Rarely, if ever, were "Jerky Jack"--the soubriquet his gait had gained for him--and his big sister seen apart; Winny, or Winifred--for such was her baptismal name--being a valuable helpmate to him. Some said she was more--his master. That day they had been to Monmouth market, and now, at a late hour of the evening--after sunset--they were climbing Cat's Hill on their return homeward. As already said, there was then no Kerne bridge, and they had crossed by the ferry at Goodrich; a roundabout way to where they now were, but unavoidable--making good the woman's estimate of the distance. Up the remainder of the pitch, Jerky kept his word, and no more stick was administered to Jinkum. But before reaching the summit the tired animal was treated to a spell of rest, for which it might thank a man there met, or rather one who dropped upon them as from the clouds. For he had come slithering down a steep shelving bank that bordered the road, suddenly presenting himself to their view outside the selvage of bushes. Notwithstanding his _impromptu_ appearance, neither showed sign of alarm nor surprise. Evidently they expected him; for but the minute before a sound resembling the call of the green woodpecker--the "heekul," as known to them--had reached their ears, causing them to turn their eyes toward the direction whence it came. From the wood, where, of course, they could see nothing; but there was a peculiarity in the intonation of the sound, telling them it proceeded not from the throat of a bird, but was in some way made by a man. That the woman knew how, and who the man, she gave evidence by saying, "That be Rob!" as she spoke a pleased expression coming over her countenance. Whether Rob or no, he who so mysteriously and fantastically presented himself to their notice was a man of aspect remarkable as either of them. In size a Colossus; dark-complexioned like themselves, with full beard, and thick shock of brown-black hair standing out around his neck in curls and tangles. His coat of bottle-green cloth--amply skirted-- and red plush waistcoat, showed creased and frowsy, as if he had passed the previous night, and many preceding it, in a shed or under a tree. For all, there was something majestic in his mien, just as with the woman--a savage grandeur independent of garb, which could assert itself under a drapery of rags. As the three came together, he was the first to speak, more particularly addressing himself to Jerky. For the sister had a little side business to transact, plunging her hand into one of the panniers, and bringing forth a basket, out of which the neck of a bottle protruded. "Well, Jack! What's the news down Monnerth way?" was the commencement of the colloquy. "Lots, Rob; 'nough if they were wrote out on paper to fill them panners, an' load the donkey down." Jinkum's owner was of a humorous turn, and dealt in figures of speech, often odd and varied as his bills of lading.