side of his
van so that the whole fabric shook under the blow. "That's the secret
o't!"

The little boy jumped clean from the stool.

"My man, don't you be afraid," said the dealer in red, suddenly
becoming gentle. "I forgot you were here. That's only a curious way
reddlemen have of going mad for a moment; but they don't hurt anybody.
And wha