"Old Ironsides is gone daft. Where does your majesty expect to get eggs, and if ye do get them, what are we going to do with them? Do ye think we are going to be egg-sucking weasels?" Dick grinned, and, as he tried to set a dramatic attitude, flourished his arm, "We'll set forth the vessels of silver and gold----" "Avast, there, my lad," said Ande, imitating the tones of smuggler Jack. "And 'ave a-blooming----" "Cough it out, my elephantine infant." "Belshassar's feast. I have an idea." "Whisper it not in Gath, publish it not in Ascalon. An idea," chuckling, "from an egg-regious Lizard philosopher." "Egg-nogg," continued Dick, grinning. "The very thing," said Ande, assuming a more sober tone, "but where?" "We must first get outside of town," said Dick, soberly. "No stealing?" "No stealing." "'Pon honour?" "'Pon honour." Forth they started, cautiously slipping downstairs and out into the street, where both darted away at a rapid pace. On the highroad that led to the little town of Prospidnic, the foremost paused, and puffing like an engine the latter caught up to him. "Ande, remember the Truro champion footrace?" Ande nodded. "Well, I believe 'ee could beat the champion; you went so fast I nigh lost sight of you." "Now, what's your plan?" Dick paused a moment to gain his breath, and then spoke. "Do ye remember the cave near the Red River? Well, the ducks from all around gather there. It's public property, being on the free downs. Eggs used to be there in plenty, but some snivelling squire's steward put a door on it and now tries to bag the industry." "Art sure the squire didn't buy the section?" "Well, if he 'as, the ducks that gather there are not his, and 'e 'asn't a mortgage on the eggs of futurity infinitum. The squire's steward is the robber of public rights and human freedom, and----" "Public eggs," said Ande. "Down with the tyrant,--_sic semper tyrannis_--and up with the eggs." Onward they pressed at a dog-trot. It was evening and getting dusk when they reached the neighbourhood. "You go in, Dick, and I'll mount watchman." The door was the contrivance of a genius, for, while it was designed to hold out boys and men, yet a small aperture beneath favored the entrance of ducks and other smaller creatures. The cave was in the side of a hill near the Red River stream, and opened on the roadway. "I'll go in as soon as I get un open," says Dick, as he wrenched at the latch. By dint of tugging and pulling, the hasp was loosened, and in went Dick, crawling on his hands and knees, the height of the tunnel not permitting him to walk upright. "Hast found any?" "No, steward must 'ave been here. 'Tis a most beastly place and nigh turns one's stomach," muttered Dick from the interior.