Fitz of Fitz-Ford; a legend of Devon - University Library

FITZ OF FITZ-FORD. 31
me; and as they dare not sell the ore m this
countrj^, smce by law it pertains to the queen,
1, who have the use of many tongues, and a
knowledg-e of the foreign marts, deal for them
with the captains of certain foreign vessels that
beat about the coast, receiving a just proportion
of the profits as a guerdon for my own
labours,"
'' Bat perhaps, uncle," said Benjamin, '' these
outlawed workers may do by you, as did your
first employers ; they may oast you out when
they no longer want your help, and so give
you up to the queen's justice,"
'' They cannot, they dare not do it," ex-
claimed Levi ;
'' I have learnt by experience,
boy, the way of this world's iniquity—I have
not pointed out to them where all the treasure
lies, and besides this I prepare the ore in ingots
for the market. They gain but little of it at a
time, since all is done by stealth; therefore
they work slowly—and as to betraying me to
rulers, they are outlawed themselves. There
is not one amongst them, should he venture
within an English court, but would hold his
life as forfeited. Still, I grant they are violent
and dangerous, but not in the way you suspect.
—They have no rule of life but their own wants
and interests ; and those they satisfy by any