Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

400 EHYS LEWIS.
astonislied by a loud laugh from the officer, •who, addressing
us in Welsh, said: "Boys, what was your business at that
house ? "
"Holloa! John Jones from the land of my fathers! Where's
your latch-key, to open these cuflfs ? Oes y hyd iW iaith
Gymraeg ! * Yes, that's it. Gymry rhydd Cymry fydd ! *
cried Will delightedly, as the officer was freeing us, which he
promptly did. While he was taking the handcuffs from our
■wrists. Will heaped up words of commendation upon his head,
amongst the most honourable of them being "trump," " old
brick," "A 1," &c., twisting together pleasantry, gratitude, a
full and satisfactory explanation of our conduct, all on one
string, without pausing to take breath, and winding up with
an oft'er to stand the constable the price of a dinner.
"No ! " replied the officer. " ' Bluecoat' is * an exception.'
He won't take to be rewarded. Go home now, like good
children."
" You are true to nature and an honour to your country.
You ought to be made an inspector at ouce," declared Will.
After some further conversation with our captor we left, on
good terms and in good spirits.
"D'ye know what?" said Will. "I'll never again say
Bobbies are humbugs without exception. There are good
sorts in their midst, also. I think, sometimes, it is worth a
man's while to get into a scrape, for the pleasure of getting out
of it again. Only once was I ever in the grip of one of those
chaps before— about a year ago. I knew a girl in this town-
there was nothing definite between us, you know, only we were
extra good friends— and one night I went to send her home. I
accompanied her to the house and remained there some time —
longer than I thought. I warrant you it was eleven o'clock,
when, all of a sudden, I heard the mistress coming down from
the sitting room; and the girl, instead of being straightforward
and saying who I was, shoved me into a pantry, or some such
place, where it was frightfully close. Well to you, I heard the
missis ordering the girl to bed, and afterwards locking the
• Well-known Welsh sayings, meaning " The world's age to the Cymric
tongue," and ♦' Free Welsh the Welsh shall be," respectively. — Tkaks^