CAPTAINS ALL

Complete

By W. W. Jacobs

Contents: Captains All The Boatswain's Mate The Nest Egg The Constable's Move Bob's Redemption Over The Side The Four Pigeons The Temptation Of Samuel Burge The Madness Of Mr. Lister The White Cat 

CAPTAINS ALL

[Illustration: "Captains All. "]

Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully. It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep ongrumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do. There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, andthose that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants sucha good character that there's few as are to equal it. 

Sometimes they get things to do ashore. I knew one man that took upbutchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up. Another man I knew gave up the sea to marry a washerwoman, and theyhadn't been married six months afore she died, and back he 'ad to go tosea agin, pore chap. 

A man who used to grumble awful about the sea was old Sam Small--a manI've spoke of to you before. To hear 'im go on about the sea, arter he'ad spent four or five months' money in a fortnight, was 'artbreaking. He used to ask us wot was going to happen to 'im in his old age, and whenwe pointed out that he wouldn't be likely to 'ave any old age if hewasn't more careful of 'imself he used to fly into a temper and call useverything 'e could lay his tongue to. 

One time when 'e was ashore with Peter Russet and Ginger Dick he seemedto 'ave got it on the brain. He started being careful of 'is moneyinstead o' spending it, and three mornings running he bought a newspaperand read the advertisements, to see whether there was any comfortableberth for a strong, good-'arted man wot didn't like work. 

He actually went arter one situation, and, if it hadn't ha' been forseventy-nine other men, he said he believed he'd ha' had a good chance ofgetting it. As it was, all 'e got was a black eye for shoving anotherman, and for a day or two he was so down-'arted that 'e was no company atall for the other two. 

For three or four days 'e went out by 'imself, and then, all of a sudden, Ginger Dick and Peter began to notice a great change in him. He seemedto 'ave got quite cheerful and 'appy. He answered 'em back pleasant whenthey spoke to 'im, and one night he lay in 'is bed whistling comic songsuntil Ginger and Peter Russet 'ad to get out o' bed to him. When hebought a new necktie and a smart cap and washed 'imself twice in one daythey fust began to ask each other wot was up, and then they asked him. 

"Up?" ses Sam; "nothing. "

"He's in love, " ses Peter Russet. 

"You're a liar, " ses Sam, without turning round. 

"He'll 'ave it bad at 'is age, " ses Ginger. 

Sam didn't say nothing, but he kept fidgeting about as though 'e'd gotsomething on his mind. Fust he looked out o' the winder, then he 'ummeda tune, and at last, looking at 'em very fierce, he took a tooth-brushwrapped in paper out of 'is pocket and began to clean 'is teeth. 

"He is in love, " ses Ginger, as soon as he could speak. 

"Or else 'e's gorn mad, " ses Peter, watching 'im. "Which is it, Sam?"

Sam made believe that he couldn't answer 'im because o' the tooth-brush, and arter he'd finished he 'ad such a raging toothache that 'e sat in acorner holding 'is face and looking the pictur' o' misery. They couldn'tget a word out of him till they asked 'im to go out with them, and thenhe said 'e was going to bed. Twenty minutes arterwards, when Ginger Dickstepped back for 'is pipe, he found he 'ad gorn. 

He tried the same game next night, but the other two wouldn't 'ave it, and they stayed in so long that at last 'e lost 'is temper, and, arterwondering wot Ginger's father and mother could ha' been a-thinking about, and saying that he believed Peter Russet 'ad been changed at birth for asea-sick monkey, he put on 'is cap and went out. Both of 'em follered'im sharp, but when he led 'em to a mission-hall, and actually wentinside, they left 'im and went off on their own. 

They talked it over that night between themselves, and next evening theywent out fust and hid themselves round the corner. Ten minutesarterwards old Sam came out, walking as though 'e was going to catch atrain; and smiling to think 'ow he 'ad shaken them off. At the corner ofCommercial Road he stopped and bought 'imself a button-hole for 'is coat, and Ginger was so surprised that 'e pinched Peter Russet to make surethat he wasn't dreaming. 

Old Sam walked straight on whistling, and every now and then looking downat 'is button-hole, until by-and-by he turned down a street on the rightand went into a little shop. Ginger Dick and Peter waited for 'im at thecorner, but he was inside for so long that at last they got tired o'waiting and crept up and peeped through the winder. 

It was a little tobacconist's shop, with newspapers and penny toys andsuch-like; but, as far as Ginger could see through two rows o' pipes andthe Police News, it was empty. They stood there with their noses pressedagainst the glass for some time, wondering wot had 'appened to Sam, butby-and-by a little boy went in and then they began to 'ave an idea wotSam's little game was. 

As the shop-bell went the door of a little parlour at the back of theshop opened, and a stout and uncommon good-looking woman of about fortycame out. Her 'ead pushed the _Police News_ out o' the way and her 'andcame groping into the winder arter a toy. 

Ginger 'ad a good look at 'er out o' the corner of one eye, while hepretended to be looking at a tobacco-jar with the other. As the littleboy came out 'im and Peter Russet went in. 

"I want a pipe, please, " he ses, smiling at 'er; "a clay pipe--one o' yourbest. " The woman handed 'im down a box to choose from, and just thenPeter, wot 'ad been staring in at the arf-open door at a boot wot wantedlacing up, gave a big start and ses, "Why! Halloa!"

"Wot's the matter?" ses the woman, looking at 'im. 

"I'd know that foot anywhere, " ses Peter, still staring at it; and thewords was hardly out of 'is mouth afore the foot 'ad moved itself awayand tucked itself under its chair. "Why, that's my dear old friend SamSmall, ain't it?"

"Do you know the captin?" ses the woman, smiling at 'im. 

"Cap----?" ses Peter. "Cap----? Oh, yes; why, he's the biggest friendI've got. " "'Ow strange!" ses the woman. 

"We've been wanting to see 'im for some time, " ses Ginger. "He was kindenough to lend me arf a crown the other day, and I've been wanting to pay'im. "

"Captin Small, " ses the woman, pushing open the door, "here's some oldfriends o' yours. "

Old Sam turned 'is face round and looked at 'em, and if looks could ha'killed, as the saying is, they'd ha' been dead men there and then. 

"Oh, yes, " he ses, in a choking voice; "'ow are you?"

"Pretty well, thank you, captin, " ses Ginger, grinning at 'im; "and 'ow'syourself arter all this long time?"

He held out 'is hand and Sam shook it, and then shook 'ands with PeterRusset, who was grinning so 'ard that he couldn't speak. 

"These are two old friends o' mine, Mrs. Finch, " ses old Sam, giving 'ema warning look; "Captin Dick and Captin Russet, two o' the oldest andbest friends a man ever 'ad. "

"Captin Dick 'as got arf a crown for you, " ses Peter Russet, stillgrinning. 

"There now, " ses Ginger, looking vexed, "if I ain't been and forgot it;I've on'y got arf a sovereign. "

"I can give you change, sir, " ses Mrs. Finch. "P'r'aps you'd like to sitdown for five minutes?"

Ginger thanked 'er, and 'im and Peter Russet took a chair apiece in fronto' the fire and began asking old Sam about 'is 'ealth, and wot he'd beendoing since they saw 'im last. 

"Fancy your reckernizing his foot, " ses Mrs. Finch, coming in with thechange. 

"I'd know it anywhere, " ses Peter, who was watching Ginger pretending togive Sam Small the 'arf-dollar, and Sam pretending in a most lifelikemanner to take it. 

Ginger Dick looked round the room. It was a comfortable little place, with pictures on the walls and antimacassars on all the chairs, and a rowof pink vases on the mantelpiece. Then 'e looked at Mrs. Finch, andthought wot a nice-looking woman she was. 

"This is nicer than being aboard ship with a crew o' nasty, troublesomesailormen to look arter, Captin Small, " he ses. 

"It's wonderful the way he manages 'em, " ses Peter Russet to Mrs. Finch. "Like a lion he is. "

"A roaring lion, " ses Ginger, looking at Sam. "He don't know wot fearis. "

Sam began to smile, and Mrs. Finch looked at 'im so pleased that PeterRusset, who 'ad been looking at 'er and the room, and thinking much thesame way as Ginger, began to think that they was on the wrong tack. 

"Afore 'e got stout and old, " he ses, shaking his 'ead, "there wasn't asmarter skipper afloat. "

"We all 'ave our day, " ses Ginger, shaking his 'ead too. 

"I dessay he's good for another year or two afloat, yet, " ses PeterRusset, considering. "With care, " ses Ginger. 

Old Sam was going to say something, but 'e stopped himself just in time. "They will 'ave their joke, " he ses, turning to Mrs. Finch and trying tosmile. "I feel as young as ever I did. "

Mrs. Finch said that anybody with arf an eye could see that, and then shelooked at a kettle that was singing on the 'ob. 

"I s'pose you gentlemen wouldn't care for a cup o' cocoa?" she ses, turning to them. 

Ginger Dick and Peter both said that they liked it better than anythingelse, and, arter she 'ad got out the cups and saucers and a tin o' cocoa, Ginger held the kettle and poured the water in the cups while she stirredthem, and old Sam sat looking on 'elpless. 

"It does seem funny to see you drinking cocoa, captin, " ses Ginger, asold Sam took his cup. 

"Ho!" ses Sam, firing up; "and why, if I might make so bold as to ask?"

"'Cos I've generally seen you drinking something out of a bottle, " sesGinger. 

"Now, look 'ere, " ses Sam, starting up and spilling some of the hot cocoaover 'is lap. 

"A ginger-beer bottle, " ses Peter Russet, making faces at Ginger to keepquiet. 

"Yes, o' course, that's wot I meant, " ses Ginger. 

Old Sam wiped the cocoa off 'is knees without saying a word, but hisweskit kept going up and down till Peter Russet felt quite sorry for 'im. 

"There's nothing like it, " he ses to Mrs. Finch. "It was by sticking toginger-beer and milk and such-like that Captain Small 'ad command of aship afore 'e was twenty-five. "

"Lor'!" ses Mrs. Finch. 

She smiled at old Sam till Peter got uneasy agin, and began to thinkp'r'aps 'e'd been praising 'im too much. 

"Of course, I'm speaking of long ago now, " he ses. 

"Years and years afore you was born, ma'am, " ses Ginger. 

Old Sam was going to say something, but Mrs. Finch looked so pleased that'e thought better of it. Some o' the cocoa 'e was drinking went thewrong way, and then Ginger patted 'im on the back and told 'im to becareful not to bring on 'is brownchitis agin. Wot with temper and beingafraid to speak for fear they should let Mrs. Finch know that 'e wasn't acaptin, he could 'ardly bear 'imself, but he very near broke out whenPeter Russet advised 'im to 'ave his weskit lined with red flannel. Theyall stayed on till closing time, and by the time they left they 'ad madetheirselves so pleasant that Mrs. Finch said she'd be pleased to see themany time they liked to look in. 

Sam Small waited till they 'ad turned the corner, and then he broke outso alarming that they could 'ardly do anything with 'im. Twice policemenspoke to 'im and advised 'im to go home afore they altered their minds;and he 'ad to hold 'imself in and keep quiet while Ginger and PeterRusset took 'is arms and said they were seeing him 'ome. 

He started the row agin when they got in-doors, and sat up in 'is bedsmacking 'is lips over the things he'd like to 'ave done to them if hecould. And then, arter saying 'ow he'd like to see Ginger boiled alivelike a lobster, he said he knew that 'e was a noble-'arted feller whowouldn't try and cut an old pal out, and that it was a case of love atfirst sight on top of a tram-car. 

"She's too young for you, " ses Ginger; "and too good-looking besides. "

"It's the nice little bisness he's fallen in love with, Ginger, " sesPeter Russet. "I'll toss you who 'as it. "

Ginger, who was siting on the foot o' Sam's bed, said "no" at fust, butarter a time he pulled out arf a dollar and spun it in the air. 

That was the last 'e see of it, although he 'ad Sam out o' bed and allthe clothes stripped off of it twice. He spent over arf an hour on his'ands and knees looking for it, and Sam said when he was tired of playingbears p'r'aps he'd go to bed and get to sleep like a Christian. 

They 'ad it all over agin next morning, and at last, as nobody wouldagree to keep quiet and let the others 'ave a fair chance, they made uptheir minds to let the best man win. Ginger Dick bought a necktie thattook all the colour out o' Sam's, and Peter Russet went in for a collarso big that 'e was lost in it. 

They all strolled into the widow's shop separate that night. Ginger Dick'ad smashed his pipe and wanted another; Peter Russet wanted sometobacco; and old Sam Small walked in smiling, with a little silver broochfor 'er, that he said 'e had picked up. 

It was a very nice brooch, and Mrs. Finch was so pleased with it thatGinger and Peter sat there as mad as they could be because they 'adn'tthought of the same thing. 

"Captain Small is very lucky at finding things, " ses Ginger, at last. 

"He's got the name for it, " ses Peter Russet. 

"It's a handy 'abit, " ses Ginger; "it saves spending money. Who did yougive that gold bracelet to you picked up the other night, captin?" heses, turning to Sam. 

"Gold bracelet?" ses Sam. "I didn't pick up no gold bracelet. Wot areyou talking about?"

"All right, captin; no offence, " ses Ginger, holding up his 'and. "Idreamt I saw one on your mantelpiece, I s'pose. P'r'aps I oughtn't toha' said anything about it. "

Old Sam looked as though he'd like to eat 'im, especially as he noticedMrs. Finch listening and pretending not to. "Oh! that one, " he ses, arter a bit o' hard thinking. "Oh! I found out who it belonged to. Youwouldn't believe 'ow pleased they was at getting it back agin. "

Ginger Dick coughed and began to think as 'ow old Sam was sharper than he'ad given 'im credit for, but afore he could think of anything else tosay Mrs. Finch looked at old Sam and began to talk about 'is ship, and tosay 'ow much she should like to see over it. 

"I wish I could take you, " ses Sam, looking at the other two out o' thecorner of his eye, "but my ship's over at Dunkirk, in France. I've justrun over to London for a week or two to look round. "

"And mine's there too, " ses Peter Russet, speaking a'most afore old Sam'ad finished; "side by side they lay in the harbour. "

"Oh, dear, " ses Mrs. Finch, folding her 'ands and shaking her 'cad. "Ishould like to go over a ship one arternoon. I'd quite made up my mindto it, knowing three captins. "

She smiled and looked at Ginger; and Sam and Peter looked at 'im too, wondering whether he was going to berth his ship at Dunkirk alongside o'theirs. 

"Ah, I wish I 'ad met you a fortnight ago, " ses Ginger, very sad. "Igave up my ship, the High flyer, then, and I'm waiting for one my ownersare 'aving built for me at New-castle. They said the High flyer wasn'tbig enough for me. She was a nice little ship, though. I believe I'vegot 'er picture somewhere about me!"

He felt in 'is pocket and pulled out a little, crumpled-up photograph ofa ship he'd been fireman aboard of some years afore, and showed it to'er. 

"That's me standing on the bridge, " he ses, pointing out a little dotwith the stem of 'is pipe. 

"It's your figger, " ses Mrs. Finch, straining her eyes. "I should knowit anywhere. "

"You've got wonderful eyes, ma'am, " ses old Sam, choking with 'is pipe. 

"Anybody can see that, " ses Ginger. "They're the largest and the bluestI've ever seen. "

Mrs. Finch told 'im not to talk nonsense, but both Sam and Peter Russetcould see 'ow pleased she was. 

"Truth is truth, " ses Ginger. "I'm a plain man, and I speak my mind. "

"Blue is my fav'rit' colour, " ses old Sam, in a tender voice. "Trueblue. "

Peter Russet began to feel out of it. "I thought brown was, " he ses. 

"Ho!" ses Sam, turning on 'im; "and why?"

"I 'ad my reasons, " ses Peter, nodding, and shutting 'is mouth very firm. 

"I thought brown was 'is fav'rit colour too, " ses Ginger. "I don't knowwhy. It's no use asking me; because if you did I couldn't tell you. "

"Brown's a very nice colour, " ses Mrs. Finch, wondering wot was thematter with old Sam. 

"Blue, " ses Ginger; "big blue eyes--they're the ones for me. Otherpeople may 'ave their blacks and their browns, " he ses, looking at Samand Peter Russet, "but give me blue. "

They went on like that all the evening, and every time the shop-bell wentand the widow 'ad to go out to serve a customer they said in w'ispers wotthey thought of each other; and once when she came back rather suddenGinger 'ad to explain to 'er that 'e was showing Peter Russet a scratchon his knuckle. 

Ginger Dick was the fust there next night, and took 'er a little chineyteapot he 'ad picked up dirt cheap because it was cracked right acrostthe middle; but, as he explained that he 'ad dropped it in hurrying tosee 'er, she was just as pleased. She stuck it up on the mantelpiece, and the things she said about Ginger's kindness and generosity made PeterRusset spend good money that he wanted for 'imself on a paintedflower-pot next evening. 

With three men all courting 'er at the same time Mrs. Finch had 'er handsfull, but she took to it wonderful considering. She was so nice and kindto 'em all that even arter a week's 'ard work none of 'em was reallycertain which she liked best. 

They took to going in at odd times o' the day for tobacco and such-like. They used to go alone then, but they all met and did the polite to eachother there of an evening, and then quarrelled all the way 'ome. 

Then all of a sudden, without any warning, Ginger Dick and Peter Russetleft off going there. The fust evening Sam sat expecting them everyminute, and was so surprised that he couldn't take any advantage of it;but on the second, beginning by squeezing Mrs. Finch's 'and at ha'-pastseven, he 'ad got best part of his arm round 'er waist by a quarter toten. He didn't do more that night because she told him to be'ave'imself, and threatened to scream if he didn't leave off. 

He was arf-way home afore 'e thought of the reason for Ginger Dick andPeter Russet giving up, and then he went along smiling to 'imself to suchan extent that people thought 'e was mad. He went off to sleep with thesmile still on 'is lips, and when Peter and Ginger came in soon arterclosing time and 'e woke up and asked them where they'd been, 'e wasstill smiling. 

"I didn't 'ave the pleasure o' seeing you at Mrs. Finch's to-night, " heses. 

"No, " ses Ginger, very short. "We got tired of it. "

"So un'ealthy sitting in that stuffy little room every evening, " sesPeter. 

Old Sam put his 'ead under the bedclothes and laughed till the bed shook;and every now and then he'd put his 'ead out and look at Peter and Gingerand laugh agin till he choked. 

"I see 'ow it is, " he ses, sitting up and wiping his eyes on the sheet. "Well, we cant all win. "

"Wot d'ye mean?" ses Ginger, very disagreeable. 

"She wouldn't 'ave you, Sam, thats wot I mean. And I don't wonder atit. I wouldn't 'ave you if I was a gal. "

"You're dreaming, ses Peter Russet, sneering at 'im. 

"That flower-pot o' yours'll come in handy, " ses Sam, thinking 'ow he 'adput 'is arm round the widow's waist; "and I thank you kindly for theteapot, Ginger. 

"You don't mean to say as you've asked 'er to marry you?" ses Ginger, looking at Peter Russet. 

"Not quite; but I'm going to, " ses Sam, "and I'll bet you even arf-crownsshe ses 'yes. '"

Ginger wouldn't take 'im, and no more would Peter, not even when he raisedit to five shillings; and the vain way old Sam lay there boasting andtalking about 'is way with the gals made 'em both feel ill. 

"I wouldn't 'ave her if she asked me on 'er bended knees, " ses Ginger, holding up his 'ead. 

"Nor me, " ses Peter. "You're welcome to 'er, Sam. When I think of theevenings I've wasted over a fat old woman I feel----"

"That'll do, " ses old Sam, very sharp; "that ain't the way to speak of alady, even if she 'as said 'no. '"

"All right, Sam, " ses Ginger. "You go in and win if you think you're soprecious clever. "

Old Sam said that that was wot 'e was going to do, and he spent so muchtime next morning making 'imself look pretty that the other two could'ardly be civil to him. 

He went off a'most direckly arter breakfast, and they didn't see 'im agintill twelve o'clock that night. He 'ad brought a bottle o' whisky inwith 'im, and he was so 'appy that they see plain wot had 'appened. 

"She said 'yes' at two o'clock in the arternoon, " ses old Sam, smiling, arter they had 'ad a glass apiece. "I'd nearly done the trick at oneo'clock, and then the shop-bell went, and I 'ad to begin all over agin. Still, it wasn't unpleasant. "

"Do you mean to tell us you've asked 'er to marry you?" ses Ginger, 'olding out 'is glass to be filled agin. 

"I do, " ses Sam; "but I 'ope there's no ill-feeling. You never 'ad achance, neither of you; she told me so. "

Ginger Dick and Peter Russet stared at each other. 

"She said she 'ad been in love with me all along, " ses Sam, filling theirglasses agin to cheer 'em up. "We went out arter tea and bought theengagement-ring, and then she got somebody to mind the shop and we wentto the Pagoda music-'all. "

"I 'ope you didn't pay much for the ring, Sam, " ses Ginger, who alwaysgot very kind-'arted arter two or three glasses o' whisky. "If I'd knownyou was going to be in such a hurry I might ha' told you before. "

"We ought to ha' done, " ses Peter, shaking his 'ead. 

"Told me?" ses Sam, staring at 'em. "Told me wot?"

"Why me and Peter gave it up, " ses Ginger; "but, o' course, p'r'aps youdon't mind. "

"Mind wot?" ses Sam. 

"It's wonderful 'ow quiet she kept it, " ses Peter. 

Old Sam stared at 'em agin, and then he asked 'em to speak in plainEnglish wot they'd got to say, and not to go taking away the character ofa woman wot wasn't there to speak up for herself. 

"It's nothing agin 'er character, " ses Ginger. "It's a credit to her, looked at properly, " ses Peter Russet. 

"And Sam'll 'ave the pleasure of bringing of 'em up, " ses Ginger. 

"Bringing of 'em up?" ses Sam, in a trembling voice and turning pale;"bringing who up?"

"Why, 'er children, " ses Ginger. "Didn't she tell you? She's got nineof 'em. "

Sam pretended not to believe 'em at fust, and said they was jealous; butnext day he crept down to the greengrocer's shop in the same street, where Ginger had 'appened to buy some oranges one day, and found that itwas only too true. Nine children, the eldest of 'em only fifteen, wasstaying with diff'rent relations owing to scarlet-fever next door. 

Old Sam crept back 'ome like a man in a dream, with a bag of oranges hedidn't want, and, arter making a present of the engagement-ring toGinger--if 'e could get it--he took the fust train to Tilbury and signedon for a v'y'ge to China. 

THE BOATSWAIN'S MATE

[Illustration: "The Boatswain's Mate"]

Mr. George Benn, retired boat-swain, sighed noisily, and with adespondent gesture, turned to the door and stood with the handle in hishand; Mrs. Waters, sitting behind the tiny bar in a tall Windsor-chair, eyed him with some heat. 

"My feelings'll never change, " said the boatswain. 

"Nor mine either, " said the landlady, sharply. "It's a strange thing, Mr. Benn, but you always ask me to marry you after the third mug. "

"It's only to get my courage up, " pleaded the boatswain. "Next time I'lldo it afore I 'ave a drop; that'll prove to you I'm in earnest. "

He stepped outside and closed the door before the landlady could make aselection from the many retorts that crowded to her lips. 

After the cool bar, with its smell of damp saw-dust, the road seemed hotand dusty; but the boatswain, a prey to gloom natural to a man whose handhas been refused five times in a fortnight, walked on unheeding. Hissteps lagged, but his brain was active. 

He walked for two miles deep in thought, and then coming to a shady banktook a seat upon an inviting piece of turf and lit his pipe. The heatand the drowsy hum of bees made him nod; his pipe hung from the corner ofhis mouth, and his eyes closed. 

He opened them at the sound of approaching footsteps, and, feeling in hispocket for matches, gazed lazily at the intruder. He saw a tall mancarrying a small bundle over his shoulder, and in the erect carriage, thekeen eyes, and bronzed face had little difficulty in detecting the oldsoldier. 

The stranger stopped as he reached the seated boatswain and eyed himpleasantly. 

"Got a pipe o' baccy, mate?" he inquired. 

The boatswain handed him the small metal box in which he kept thatluxury. 

"Lobster, ain't you?" he said, affably. 

The tall man nodded. "Was, " he replied. "Now I'm my own commander-in-chief. "

"Padding it?" suggested the boatswain, taking the box from him andrefilling his pipe. 

The other nodded, and with the air of one disposed to conversationdropped his bundle in the ditch and took a seat beside him. "I've gotplenty of time, " he remarked. 

Mr. Benn nodded, and for a while smoked on in silence. A dim idea whichhad been in his mind for some time began to clarify. He stole a glanceat his companion--a man of about thirty-eight, clear eyes, with humorouswrinkles at the corners, a heavy moustache, and a cheerful expressionmore than tinged with recklessness. 

"Ain't over and above fond o' work?" suggested the boatswain, when he hadfinished his inspection. 

"I love it, " said the other, blowing a cloud of smoke in the air, "but wecan't have all we want in this world; it wouldn't be good for us. "

The boatswain thought of Mrs. Waters, and sighed. Then he rattled hispocket. 

"Would arf a quid be any good to you?" he inquired. 

"Look here, " began the soldier; "just because I asked you for a pipe o'baccy--"

"No offence, " said the other, quickly. "I mean if you earned it?"

The soldier nodded and took his pipe from his mouth. "Gardening andwindows?" he hazarded, with a shrug of his shoulders. 

The boatswain shook his head. 

"Scrubbing, p'r'aps?" said the soldier, with a sigh of resignation. "Last house I scrubbed out I did it so thoroughly they accused me ofpouching the soap. Hang 'em!"

"And you didn't?" queried the boatswain, eyeing him keenly. 

The soldier rose and, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, gazed at himdarkly. "I can't give it back to you, " he said, slowly, "because I'vesmoked some of it, and I can't pay you for it because I've only gottwopence, and that I want for myself. So long, matey, and next timea poor wretch asks you for a pipe, be civil. "

"I never see such a man for taking offence in all my born days, "expostulated the boat-swain. "I 'ad my reasons for that remark, mate. Good reasons they was. "

The soldier grunted and, stooping, picked up his bundle. 

"I spoke of arf a sovereign just now, " continued the boatswain, impressively, "and when I tell you that I offer it to you to do a bit o'burgling, you'll see 'ow necessary it is for me to be certain of yourhonesty. "

"_Burgling?_" gasped the astonished soldier. "_Honesty?_ 'Struth; areyou drunk or am I?"

"Meaning, " said the boatswain, waving the imputation away with his hand, "for you to pretend to be a burglar. "

"We're both drunk, that's what it is, " said the other, resignedly. 

The boatswain fidgeted. "If you don't agree, mum's the word and no 'armdone, " he said, holding out his hand. 

"Mum's the word, " said the soldier, taking it. "My name's Ned Travers, and, barring cells for a spree now and again, there's nothing against it. Mind that. "

"Might 'appen to anybody, " said Mr. Benn, soothingly. "You fill yourpipe and don't go chucking good tobacco away agin. "

Mr. Travers took the offered box and, with economy born of adversity, stooped and filled up first with the plug he had thrown away. Then heresumed his seat and, leaning back luxuriously, bade the other "fireaway. "

"I ain't got it all ship-shape and proper yet, " said Mr. Benn, slowly, "but it's in my mind's eye. It's been there off and on like for sometime. "

He lit his pipe again and gazed fixedly at the opposite hedge. "Twomiles from here, where I live, " he said, after several vigorous puffs, "there's a little public-'ouse called the Beehive, kept by a lady wotI've got my eye on. "

The soldier sat up. 

"She won't 'ave me, " said the boatswain, with an air of mild surprise. 

The soldier leaned back again. 

"She's a lone widder, " continued Mr. Benn, shaking his head, "and theBeehive is in a lonely place. It's right through the village, and thenearest house is arf a mile off. "

"Silly place for a pub, " commented Mr. Travers. 

"I've been telling her 'ow unsafe it is, " said the boatswain. "I've beentelling her that she wants a man to protect her, and she only laughs atme. She don't believe it; d'ye see? Likewise I'm a small man--small, but stiff. She likes tall men. "

"Most women do, " said Mr. Travers, sitting upright and instinctivelytwisting his moustache. "When I was in the ranks--"

"My idea is, " continued the boatswain, slightly raising his voice, "tokill two birds with one stone--prove to her that she does want beingprotected, and that I'm the man to protect her. D'ye take my meaning, mate?"

The soldier reached out a hand and felt the other's biceps. "Like a lumpo' wood, " he said, approvingly. 

"My opinion is, " said the boatswain, with a faint smirk, "that she lovesme without knowing it. "

"They often do, " said Mr. Travers, with a grave shake of his head. 

"Consequently I don't want 'er to be disappointed, " said the other. 

"It does you credit, " remarked Mr. Travers. 

"I've got a good head, " said Mr. Benn, "else I shouldn't 'ave got myrating as boatswain as soon as I did; and I've been turning it over in mymind, over and over agin, till my brain-pan fair aches with it. Now, ifyou do what I want you to to-night and it comes off all right, damme I'llmake it a quid. "

"Go on, Vanderbilt, " said Mr. Travers; "I'm listening. "

The boatswain gazed at him fixedly. "You meet me 'ere in this spot ateleven o'clock to-night, " he said, solemnly; "and I'll take you to her'ouse and put you through a little winder I know of. You goes upstairsand alarms her, and she screams for help. I'm watching the house, faithful-like, and hear 'er scream. I dashes in at the winder, knocksyou down, and rescues her. D'ye see?"

"I hear, " corrected Mr. Travers, coldly. 

"She clings to me, " continued the boat-swain, with a rapt expression offace, "in her gratitood, and, proud of my strength and pluck, she marriesme. "

"An' I get a five years' honeymoon, " said the soldier. 

The boatswain shook his head and patted the other's shoulder. "In theexcitement of the moment you spring up and escape, " he said, with akindly smile. "I've thought it all out. You can run much faster than Ican; any-ways, you will. The nearest 'ouse is arf a mile off, as I said, and her servant is staying till to-morrow at 'er mother's, ten milesaway. "

Mr. Travers rose to his feet and stretched himself. "Time I wastoddling, " he said, with a yawn. "Thanks for amusing me, mate. "

"You won't do it?" said the boatswain, eyeing him with much concern. 

"I'm hanged if I do, " said the soldier, emphatically. "Accidents willhappen, and then where should I be?"

"If they did, " said the boatswain, "I'd own up and clear you. "

"You might, " said Mr. Travers, "and then again you mightn't. So long, mate. "

"I--I'll make it two quid, " said the boat-swain, trembling witheagerness. "I've took a fancy to you; you're just the man for the job. "

The soldier, adjusting his bundle, glanced at him over his shoulder. "Thankee, " he said, with mock gratitude. 

"Look 'ere, " said the boatswain, springing up and catching him by thesleeve; "I'll give it to you in writing. Come, you ain't faint-hearted?Why, a bluejacket 'ud do it for the fun o' the thing. If I give it toyou in writing, and there should be an accident, it's worse for me thanit is for you, ain't it?"

Mr. Travers hesitated and, pushing his cap back, scratched his head. 

"I gives you the two quid afore you go into the house, " continued theboatswain, hastily following up the impression he had made. "I'd give'em to you now if I'd got 'em with me. That's my confidence in you; Ilikes the look of you. Soldier or sailor, when there is a man's work tobe done, give 'em to me afore anybody. "

[Illustration: "'I gives you the two quid afore you go into the house, 'continued the boatswain. "]

The soldier seated himself again and let his bundle fall to the ground. "Go on, " he said, slowly. "Write it out fair and square and sign it, andI'm your man. "

The boatswain clapped him on the shoulder and produced a bundle of papersfrom his pocket. "There's letters there with my name and address on'em, " he said. "It's all fair, square, and above-board. When you'vecast your eyes over them I'll give you the writing. "

Mr. Travers took them and, re-lighting his pipe, smoked in silence, withvarious side glances at his companion as that enthusiast sucked hispencil and sat twisting in the agonies of composition. The documentfinished--after several failures had been retrieved and burnt by thecareful Mr. Travers--the boat-swain heaved a sigh of relief, and handingit over to him, leaned back with a complacent air while he read it. 

"Seems all right, " said the soldier, folding it up and putting it in hiswaistcoat-pocket. "I'll be here at eleven to-night. "

"Eleven it is, " said the boatswain, briskly, "and, between pals--here'sarf a dollar to go on with. "

He patted him on the shoulder again, and with a caution to keep out ofsight as much as possible till night walked slowly home. His step waslight, but he carried a face in which care and exultation were strangelymingled. 

By ten o'clock that night care was in the ascendant, and by eleven, whenhe discerned the red glow of Mr. Travers's pipe set as a beacon against adark background of hedge, the boatswain was ready to curse his inventivepowers. Mr. Travers greeted him cheerily and, honestly attributing thefact to good food and a couple of pints of beer he had had since theboatswain left him, said that he was ready for anything. 

Mr. Benn grunted and led the way in silence. There was no moon, but thenight was clear, and Mr. Travers, after one or two light-hearted attemptsat conversation, abandoned the effort and fell to whistling softlyinstead. 

Except for one lighted window the village slept in darkness, but theboatswain, who had been walking with the stealth of a Red Indian on thewar-path, breathed more freely after they had left it behind. A renewalof his antics a little farther on apprised Mr. Travers that they wereapproaching their destination, and a minute or two later they came to asmall inn standing just off the road. "All shut up and Mrs. Waters abed, bless her, " whispered the boatswain, after walking care-fully round thehouse. "How do you feel?"

"I'm all right, " said Mr. Travers. "I feel as if I'd been burgling allmy life. How do you feel?"

"Narvous, " said Mr. Benn, pausing under a small window at the rear of thehouse. "This is the one. "

Mr. Travers stepped back a few paces and gazed up at the house. All wasstill. For a few moments he stood listening and then re-joined theboatswain. 

"Good-bye, mate, " he said, hoisting himself on to the sill. "Death orvictory. "

The boatswain whispered and thrust a couple of sovereigns into his hand. "Take your time; there's no hurry, " he muttered. "I want to pull myselftogether. Frighten 'er enough, but not too much. When she screams I'llcome in. "

Mr. Travers slipped inside and then thrust his head out of the window. "Won't she think it funny you should be so handy?" he inquired. 

"No; it's my faithful 'art, " said the boat-swain, "keeping watch over herevery night, that's the ticket. She won't know no better. "

Mr. Travers grinned, and removing his boots passed them out to the other. "We don't want her to hear me till I'm upstairs, " he whispered. "Put 'emoutside, handy for me to pick up. "

The boatswain obeyed, and Mr. Travers--who was by no means a good hand atdarning socks--shivered as he trod lightly over a stone floor. Then, following the instructions of Mr. Benn, he made his way to the stairs andmounted noiselessly. 

But for a slight stumble half-way up his progress was very creditable foran amateur. He paused and listened and, all being silent, made his wayto the landing and stopped out-side a door. Despite himself his heartwas beating faster than usual. 

He pushed the door open slowly and started as it creaked. Nothinghappening he pushed again, and standing just inside saw, by a small ewersilhouetted against the casement, that he was in a bedroom. He listenedfor the sound of breathing, but in vain. 

"Quiet sleeper, " he reflected; "or perhaps it is an empty room. Now, Iwonder whether--"

The sound of an opening door made him start violently, and he stoodstill, scarcely breathing, with his ears on the alert. A light shone onthe landing, and peeping round the door he saw a woman coming along thecorridor--a younger and better-looking woman than he had expected tosee. In one hand she held aloft a candle, in the other she bore adouble-barrelled gun. Mr. Travers withdrew into the room and, as thelight came nearer, slipped into a big cupboard by the side of thefireplace and, standing bolt upright, waited. The light came into theroom. 

"Must have been my fancy, " said a pleasant voice. 

"Bless her, " smiled Mr. Travers. 

His trained ear recognized the sound of cocking triggers. The nextmoment a heavy body bumped against the door of the cupboard and the keyturned in the lock. 

"Got you!" said the voice, triumphantly. "Keep still; if you try andbreak out I shall shoot you. "

"All right, " said Mr. Travers, hastily; "I won't move. "

"Better not, " said the voice. "Mind, I've got a gun pointing straight atyou. "

"Point it downwards, there's a good girl, " said Mr. Travers, earnestly;"and take your finger off the trigger. If anything happened to me you'dnever forgive yourself. "

"It's all right so long as you don't move, " said the voice; "and I'm nota girl, " it added, sternly. 

"Yes, you are, " said the prisoner. "I saw you. I thought it was anangel at first. I saw your little bare feet and--"

A faint scream interrupted him. 

"You'll catch cold, " urged Mr. Travers. 

"Don't you trouble about me, " said the voice, tartly. 

"I won't give any trouble, " said Mr. Travers, who began to think it wastime for the boatswain to appear on the scene. "Why don't you call forhelp? I'll go like a lamb. "

"I don't want your advice, " was the reply. "I know what to do. Now, don't you try and break out. I'm going to fire one barrel out of thewindow, but I've got the other one for you if you move. "

"My dear girl, " protested the horrified Mr. Travers, "you'll alarm theneighbourhood. "

"Just what I want to do, " said the voice. "Keep still, mind. "

Mr. Travers hesitated. The game was up, and it was clear that in anycase the stratagem of the ingenious Mr. Benn would have to be disclosed. 

"Stop!" he said, earnestly. "Don't do anything rash. I'm not a burglar;I'm doing this for a friend of yours--Mr. Benn. "

"What?" said an amazed voice. 

"True as I stand here, " asseverated Mr. Travers. "Here, here's myinstructions. I'll put 'em under the door, and if you go to the backwindow you'll see him in the garden waiting. "

He rustled the paper under the door, and it was at once snatched from hisfingers. He regained an upright position and stood listening to thestartled and indignant exclamations of his gaoler as she read theboatswain's permit:

 "_This is to give notice that I, George Benn, being of sound mind and body, have told Ned Travers to pretend to be a burglar at Mrs. Waters's. He ain't a burglar, and I shall be outside all the time. It's all above-board and ship-shape. 

 "(Signed) George Benn_"

"Sound mind--above-board--ship-shape, " repeated a dazed voice. "Where ishe?"

"Out at the back, " replied Mr. Travers. "If you go to the window you cansee him. Now, do put something round your shoulders, there's a goodgirl. "

There was no reply, but a board creaked. He waited for what seemed along time, and then the board creaked again. 

"Did you see him?" he inquired. 

"I did, " was the sharp reply. "You both ought to be ashamed ofyourselves. You ought to be punished. "

"There is a clothes-peg sticking into the back of my head, " remarked Mr. Travers. "What are you going to do?"

There was no reply. 

"What are you going to do?" repeated Mr. Travers, somewhat uneasily. "You look too nice to do anything hard; leastways, so far as I can judgethrough this crack. "

There was a smothered exclamation, and then sounds of somebody movinghastily about the room and the swish of clothing hastily donned. 

"You ought to have done it before, " commented the thoughtful Mr. Travers. "It's enough to give you your death of cold. "

"Mind your business, " said the voice, sharply. "Now, if I let you out, will you promise to do exactly as I tell you?"

"Honour bright, " said Mr. Travers, fervently. 

"I'm going to give Mr. Benn a lesson he won't forget, " proceeded theother, grimly. "I'm going to fire off this gun, and then run down andtell him I've killed you. "

"Eh?" said the amazed Mr. Travers. "Oh, Lord!"

"H'sh! Stop that laughing, " commanded the voice. "He'll hear you. Bequiet!"

The key turned in the lock, and Mr. Travers, stepping forth, clapped hishand over his mouth and endeavoured to obey. Mrs. Waters, stepping backwith the gun ready, scrutinized him closely. 

"Come on to the landing, " said Mr. Travers, eagerly. "We don't wantanybody else to hear. Fire into this. "

He snatched a patchwork rug from the floor and stuck it up against thebalusters. "You stay here, " said Mrs. Waters. He nodded. 

She pointed the gun at the hearth-rug, the walls shook with theexplosion, and, with a shriek that set Mr. Travers's teeth on edge, sherushed downstairs and, drawing back the bolts of the back door, totteredoutside and into the arms of the agitated boatswain. 

"Oh! oh! oh!" she cried. 

"What--what's the matter?" gasped the boatswain. 

The widow struggled in his arms. "A burglar, " she said, in a tensewhisper. "But it's all right; I've killed him. "

"Kill--" stuttered the other. "Kill----_Killed him?_"

Mrs. Waters nodded and released herself, "First shot, " she said, with asatisfied air. 

The boatswain wrung his hands. "Good heavens!" he said, moving slowlytowards the door. "Poor fellow!"

"Come back, " said the widow, tugging at his coat. 

"I was--was going to see--whether I could do anything for 'im, " quaveredthe boatswain. "Poor fellow!"

"You stay where you are, " commanded Mrs. Waters. "I don't want anywitnesses. I don't want this house to have a bad name. I'm going tokeep it quiet. "

"Quiet?" said the shaking boatswain. "How?"

"First thing to do, " said the widow, thoughtfully, "is to get rid of thebody. I'll bury him in the garden, I think. There's a very good bit ofground behind those potatoes. You'll find the spade in the tool-house. "

The horrified Mr. Benn stood stock-still regarding her. 

"While you're digging the grave, " continued Mrs. 'Waters, calmly, "I'llgo in and clean up the mess. "

The boatswain reeled and then fumbled with trembling fingers at hiscollar. 

Like a man in a dream he stood watching as she ran to the tool-house andreturned with a spade and pick; like a man in a dream he followed her onto the garden. 

"Be careful, " she said, sharply; "you're treading down my potatoes. "

The boatswain stopped dead and stared at her. Apparently unconscious ofhis gaze, she began to pace out the measurements and then, placing thetools in his hands, urged him to lose no time. 

"I'll bring him down when you're gone, " she said, looking towards thehouse. 

The boatswain wiped his damp brow with the back of his hand. "How areyou going to get it downstairs?" he breathed. 

"Drag it, " said Mrs. Waters, briefly. 

"Suppose he isn't dead?" said the boat-swain, with a gleam of hope. 

"Fiddlesticks!" said Mrs. Waters. "Do you think I don't know? Now, don't waste time talking; and mind you dig it deep. I'll put a fewcabbages on top afterwards--I've got more than I want. "

She re-entered the house and ran lightly upstairs. The candle was stillalight and the gun was leaning against the bed-post; but the visitor haddisappeared. Conscious of an odd feeling of disappointment, she lookedround the empty room. 

"Come and look at him, " entreated a voice, and she turned and beheld theamused countenance of her late prisoner at the door. 

"I've been watching from the back window, " he said, nodding. "You're awonder; that's what you are. Come and look at him. "

Mrs. Waters followed, and leaning out of the window watched with simplepleasure the efforts of the amateur sexton. Mr. Benn was digging likeone possessed, only pausing at intervals to straighten his back and tocast a fearsome glance around him. The only thing that marred herpleasure was the behaviour of Mr. Travers, who was struggling for a placewith all the fervour of a citizen at the Lord Mayor's show. 

"Get back, " she said, in a fierce whisper. "He'll see you. "

Mr. Travers with obvious reluctance obeyed, just as the victim looked up. 

"Is that you, Mrs. Waters?" inquired the boatswain, fearfully. 

"Yes, of course it is, " snapped the widow. "Who else should it be, doyou think? Go on! What are you stopping for?"

Mr. Benn's breathing as he bent to his task again was distinctly audible. The head of Mr. Travers ranged itself once more alongside the widow's. For a long time they watched in silence. 

"Won't you come down here, Mrs. Waters?" called the boatswain, looking upso suddenly that Mr. Travers's head bumped painfully against the side ofthe window. "It's a bit creepy, all alone. "

"I'm all right, " said Mrs. Waters. 

"I keep fancying there's something dodging behind them currant bushes, "pursued the unfortunate Mr. Benn, hoarsely. "How you can stay therealone I can't think. I thought I saw something looking over yourshoulder just now. Fancy if it came creeping up behind and caught holdof you! The widow gave a sudden faint scream. 

"If you do that again, " she said, turning fiercely on Mr. Travers. 

"He put it into my head, " said the culprit, humbly; "I should never havethought of such a thing by myself. I'm one of the quietest andbest-behaved----"

"Make haste, Mr. Benn, " said the widow, turning to the window again;"I've got a lot to do when you've finished. "

The boatswain groaned and fell to digging again, and Mrs. Waters, afterwatching a little while longer, gave Mr. Travers some pointedinstructions about the window and went down to the garden again. 

"That will do, I think, " she said, stepping into the hole and regardingit critically. "Now you'd better go straight off home, and, mind, not aword to a soul about this. "

She put her hand on his shoulder, and noticing with pleasure that heshuddered at her touch led the way to the gate. The boat-swain pausedfor a moment, as though about to speak, and then, apparently thinkingbetter of it, bade her good-bye in a hoarse voice and walked feebly upthe road. Mrs. Waters stood watching until his steps died away in thedistance, and then, returning to the garden, took up the spade and stoodregarding with some dismay the mountainous result of his industry. Mr. Travers, who was standing just inside the back door, joined her. 

"Let me, " he said, gallantly. 

The day was breaking as he finished his task. The clean, sweet air andthe exercise had given him an appetite to which the smell of cookingbacon and hot coffee that proceeded from the house had set a sharperedge. He took his coat from a bush and put it on. Mrs. Waters appearedat the door. 

"You had better come in and have some breakfast before you go, " she said, brusquely; "there's no more sleep for me now. "

Mr. Travers obeyed with alacrity, and after a satisfying wash in thescullery came into the big kitchen with his face shining and took a seatat the table. The cloth was neatly laid, and Mrs. Waters, fresh andcool, with a smile upon her pleasant face, sat behind the tray. Shelooked at her guest curiously, Mr. Travers's spirits being somewhathigher than the state of his wardrobe appeared to justify. 

"Why don't you get some settled work?" she inquired, with gentleseverity, as he imparted snatches of his history between bites. 

"Easier said than done, " said Mr. Travers, serenely. "But don't you runaway with the idea that I'm a beggar, because I'm not. I pay my way, such as it is. And, by-the-bye, I s'pose I haven't earned that twopounds Benn gave me?"

His face lengthened, and he felt uneasily in his pocket. 

"I'll give them to him when I'm tired of the joke, " said the widow, holding out her hand and watching him closely. 

Mr. Travers passed the coins over to her. "Soft hand you've got, " hesaid, musingly. "I don't wonder Benn was desperate. I dare say I shouldhave done the same in his place. "

Mrs. Waters bit her lip and looked out at the window; Mr. Travers resumedhis breakfast. 

"There's only one job that I'm really fit for, now that I'm too old forthe Army, " he said, confidentially, as, breakfast finished, he stood atthe door ready to depart. 

"Playing at burglars?" hazarded Mrs. Waters. 

"Landlord of a little country public-house, " said Mr. Travers, simply. 

Mrs. Waters fell back and regarded him with open-eyed amazement. 

"Good morning, " she said, as soon as she could trust her voice. 

"Good-bye, " said Mr. Travers, reluctantly. "I should like to hear howold Benn takes this joke, though. "

Mrs. Waters retreated into the house and stood regarding him. "If you'repassing this way again and like to look in--I'll tell you, " she said, after a long pause. "Good-bye. "

"I'll look in in a week's time, " said Mr. Travers. 

He took the proffered hand and shook it warmly. "It would be the bestjoke of all, " he said, turning away. 

"What would?"

The soldier confronted her again. 

"For old Benn to come round here one evening and find me landlord. Thinkit over. "

Mrs. Waters met his gaze soberly. "I'll think it over when you havegone, " she said, softly. "Now go. "

THE NEST EGG

[Illustration: "The Nest Egg. "]

"Artfulness, " said the night-watch-man, smoking placidly, "is a gift; butit don't pay always. I've met some artful ones in my time--plenty of'em; but I can't truthfully say as 'ow any of them was the better formeeting me. "

He rose slowly from the packing-case on which he had been sitting and, stamping down the point of a rusty nail with his heel, resumed his seat, remarking that he had endured it for some time under the impression thatit was only a splinter. 

"I've surprised more than one in my time, " he continued, slowly. "When Imet one of these 'ere artful ones I used fust of all to pretend to bemore stupid than wot I really am. "

He stopped and stared fixedly. 

"More stupid than I looked, " he said. He stopped again. 

"More stupid than wot they thought I looked, " he said, speaking withmarked deliberation. And I'd let 'em go on and on until I thought I had'ad about enough, and then turn round on 'em. Nobody ever got the bettero' me except my wife, and that was only before we was married. Twonights arterwards she found a fish-hook in my trouser-pocket, and arterthat I could ha' left untold gold there--if I'd ha' had it. It spoiltwot some people call the honey-moon, but it paid in the long run. 

One o' the worst things a man can do is to take up artfulness all of asudden. I never knew it to answer yet, and I can tell you of a casethat'll prove my words true. 

It's some years ago now, and the chap it 'appened to was a young man, ashipmate o' mine, named Charlie Tagg. Very steady young chap he was, toosteady for most of 'em. That's 'ow it was me and 'im got to be suchpals. 

He'd been saving up for years to get married, and all the advice we couldgive 'im didn't 'ave any effect. He saved up nearly every penny of 'ismoney and gave it to his gal to keep for 'im, and the time I'm speakingof she'd got seventy-two pounds of 'is and seventeen-and-six of 'er ownto set up house-keeping with. 

Then a thing happened that I've known to 'appen to sailormen afore. AtSydney 'e got silly on another gal, and started walking out with her, andafore he knew wot he was about he'd promised to marry 'er too. 

Sydney and London being a long way from each other was in 'is favour, butthe thing that troubled 'im was 'ow to get that seventy-two pounds out ofEmma Cook, 'is London gal, so as he could marry the other with it. Itworried 'im all the way home, and by the time we got into the Londonriver 'is head was all in a maze with it. Emma Cook 'ad got it all savedup in the bank, to take a little shop with when they got spliced, and 'owto get it he could not think. 

He went straight off to Poplar, where she lived, as soon as the ship wasberthed. He walked all the way so as to 'ave more time for thinking, butwot with bumping into two old gentlemen with bad tempers, and beingnearly run over by a cabman with a white 'orse and red whiskers, he gotto the house without 'aving thought of anything. 

They was just finishing their tea as 'e got there, and they all seemed sopleased to see 'im that it made it worse than ever for 'im. Mrs. Cook, who 'ad pretty near finished, gave 'im her own cup to drink out of, andsaid that she 'ad dreamt of 'im the night afore last, and old Cook saidthat he 'ad got so good-looking 'e shouldn't 'ave known him. 

"I should 'ave passed 'im in the street, " he ses. "I never see such analteration. "

"They'll be a nice-looking couple, " ses his wife, looking at a youngchap, named George Smith, that 'ad been sitting next to Emma. 

Charlie Tagg filled 'is mouth with bread and butter, and wondered 'ow hewas to begin. He squeezed Emma's 'and just for the sake of keeping upappearances, and all the time 'e was thinking of the other gal waitingfor 'im thousands o' miles away. 

"You've come 'ome just in the nick o' time, " ses old Cook; "if you'd doneit o' purpose you couldn't 'ave arranged it better. "

"Somebody's birthday?" ses Charlie, trying to smile. 

Old Cook shook his 'ead. "Though mine is next Wednesday, " he ses, "andthank you for thinking of it. No; you're just in time for the biggestbargain in the chandlery line that anybody ever 'ad a chance of. If you'adn't ha' come back we should have 'ad to ha' done it without you. "

"Eighty pounds, " ses Mrs. Cook, smiling at Charlie. "With the moneyEmma's got saved and your wages this trip you'll 'ave plenty. You mustcome round arter tea and 'ave a look at it. "

"Little place not arf a mile from 'ere, " ses old Cook. "Properly workedup, the way Emma'll do it, it'll be a little fortune. I wish I'd had achance like it in my young time. "

He sat shaking his 'ead to think wot he'd lost, and Charlie Tagg satstaring at 'im and wondering wot he was to do. 

"My idea is for Charlie to go for a few more v'y'ges arter they'remarried while Emma works up the business, " ses Mrs. Cook; "she'll be allright with young Bill and Sarah Ann to 'elp her and keep 'er companywhile he's away. "

"We'll see as she ain't lonely, " ses George Smith, turning to Charlie. 

Charlie Tagg gave a bit of a cough and said it wanted considering. Hesaid it was no good doing things in a 'urry and then repenting of 'em allthe rest of your life. And 'e said he'd been given to understand thatchandlery wasn't wot it 'ad been, and some of the cleverest people 'eknew thought that it would be worse before it was better. By the timehe'd finished they was all looking at 'im as though they couldn't believetheir ears. 

"You just step round and 'ave a look at the place, " ses old Cook; "ifthat don't make you alter your tune, call me a sinner. "

Charlie Tagg felt as though 'e could ha' called 'im a lot o' worse thingsthan that, but he took up 'is hat and Mrs. Cook and Emma got theirbonnets on and they went round. 

"I don't think much of it for eighty pounds, " ses Charlie, beginning hisartfulness as they came near a big shop, with plate-glass and a doublefront. 

"Eh?" ses old Cook, staring at 'im. "Why, that ain't the place. Why, you wouldn't get that for eight 'undred. "

"Well, I don't think much of it, " ses Charlie; "if it's worse than that Ican't look at it--I can't, indeed. "

"You ain't been drinking, Charlie?" ses old Cook, in a puzzled voice. 

"Certainly not, " ses Charlie. 

He was pleased to see 'ow anxious they all looked, and when they did cometo the shop 'e set up a laugh that old Cook said chilled the marrer in'is bones. He stood looking in a 'elpless sort o' way at his wife andEmma, and then at last he ses, "There it is; and a fair bargain at theprice. "

"I s'pose you ain't been drinking?" ses Charlie. 

"Wot's the matter with it?" ses Mrs. Cook flaring up. 

"Come inside and look at it, " ses Emma, taking 'old of his arm. 

"Not me, " ses Charlie, hanging back. "Why, I wouldn't take it at agift. "

He stood there on the kerbstone, and all they could do 'e wouldn't budge. He said it was a bad road and a little shop, and 'ad got a look about ithe didn't like. They walked back 'ome like a funeral procession, andEmma 'ad to keep saying "_H's!_" in w'ispers to 'er mother all the way. 

[Illustration: "He said it was a bad road and a little shop, and 'ad gota look about it he didn't like. "]

"I don't know wot Charlie does want, I'm sure, " ses Mrs. Cook, taking off'er bonnet as soon as she got indoors and pitching it on the chair he wasjust going to set down on. 

"It's so awk'ard, " ses old Cook, rubbing his 'cad. "Fact is, Charlie, wepretty near gave 'em to understand as we'd buy it. "

"It's as good as settled, " ses Mrs. Cook, trembling all over with temper. 

"They won't settle till they get the money, " ses Charlie. "You may makeyour mind easy about that. "

"Emma's drawn it all out of the bank ready, " ses old Cook, eager like. 

Charlie felt 'ot and cold all over. "I'd better take care of it, " heses, in a trembling voice. "You might be robbed. "

"So might you be, " ses Mrs. Cook. "Don't you worry; it's in a safeplace. "

"Sailormen are always being robbed, " ses George Smith, who 'ad beenhelping young Bill with 'is sums while they 'ad gone to look at the shop. "There's more sailormen robbed than all the rest put together. "

"They won't rob Charlie, " ses Mrs. Cook, pressing 'er lips together. "I'll take care o' that. "

Charlie tried to laugh, but 'e made such a queer noise that young Billmade a large blot on 'is exercise-book, and old Cook, wot was lightinghis pipe, burnt 'is fingers through not looking wot 'e was doing. 

"You see, " ses Charlie, "if I was robbed, which ain't at all likely, it'ud only be me losing my own money; but if you was robbed of it you'dnever forgive yourselves. "

"I dessay I should get over it, " ses Mrs. Cook, sniffing. "I'd 'ave atry, at all events. "

Charlie started to laugh agin, and old Cook, who had struck anothermatch, blew it out and waited till he'd finished. 

"The whole truth is, " ses Charlie, looking round, "I've got somethingbetter to do with the money. I've got a chance offered me that'll makeme able to double it afore you know where you are. "

"Not afore I know where I am, " ses Mrs. Cook, with a laugh that was worsethan Charlie's. 

"The chance of a lifetime, " ses Charlie, trying to keep 'is temper. "Ican't tell you wot it is, because I've promised to keep it secret for atime. You'll be surprised when I do tell you. "

"If I wait till then till I'm surprised, " ses Mrs. Cook, "I shall 'ave towait a long time. My advice to you is to take that shop and ha' donewith it. "

Charlie sat there arguing all the evening, but it was no good, and theidea o' them people sitting there and refusing to let 'im have his ownmoney pretty near sent 'im crazy. It was all 'e could do to kiss Emmagood-night, and 'e couldn't have 'elped slamming the front door if he'dbeen paid for it. The only comfort he 'ad got left was the Sydney gal'sphotygraph, and he took that out and looked at it under nearly everylamp-post he passed. 

He went round the next night and 'ad an-other try to get 'is money, butit was no use; and all the good he done was to make Mrs. Cook in such atemper that she 'ad to go to bed before he 'ad arf finished. It was nogood talking to old Cook and Emma, because they daren't do anythingwithout 'er, and it was no good calling things up the stairs to herbecause she didn't answer. Three nights running Mrs. Cook went off tobed afore eight o'clock, for fear she should say something to 'im asshe'd be sorry for arterwards; and for three nights Charlie made 'imselfso disagreeable that Emma told 'im plain the sooner 'e went back to seaagin the better she should like it. The only one who seemed to enjoy itwas George Smith, and 'e used to bring bits out o' newspapers and read to'em, showing 'ow silly people was done out of their money. 

On the fourth night Charlie dropped it and made 'imself so amiable thatMrs. Cook stayed up and made 'im a Welsh rare-bit for 'is supper, andmade 'im drink two glasses o' beer instead o' one, while old Cook sat anddrank three glasses o' water just out of temper, and to show that 'edidn't mind. When she started on the chandler's shop agin Charlie saidhe'd think it over, and when 'e went away Mrs. Cook called 'im hersailor-boy and wished 'im pleasant dreams. 

But Charlie Tagg 'ad got better things to do than to dream, and 'e sat upin bed arf the night thinking out a new plan he'd thought of to get thatmoney. When 'e did fall asleep at last 'e dreamt of taking a little farmin Australia and riding about on 'orseback with the Sydney gal watchinghis men at work. 

In the morning he went and hunted up a shipmate of 'is, a young fellernamed Jack Bates. Jack was one o' these 'ere chaps, nobody's enemy buttheir own, as the saying is; a good-'arted, free-'anded chap as you couldwish to see. Everybody liked 'im, and the ship's cat loved 'im. He'dha' sold the shirt off 'is back to oblige a pal, and three times in oneweek he got 'is face scratched for trying to prevent 'usbands knockingtheir wives about. 

Charlie Tagg went to 'im because he was the only man 'e could trust, andfor over arf an hour he was telling Jack Bates all 'is troubles, and atlast, as a great favour, he let 'im see the Sydney gal's photygraph, andtold him that all that pore gal's future 'appiness depended upon 'im. 

"I'll step round to-night and rob 'em of that seventy-two pounds, " sesJack; "it's your money, and you've a right to it. "

Charlie shook his 'ead. "That wouldn't do, " he ses; "besides, I don'tknow where they keep it. No; I've got a better plan than that. Comeround to the Crooked Billet, so as we can talk it over in peace andquiet. "

He stood Jack three or four arf-pints afore 'e told 'im his plan, andJack was so pleased with it that he wanted to start at once, but Charliepersuaded 'im to wait. 

"And don't you spare me, mind, out o' friendship, " ses Charlie, "becausethe blacker you paint me the better I shall like it. "

"You trust me, mate, " ses Jack Bates; "if I don't get that seventy-twopounds for you, you may call me a Dutchman. Why, it's fair robbery, Icall it, sticking to your money like that. "

They spent the rest o' the day together, and when evening came Charliewent off to the Cooks'. Emma 'ad arf expected they was going to atheayter that night, but Charlie said he wasn't feeling the thing, and hesat there so quiet and miserable they didn't know wot to make of 'im. 

"'Ave you got any trouble on your mind, Charlie, " ses Mrs. Cook, "or isit the tooth-ache?"

"It ain't the toothache, " ses Charlie. 

He sat there pulling a long face and staring at the floor, but all Mrs. Cook and Emma could do 'e wouldn't tell them wot was the matter with 'im. He said 'e didn't want to worry other people with 'is troubles; leteverybody bear their own, that was 'is motto. Even when George Smithoffered to go to the theayter with Emma instead of 'im he didn't fire up, and, if it 'adn't ha' been for Mrs. Cook, George wouldn't ha' been sorrythat 'e spoke. 

"Theayters ain't for me, " ses Charlie, with a groan. "I'm more likely togo to gaol, so far as I can see, than a theayter. "

Mrs. Cook and Emma both screamed and Sarah Ann did 'er firsthighstericks, and very well, too, considering that she 'ad only justturned fifteen. 

"Gaol!" ses old Cook, as soon as they 'ad quieted Sarah Ann with a bowlo' cold water that young Bill 'ad the presence o' mind to go and fetch. "Gaol! What for?"

"You wouldn't believe if I was to tell you. " ses Charlie, getting up togo, "and besides, I don't want any of you to think as 'ow I am worse thanwot I am. "

He shook his 'cad at them sorrowful-like, and afore they could stop 'imhe 'ad gone. Old Cook shouted arter 'im, but it was no use, and theothers was running into the scullery to fill the bowl agin for Emma. 

Mrs. Cook went round to 'is lodgings next morning, but found that 'e wasout. They began to fancy all sorts o' things then, but Charlie turned upagin that evening more miserable than ever. 

"I went round to see you this morning, " ses Mrs. Cook, "but you wasn't at'ome. "

"I never am, 'ardly, " ses Charlie. "I can't be--it ain't safe. "

"Why not?" ses Mrs. Cook, fidgeting. 

"If I was to tell you, you'd lose your good opinion of me, " ses Charlie. 

"It wouldn't be much to lose, " ses Mrs. Cook, firing up. 

Charlie didn't answer 'er. When he did speak he spoke to the old man, and he was so down-'arted that 'e gave 'im the chills a'most, He 'ardlytook any notice of Emma, and, when Mrs. Cook spoke about the shop agin, said that chandlers' shops was for happy people, not for 'im. 

By the time they sat down to supper they was nearly all as miserable asCharlie 'imself. From words he let drop they all seemed to 'ave the ideathat the police was arter 'im, and Mrs. Cook was just asking 'im for wotshe called the third and last time, but wot was more likely the hundredand third, wot he'd done, when there was a knock at the front door, soloud and so sudden that old Cook and young Bill both cut their mouths atthe same time. 

"Anybody 'ere o' the name of Emma Cook?" ses a man's voice, when youngBill opened the door. 

"She's inside, " ses the boy, and the next moment Jack Bates followed 'iminto the room, and then fell back with a start as 'e saw Charlie Tagg. 

"Ho, 'ere you are, are you?" he ses, looking at 'im very black. "Wot's the matter?" ses Mrs. Cook, very sharp. 

"I didn't expect to 'ave the pleasure o' seeing you 'ere, my lad, " sesJack, still staring at Charlie, and twisting 'is face up into awfulscowls. "Which is Emma Cook?"

"Miss Cook is my name, " ses Emma, very sharp. "Wot d'ye want?"

"Very good, " ses Jack Bates, looking at Charlie agin; "then p'r'apsyou'll do me the kindness of telling that lie o' yours agin afore thisyoung lady. "

"It's the truth, " ses Charlie, looking down at 'is plate. 

"If somebody don't tell me wot all this is about in two minutes, I shalldo something desprit, " ses Mrs. Cook, getting up. 

"This 'ere--er--man, " ses Jack Bates, pointing at Charlie, "owes meseventy-five pounds and won't pay. When I ask 'im for it he ses a partyhe's keeping company with, by the name of Emma Cook, 'as got it, and hecan't get it. "

"So she has, " ses Charlie, without looking up. 

"Wot does 'e owe you the money for?" ses Mrs. Cook. 

"'Cos I lent it to 'im, " ses Jack. 

"Lent it? What for?" ses Mrs. Cook. 

"'Cos I was a fool, I s'pose, " ses jack Bates; "a good-natured fool. Anyway, I'm sick and tired of asking for it, and if I don't get itto-night I'm going to see the police about it. "

He sat down on a chair with 'is hat cocked over one eye, and they all satstaring at 'im as though they didn't know wot to say next. 

"So this is wot you meant when you said you'd got the chance of alifetime, is it?" ses Mrs. Cook to Charlie. "This is wot you wanted itfor, is it? Wot did you borrow all that money for?"

"Spend, " ses Charlie, in a sulky voice. 

"Spend!" ses Mrs. Cook, with a scream; "wot in?"

"Drink and cards mostly, " ses Jack Bates, remembering wot Charlie 'adtold 'im about blackening 'is character. 

You might ha' heard a pin drop a'most, and Charlie sat there withoutsaying a word. 

"Charlie's been led away, " ses Mrs. Cook, looking 'ard at Jack Bates. "Is'pose you lent 'im the money to win it back from 'im at cards, didn'tyou?"

"And gave 'im too much licker fust, " ses old Cook. "I've 'eard of yourkind. If Charlie takes my advice 'e won't pay you a farthing. I shouldlet you do your worst if I was 'im; that's wot I should do. You've got alow face; a nasty, ugly, low face. "

"One o' the worst I ever see, " ses Mrs. Cook. "It looks as though itmight ha' been cut out o' the Police News. "

"'Owever could you ha' trusted a man with a face like that, Charlie?" sesold Cook. "Come away from 'im, Bill; I don't like such a chap in theroom. "

Jack Bates began to feel very awk'ard. They was all glaring at 'im asthough they could eat 'im, and he wasn't used to such treatment. And, asa matter o' fact, he'd got a very good-'arted face. 

"You go out o' that door, " ses old Cook, pointing to it. "Go and do yourworst. You won't get any money 'ere. "

"Stop a minute, " ses Emma, and afore they could stop 'er she ranupstairs. Mrs. Cook went arter 'er and 'igh words was heard up in thebedroom, but by-and-by Emma came down holding her head very 'igh andlooking at Jack Bates as though he was dirt. 

"How am I to know Charlie owes you this money?" she ses. 

Jack Bates turned very red, and arter fumbling in 'is pockets took outabout a dozen dirty bits o' paper, which Charlie 'ad given 'im forI O U's. Emma read 'em all, and then she threw a little parcel on thetable. 

"There's your money, " she ses; "take it and go. "

Mrs. Cook and 'er father began to call out, but it was no good. 

"There's seventy-two pounds there, " ses Emma, who was very pale; "and'ere's a ring you can have to 'elp make up the rest. " And she drewCharlie's ring off and throwed it on the table. "I've done with 'im forgood, " she ses, with a look at 'er mother. 

Jack Bates took up the money and the ring and stood there looking at 'erand trying to think wot to say. He'd always been uncommon partial to thesex, and it did seem 'ard to stand there and take all that on account ofCharlie Tagg. 

"I only wanted my own, " he ses, at last, shuffling about the floor. 

"Well, you've got it, " ses Mrs. Cook, "and now you can go. "

"You're pi'soning the air of my front parlour, " ses old Cook, opening thewinder a little at the top. 

"P'r'aps I ain't so bad as you think I am, " ses Jack Bates, still lookingat Emma, and with that 'e walked over to Charlie and dumped down themoney on the table in front of 'im. "Take it, " he ses, "and don't borrowany more. I make you a free gift of it. P'r'aps my 'art ain't as blackas my face, " he ses, turning to Mrs. Cook. 

They was all so surprised at fust that they couldn't speak, but old Cooksmiled at 'im and put the winder up agin. And Charlie Tagg sat there arfmad with temper, locking as though 'e could eat Jack Bates without anysalt, as the saying is. 

"I--I can't take it, " he ses at last, with a stammer. 

"Can't take it? Why not?" ses old Cook, staring. "This gentleman 'asgiven it to you. " "A free gift, " ses Mrs. Cook, smiling at Jackvery sweet. 

"I can't take it, " ses Charlie, winking at Jack to take the money up andgive it to 'im quiet, as arranged. "I 'ave my pride. "

"So 'ave I, " ses Jack. "Are you going to take it?"

Charlie gave another look. "No, " he ses, "I cant take a favour. Iborrowed the money and I'll pay it back. 

"Very good, " ses Jack, taking it up. "It's my money, ain't it?"

"Yes, " ses Charlie, taking no notice of Mrs. Cook and 'er husband, wotwas both talking to 'im at once, and trying to persuade 'im to alter hismind. 

"Then I give it to Miss Emma Cook, " ses Jack Bates, putting it into herhands. "Good-night everybody and good luck. "

He slammed the front door behind 'im and they 'eard 'im go off down theroad as if 'e was going for fire-engines. Charlie sat there for a momentstruck all of a heap, and then 'e jumped up and dashed arter 'im. Hejust saw 'im disappearing round a corner, and he didn't see 'im agin fora couple o' year arterwards, by which time the Sydney gal had 'ad threeor four young men arter 'im, and Emma, who 'ad changed her name to Smith, was doing one o' the best businesses in the chandlery line in Poplar. 

THE CONSTABLE'S MOVE

[Illustration: "The Constable's Move. "]

Mr. Bob Grummit sat in the kitchen with his corduroy-clad legs stretchedon the fender. His wife's half-eaten dinner was getting cold on thetable; Mr. Grummit, who was badly in need of cheering up, emptied herhalf-empty glass of beer and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. 

"Come away, I tell you, " he called. "D'ye hear? Come away. You'll belocked up if you don't. "

He gave a little laugh at the sarcasm, and sticking his short pipe in hismouth lurched slowly to the front-room door and scowled at his wife asshe lurked at the back of the window watching intently the furniturewhich was being carried in next door. 

"Come away or else you'll be locked up, " repeated Mr. Grummit. "Youmustn't look at policemen's furniture; it's agin the law. "

Mrs. Grummit made no reply, but, throwing appearances to the winds, stepped to the window until her nose touched, as a walnut sideboard withbevelled glass back was tenderly borne inside under the personalsupervision of Police-Constable Evans. 

"They'll be 'aving a pianner next, " said the indignant Mr. Grummit, peering from the depths of the room. 

"They've got one, " responded his wife; "there's the end if it stickin' upin the van. "

Mr. Grummit advanced and regarded the end fixedly. "Did you throw allthem tin cans and things into their yard wot I told you to?" he demanded. 

"He picked up three of 'em while I was upstairs, " replied his wife. "I'eard 'im tell her that they'd come in handy for paint and things. "

"That's 'ow coppers get on and buy pianners, " said the incensed Mr. Grummit, "sneaking other people's property. I didn't tell you to throwgood 'uns over, did I? Wot d'ye mean by it?"

Mrs. Grummit made no reply, but watched with bated breath the triumphalentrance of the piano. The carman set it tenderly on the narrowfootpath, while P. C. Evans, stooping low, examined it at all points, andMrs. Evans, raising the lid, struck a few careless chords. 

"Showing off, " explained Mrs. Grummit, with a half turn; "and she's gotfingers like carrots. "

"It's a disgrace to Mulberry Gardens to 'ave a copper come and live init, " said the indignant Grummit; "and to come and live next to me!--that's what I can't get over. To come and live next door to a man wothas been fined twice, and both times wrong. Why, for two pins I'd go inand smash 'is pianner first and 'im after it. He won't live 'ere long, you take my word for it. "

"Why not?" inquired his wife. 

"Why?" repeated Mr. Grummit. "Why? Why, becos I'll make the place too'ot to hold him. Ain't there enough houses in Tunwich without 'ima-coming and living next door to me?"

For a whole week the brain concealed in Mr. Grummit's bullet-shaped headworked in vain, and his temper got correspondingly bad. The day afterthe Evans' arrival he had found his yard littered with tins which herecognized as old acquaintances, and since that time they had travelledbackwards and forwards with monotonous regularity. They sometimes madeas many as three journeys a day, and on one occasion the heavens openedto drop a battered tin bucket on the back of Mr. Grummit as he was tyinghis bootlace. Five minutes later he spoke of the outrage to Mr. Evans, who had come out to admire the sunset. 

"I heard something fall, " said the constable, eyeing the pail curiously. 

"You threw it, " said Mr. Grummit, breathing furiously. 

"Me? Nonsense, " said the other, easily. "I was having tea in theparlour with my wife and my mother-in-law, and my brother Joe and hisyoung lady. "

"Any more of 'em?" demanded the hapless Mr. Grummit, aghast at this listof witnesses for an alibi. 

"It ain't a bad pail, if you look at it properly, " said the constable. "I should keep it if I was you; unless the owner offers a reward for it. It'll hold enough water for your wants. "

Mr. Grummit flung indoors and, after wasting some time concoctingimpossible measures of retaliation with his sympathetic partner, went offto discuss affairs with his intimates at the _Bricklayers' Arms_. Thecompany, although unanimously agreeing that Mr. Evans ought to be boiled, were miserably deficient in ideas as to the means by which such adesirable end was to be attained. 

"Make 'im a laughing-stock, that's the best thing, " said an elderlylabourer. "The police don't like being laughed at. "

"'Ow?" demanded Mr. Grummit, with some asperity. 

"There's plenty o' ways, " said the old man. 

"I should find 'em out fast enough if I 'ad a bucket dropped on my back, I know. "

Mr. Grummit made a retort the feebleness of which was somewhat balancedby its ferocity, and subsided into glum silence. His back still ached, but, despite that aid to intellectual effort, the only ways he couldimagine of making the constable look foolish contained an almost certainrisk of hard labour for himself. 

He pondered the question for a week, and meanwhile the tins--to thesecret disappointment of Mr. Evans--remained untouched in his yard. Forthe whole of the time he went about looking, as Mrs. Grummit expressedit, as though his dinner had disagreed with him. 

"I've been talking to old Bill Smith, " he said, suddenly, as he came inone night. 

Mrs. Grummit looked up, and noticed with wifely pleasure that he waslooking almost cheerful. 

"He's given me a tip, " said Mr. Grummit, with a faint smile; "a coppermustn't come into a free-born Englishman's 'ouse unless he's invited. "

"Wot of it?" inquired his wife. "You wasn't think of asking him in, wasyou?"

Mr. Grummit regarded her almost play-fully. "If a copper comes inwithout being told to, " he continued, "he gets into trouble for it. Nowd'ye see?"

"But he won't come, " said the puzzled Mrs. Grummit. 

Mr. Grummit winked. "Yes 'e will if you scream loud enough, " heretorted. "Where's the copper-stick?"

"Have you gone mad?" demanded his wife, "or do you think I 'ave?"

"You go up into the bedroom, " said Mr. Grummit, emphasizing his remarkswith his forefinger. "I come up and beat the bed black and blue with thecopper-stick; you scream for mercy and call out 'Help!' 'Murder!' andthings like that. Don't call out 'Police!' cos Bill ain't sure aboutthat part. Evans comes bursting in to save your life--I'll leave thedoor on the latch--and there you are. He's sure to get into trouble forit. Bill said so. He's made a study o' that sort o' thing. "

Mrs. Grummit pondered this simple plan so long that her husband began tolose patience. At last, against her better sense, she rose and fetchedthe weapon in question. 

"And you be careful what you're hitting, " she said, as they went upstairsto bed. "We'd better have 'igh words first, I s'pose?"

"You pitch into me with your tongue, " said Mr. Grummit, amiably. 

Mrs. Grummit, first listening to make sure that the constable and hiswife were in the bedroom the other side of the flimsy wall, complied, andin a voice that rose gradually to a piercing falsetto told Mr. Grummitthings that had been rankling in her mind for some months. She raked upmisdemeanours that he had long since forgotten, and, not content withthat, had a fling at the entire Grummit family, beginning with hermother-in-law and ending with Mr. Grummit's youngest sister. The handthat held the copper-stick itched. 

"Any more to say?" demanded Mr. Grummit advancing upon her. 

Mrs. Grummit emitted a genuine shriek, and Mr. Grummit, suddenlyremembering himself, stopped short and attacked the bed withextraordinary fury. The room resounded with the blows, and the effortsof Mrs. Grummit were a revelation even to her husband. 

[Illustration: "Mr. Grummit, suddenly remembering himself, stopped shortand attacked the bed with extraordinary fury. "]

"I can hear 'im moving, " whispered Mr. Grummit, pausing to take breath. 

"Mur--der!" wailed his wife. "Help! Help!"

Mr. Grummit, changing the stick into his left hand, renewed the attack;Mrs. Grummit, whose voice was becoming exhausted, sought a temporaryrelief in moans. 

"Is--he----deaf?" panted the wife-beater, "or wot?"

He knocked over a chair, and Mrs. Grummit contrived another frenziedscream. A loud knocking sounded on the wall. 

"Hel--lp!" moaned Mrs. Grummit. 

"Halloa, there!" came the voice of the constable. "Why don't you keepthat baby quiet? We can't get a wink of sleep. "

Mr. Grummit dropped the stick on the bed and turned a dazed face to hiswife. 

"He--he's afraid--to come in, " he gasped. "Keep it up, old gal. "

He took up the stick again and Mrs. Grummit did her best, but the hearthad gone out of the thing, and he was about to give up the task ashopeless when the door below was heard to open with a bang. 

"Here he is, " cried the jubilant Grummit. "Now!"

His wife responded, and at the same moment the bedroom door was flungopen, and her brother, who had been hastily fetched by the neighbours onthe other side, burst into the room and with one hearty blow sent Mr. Grummit sprawling. 

"Hit my sister, will you?" he roared, as the astounded Mr. Grummit rose. "Take that!"

Mr. Grummit took it, and several other favours, while his wife, tuggingat her brother, endeavoured to explain. It was not, however, until Mr. Grummit claimed the usual sanctuary of the defeated by refusing to risethat she could make herself heard. 

"Joke?" repeated her brother, incredulously. "Joke?"

Mrs. Grummit in a husky voice explained. 

Her brother passed from incredulity to amazement and from amazement tomirth. He sat down gurgling, and the indignant face of the injuredGrummit only added to his distress. 

"Best joke I ever heard in my life, " he said, wiping his eyes. "Don'tlook at me like that, Bob; I can't bear it. "

"Get off 'ome, " responded Mr. Grummit, glowering at him. 

"There's a crowd outside, and half the doors in the place open, " said theother. "Well, it's a good job there's no harm done. So long. "

He passed, beaming, down the stairs, and Mr. Grummit, drawing near thewindow, heard him explaining in a broken voice to the neighbours outside. Strong men patted him on the back and urged him gruffly to say what hehad to say and laugh afterwards. Mr. Grummit turned from the window, andin a slow and stately fashion prepared to retire for the night. Even thesudden and startling disappearance of Mrs. Grummit as she got into bedfailed to move him. 

"The bed's broke, Bob, " she said faintly. 

"Beds won't last for ever, " he said, shortly; "sleep on the floor. "

Mrs. Grummit clambered out, and after some trouble secured the bedclothesand made up a bed in a corner of the room. In a short time she was fastasleep; but her husband, broad awake, spent the night in devising furtherimpracticable schemes for the discomfiture of the foe next door. 

He saw Mr. Evans next morning as he passed on his way to work. Theconstable was at the door smoking in his shirt-sleeves, and Mr. Grummitfelt instinctively that he was waiting there to see him pass. 

"I heard you last night, " said the constable, playfully. "My word! Goodgracious!"

"Wot's the matter with you?" demanded Mr. Grummit, stopping short. 

The constable stared at him. "She has been knocking you about, " hegasped. "Why, it must ha' been you screaming, then! I thought itsounded loud. Why don't you go and get a summons and have her locked up?I should be pleased to take her. "

Mr. Grummit faced him, quivering with passion. "Wot would it cost if Iset about you?" he demanded, huskily. 

"Two months, " said Mr. Evans, smiling serenely; "p'r'aps three. "

Mr. Grummit hesitated and his fists clenched nervously. The constable, lounging against his door-post, surveyed him with a dispassionate smile. "That would be besides what you'd get from me, " he said, softly. 

"Come out in the road, " said Mr. Grummit, with sudden violence. 

"It's agin the rules, " said Mr. Evans; "sorry I can't. Why not go andask your wife's brother to oblige you?"

He went in laughing and closed the door, and Mr. Grummit, after afrenzied outburst, proceeded on his way, returning the smiles of suchacquaintances as he passed with an icy stare or a strongly-worded offerto make them laugh the other side of their face. The rest of the day hespent in working so hard that he had no time to reply to the anxiousinquiries of his fellow-workmen. 

He came home at night glum and silent, the hardship of not being able togive Mr. Evans his deserts without incurring hard labour having weighedon his spirits all day. To avoid the annoyance of the piano next door, which was slowly and reluctantly yielding up "_The Last Rose of Summer_"note by note, he went out at the back, and the first thing he saw was Mr. Evans mending his path with tins and other bric-a-brac. 

"Nothing like it, " said the constable, looking up. "Your missus gave 'emto us this morning. A little gravel on top, and there you are. "

He turned whistling to his work again, and the other, after endeavouringin vain to frame a suitable reply, took a seat on an inverted wash-tuband lit his pipe. His one hope was that Constable Evans was going to tryand cultivate a garden. 

The hope was realized a few days later, and Mr. Grummit at the backwindow sat gloating over a dozen fine geraniums, some lobelias andcalceolarias, which decorated the constable's plot of ground. He couldnot sleep for thinking of them. 

He rose early the next morning, and, after remarking to Mrs. Grummit thatMr. Evans's flowers looked as though they wanted rain, went off to hiswork. The cloud which had been on his spirits for some time had lifted, and he whistled as he walked. The sight of flowers in front windowsadded to his good humour. 

He was still in good spirits when he left off work that afternoon, butsome slight hesitation about returning home sent him to the Brick-layers'firms instead. He stayed there until closing time, and then, being stilldisinclined for home, paid a visit to Bill Smith, who lived the otherside of Tunwich. By the time he started for home it was nearly midnight. 

The outskirts of the town were deserted and the houses in darkness. Theclock of Tunwich church struck twelve, and the last stroke was just dyingaway as he turned a corner and ran almost into the arms of the man he hadbeen trying to avoid. 

"Halloa!" said Constable Evans, sharply. "Here, I want a word with you. "

Mr. Grummit quailed. "With me, sir?" he said, with involuntary respect. 

"What have you been doing to my flowers?" demanded the other, hotly. 

"Flowers?" repeated Mr. Grummit, as though the word were new to him. "Flowers? What flowers?"

"You know well enough, " retorted the constable. "You got over my fencelast night and smashed all my flowers down. "

"You be careful wot you're saying, " urged Mr. Grummit. "Why, I loveflowers. You don't mean to tell me that all them beautiful flowers wotyou put in so careful 'as been spoiled?"

"You know all about it, " said the constable, choking. "I shall take outa summons against you for it. "

"Ho!" said Mr. Grummit. "And wot time do you say it was when I done it?"

"Never you mind the time, " said the other. 

"Cos it's important, " said Mr. Grummit. 

"My wife's brother--the one you're so fond of--slept in my 'ouse lastnight. He was ill arf the night, pore chap; but, come to think of it, it'll make 'im a good witness for my innocence. "

"If I wasn't a policeman, " said Mr. Evans, speaking with greatdeliberation, "I'd take hold o' you, Bob Grummit, and I'd give you thebiggest hiding you've ever had in your life. "

"If you wasn't a policeman, " said Mr. Grummit, yearningly, "I'd arfmurder you. "

The two men eyed each other wistfully, loth to part. 

"If I gave you what you deserve I should get into trouble, " said theconstable. 

"If I gave you a quarter of wot you ought to 'ave I should go to quod, "sighed Mr. Grummit. 

"I wouldn't put you there, " said the constable, earnestly; "I swear Iwouldn't. "

"Everything's beautiful and quiet, " said Mr. Grummit, trembling witheagerness, "and I wouldn't say a word to a soul. I'll take my solemndavit I wouldn't. "

"When I think o' my garden--" began the constable. With a suddenmovement he knocked off Mr. Grummit's cap, and then, seizing him by thecoat, began to hustle him along the road. In the twinkling of an eyethey had closed. 

Tunwich church chimed the half-hour as they finished, and Mr. Grummit, forgetting his own injuries, stood smiling at the wreck before him. Theconstable's helmet had been smashed and trodden on; his uniform was tornand covered with blood and dirt, and his good looks marred for afortnight at least. He stooped with a groan, and, recovering his helmet, tried mechanically to punch it into shape. He stuck the battered relicon his head, and Mr. Grummit fell back--awed, despite himself. 

"It was a fair fight, " he stammered. 

The constable waved him away. "Get out o' my sight before I change mymind, " he said, fiercely; "and mind, if you say a word about this it'llbe the worse for you. "

"Do you think I've gone mad?" said the other. He took another look athis victim and, turning away, danced fantastically along the road home. The constable, making his way to a gas-lamp, began to inspect damages. 

They were worse even than he had thought, and, leaning against thelamp-post, he sought in vain for an explanation that, in the absence of aprisoner, would satisfy the inspector. A button which was hanging by athread fell tinkling on to the footpath, and he had just picked it up andplaced it in his pocket when a faint distant outcry broke upon his ear. 

He turned and walked as rapidly as his condition would permit in thedirection of the noise. It became louder and more imperative, and criesof "Police!" became distinctly audible. He quickened into a run, andturning a corner beheld a little knot of people standing at the gate of alarge house. Other people only partially clad were hastening to-wardsthem. The constable arrived out of breath. 

"Better late than never, " said the owner of the house, sarcastically. 

Mr. Evans, breathing painfully, supported himself with his hand on thefence. 

"They went that way, but I suppose you didn't see them, " continued thehouseholder. "Halloa!" he added, as somebody opened the hall door andthe constable's damaged condition became visible in the gas-light. "Areyou hurt?"

"Yes, " said Mr. Evans, who was trying hard to think clearly. To gaintime he blew a loud call on his whistle. 

"The rascals!" continued the other. "I think I should know the big chapwith a beard again, but the others were too quick for me. "

Mr. Evans blew his whistle again--thoughtfully. The opportunity seemedtoo good to lose. 

"Did they get anything?" he inquired. 

"Not a thing, " said the owner, triumphantly. "I was disturbed just intime. "

The constable gave a slight gulp. "I saw the three running by the sideof the road, " he said, slowly. "Their behaviour seemed suspicious, so Icollared the big one, but they set on me like wild cats. They had medown three times; the last time I laid my head open against the kerb, andwhen I came to my senses again they had gone. "

He took off his battered helmet with a flourish and, amid a murmur ofsympathy, displayed a nasty cut on his head. A sergeant and a constable, both running, appeared round the corner and made towards' them. 

"Get back to the station and make your report, " said the former, asConstable Evans, in a somewhat defiant voice, repeated his story. "You've done your best; I can see that. "

Mr. Evans, enacting to perfection the part of a wounded hero, limpedpainfully off, praying devoutly as he went that the criminals might makegood their escape. If not, he reflected that the word of a policeman wasat least equal to that of three burglars. 

He repeated his story at the station, and, after having his head dressed, was sent home and advised to keep himself quiet for a day or two. He wasoff duty for four days, and, the Tunwich Gazette having devoted a columnto the affair, headed "A Gallant Constable, " modestly secluded himselffrom the public gaze for the whole of that time. 

To Mr. Grummit, who had read the article in question until he could haverepeated it backwards, this modesty was particularly trying. Theconstable's yard was deserted and the front door ever closed. Once Mr. Grummit even went so far as to tap with his nails on the front parlourwindow, and the only response was the sudden lowering of the blind. Itwas not until a week afterwards that his eyes were gladdened by a sightof the constable sitting in his yard; and fearing that even then he mightescape him, he ran out on tip-toe and put his face over the fence beforethe latter was aware of his presence. 

"Wot about that 'ere burglary?" he demanded in truculent tones. 

"Good evening, Grummit, " said the constable, with a patronizing air. 

"Wot about that burglary?" repeated Mr. Grummit, with a scowl. "I don'tbelieve you ever saw a burglar. "

Mr. Evans rose and stretched himself gracefully. "You'd better runindoors, my good man, " he said, slowly. 

"Telling all them lies about burglars, " continued the indignant Mr. Grummit, producing his newspaper and waving it. "Why, I gave you thatblack eye, I smashed your 'elmet, I cut your silly 'ead open, I----"

"You've been drinking, " said the other, severely. 

"You mean to say I didn't?" demanded Mr. Grummit, ferociously. 

Mr. Evans came closer and eyed him steadily. "I don't know what you'retalking about, " he said, calmly. 

Mr. Grummit, about to speak, stopped appalled at such hardihood. 

"Of course, if you mean to say that you were one o' them burglars, "continued the constable, "why, say it and I'll take you with pleasure. Come to think of it, I did seem to remember one o' their voices. "

Mr. Grummit, with his eyes fixed on the other's, backed a couple of yardsand breathed heavily. 

"About your height, too, he was, " mused the constable. "I hope for yoursake you haven't been saying to anybody else what you said to me justnow. "

Mr. Grummit shook his head. "Not a word, " he faltered. 

"That's all right, then, " said Mr. Evans. "I shouldn't like to be hardon a neighbour; not that we shall be neighbours much longer. "

Mr. Grummit, feeling that a reply was expected of him, gave utterance toa feeble "Oh!"

"No, " said Mr. Evans, looking round disparagingly. "It ain't good enoughfor us now; I was promoted to sergeant this morning. A sergeant can'tlive in a common place like this. "

Mr. Grummit, a prey to a sickening fear, drew near the fence again. "A--a sergeant?" he stammered. 

Mr. Evans smiled and gazed carefully at a distant cloud. "For my braverywith them burglars the other night, Grummit, " he said, modestly. "Imight have waited years if it hadn't been for them. "

He nodded to the frantic Grummit and turned away; Mr. Grummit, withoutany adieu at all, turned and crept back to the house. 

BOB'S REDEMPTION

[Illustration: "Bob's Redemption. "]

"GRATITOODE!" said the night-watchman, with a hard laugh. "_Hmf!_ Don'ttalk to me about gratitoode; I've seen too much of it. If people wotI've helped in my time 'ad only done arf their dooty--arf, mind you--Ishould be riding in my carriage. "

Forgetful of the limitations of soap-boxes he attempted to illustrate hisremark by lolling, and nearly went over backwards. Recovering himself byan effort he gazed sternly across the river and smoked fiercely. It wasevident that he was brooding over an ill-used past. 

'Arry Thomson was one of them, he said, at last. For over six months Iwrote all 'is love-letters for him, 'e being an iggernerant sort of manand only being able to do the kisses at the end, which he always insistedon doing 'imself: being jealous. Only three weeks arter he was married'e come up to where I was standing one day and set about me withoutsaying a word. I was a single man at the time and I didn't understandit. My idea was that he 'ad gone mad, and, being pretty artful andalways 'aving a horror of mad people, I let 'im chase me into apolice-station. Leastways, I would ha' let 'im, but he didn't come, and I all but got fourteen days for being drunk and disorderly. 

Then there was Bill Clark. He 'ad been keeping comp'ny with a gal andgot tired of it, and to oblige 'im I went to her and told 'er he was amarried man with five children. Bill was as pleased as Punch at fust, but as soon as she took up with another chap he came round to see me andsaid as I'd ruined his life. We 'ad words about it--naturally--and I didruin it then to the extent of a couple o' ribs. I went to see 'im in thehorsepittle--place I've always been fond of--and the langwidge he used tome was so bad that they sent for the Sister to 'ear it. 

That's on'y two out of dozens I could name. Arf the unpleasantnesses inmy life 'ave come out of doing kindnesses to people, and all thegratitoode I've 'ad for it I could put in a pint-pot with a pint o' beeralready in it. 

The only case o' real gratitoode I ever heard of 'appened to a shipmateo' mine--a young chap named Bob Evans. Coming home from Auckland in abarque called the _Dragon Fly_ he fell overboard, and another chap namedGeorge Crofts, one o' the best swimmers I ever knew, went overboard arter'im and saved his life. 

We was hardly moving at the time, and the sea was like a duck pond, butto 'ear Bob Evans talk you'd ha' thought that George Crofts was thebravest-'arted chap that ever lived. He 'adn't liked him afore, same asthe rest of us, George being a sly, mean sort o' chap; but arter George'ad saved his life 'e couldn't praise 'im enough. He said that so longas he 'ad a crust George should share it, and wotever George asked 'im heshould have. 

The unfortnit part of it was that George took 'im at his word, and allthe rest of the v'y'ge he acted as though Bob belonged to 'im, and by thetime we got into the London river Bob couldn't call his soul 'is own. Heused to take a room when he was ashore and live very steady, as 'e wassaving up to get married, and as soon as he found that out George invited'imself to stay with him. 

"It won't cost you a bit more, " he ses, "not if you work it properly. "

Bob didn't work it properly, but George having saved his life, and neverletting 'im forget it, he didn't like to tell him so. He thought he'dlet 'im see gradual that he'd got to be careful because of 'is gal, andthe fust evening they was ashore 'e took 'im along with 'im there to tea. 

Gerty Mitchell--that was the gal's name--'adn't heard of Bob's accident, and when she did she gave a little scream, and putting 'er arms round hisneck, began to kiss 'im right in front of George and her mother. 

"You ought to give him one too, " ses Mrs. Mitchell, pointing to George. 

George wiped 'is mouth on the back of his 'and, but Gerty pretended notto 'ear. 

"Fancy if you'd been drownded!" she ses, hugging Bob agin. 

"He was pretty near, " ses George, shaking his 'ead. "I'm a pore swimmer, but I made up my mind either to save 'im or else go down to a waterygrave myself. "

He wiped his mouth on the back of his 'and agin, but all the notice Gertytook of it was to send her young brother Ted out for some beer. Thenthey all 'ad supper together, and Mrs. Mitchell drank good luck to Georgein a glass o' beer, and said she 'oped that 'er own boy would grow uplike him. "Let 'im grow up a good and brave man, that's all I ask, " sheses. "I don't care about 'is looks. "

"He might have both, " ses George, sharp-like. "Why not?"

Mrs. Mitchell said she supposed he might, and then she cuffed young Ted'sears for making a noise while 'e was eating, and then cuffed 'im agin forsaying that he'd finished 'is supper five minutes ago. 

George and Bob walked 'ome together, and all the way there George saidwot a pretty gal Gerty was and 'ow lucky it was for Bob that he 'adn'tbeen drownded. He went round to tea with 'im the next day to Mrs. Mitchell's, and arter tea, when Bob and Gerty said they was going out tospend the evening together, got 'imself asked too. 

They took a tram-car and went to a music-hall, and Bob paid for the threeof 'em. George never seemed to think of putting his 'and in his pocket, and even arter the music-hall, when they all went into a shop and 'adstewed eels, he let Bob pay. 

As I said afore, Bob Evans was chock-full of gratefulness, and it seemedonly fair that he shouldn't grumble at spending a little over the man wot'ad risked 'is life to save his; but wot with keeping George at his room, and paying for 'im every time they went out, he was spending a lot moremoney than 'e could afford. 

"You're on'y young once, Bob, " George said to him when 'e made a remarkone arternoon as to the fast way his money was going, "and if it hadn'tha' been for me you'd never 'ave lived to grow old. "

Wot with spending the money and always 'aving George with them when theywent out, it wasn't long afore Bob and Gerty 'ad a quarrel. "I don'tlike a pore-spirited man, " she ses. "Two's company and three's none, and, besides, why can't he pay for 'imself? He's big enough. Why shouldyou spend your money on 'im? He never pays a farthing. "

Bob explained that he couldn't say anything because 'e owed his life toGeorge, but 'e might as well 'ave talked to a lamp-post. The more heargued the more angry Gerty got, and at last she ses, "Two's company andthree's none, and if you and me can't go out without George Crofts, thenme and 'im 'll go out with-out you. "

She was as good as her word, too, and the next night, while Bob 'ad goneout to get some 'bacca, she went off alone with George. It was teno'clock afore they came back agin, and Gerty's eyes were all shining and'er cheeks as pink as roses. She shut 'er mother up like a concertinathe moment she began to find fault with 'er, and at supper she sat nextto George and laughed at everything 'e said. 

George and Bob walked all the way 'ome arter supper without saying aword, but arter they got to their room George took a side-look at Bob, and then he ses, suddenlike, "Look 'ere! I saved your life, didn't I?"

"You did, " ses Bob, "and I thank you for it. "

"I saved your life, " ses George agin, very solemn. "If it hadn't ha'been for me you couldn't ha' married anybody. "

"That's true, " ses Bob. 

"Me and Gerty 'ave been having a talk, " ses George, bending down to undohis boots. "We've been getting on very well together; you can't 'elpyour feelings, and the long and the short of it is, the pore gal hasfallen in love with me. "

Bob didn't say a word. 

"If you look at it this way it's fair enough, " ses George. "I gave youyour life and you give me your gal. We're quits now. You don't owe meanything and I don't owe you anything. That's the way Gerty puts it, andshe told me to tell you so. "

"If--if she don't want me I'm agreeable, " ses Bob, in a choking voice. "We'll call it quits, and next time I tumble overboard I 'ope you won'tbe handy. "

He took Gerty's photygraph out of 'is box and handed it to George. "You've got more right to it now than wot I 'ave, " he ses. "I shan't goround there any more; I shall look out for a ship to-morrow. "

George Crofts said that perhaps it was the best thing he could do, and 'easked 'im in a offhand sort o' way 'ow long the room was paid up for. 

Mrs. Mitchell 'ad a few words to say about it next day, but Gerty told'er to save 'er breath for walking upstairs. The on'y thing that Georgedidn't like when they went out was that young Ted was with them, butGerty said she preferred it till she knew 'im better; and she 'ad so muchto say about his noble behaviour in saving life that George gave way. They went out looking at the shops, George thinking that that was thecheapest way of spending an evening, and they were as happy as possibletill Gerty saw a brooch she liked so much in a window that he couldn'tget 'er away. 

"It is a beauty, " she ses. "I don't know when I've seen a brooch I likedbetter. Look here! Let's all guess the price and then go in and seewho's right. "

They 'ad their guesses, and then they went in and asked, and as soon asGerty found that it was only three-and-sixpence she began to feel in herpocket for 'er purse, just like your wife does when you go out with 'er, knowing all the time that it's on the mantelpiece with twopence-ha'pennyand a cough lozenge in it. 

"I must ha' left it at 'ome, " she ses, looking at George. 

"Just wot I've done, " ses George, arter patting 'is pockets. 

Gerty bit 'er lips and, for a minute or two, be civil to George she couldnot. Then she gave a little smile and took 'is arm agin, and they walkedon talking and laughing till she turned round of a sudden and asked a bigchap as was passing wot 'e was shoving 'er for. 

"Shoving you?" ses he. "Wot do you think I want to shove you for?"

"Don't you talk to me, " ses Gerty, firing up. "George, make 'im beg mypardon. "

"You ought to be more careful, " ses George, in a gentle sort o' way. 

"Make 'im beg my pardon, " ses Gerty, stamping 'er foot; "if he don't, knock 'im down. "

"Yes, knock 'im down, " ses the big man, taking hold o' George's cap andrumpling his 'air. 

Pore George, who was never much good with his fists, hit 'im in thechest, and the next moment he was on 'is back in the middle o' the roadwondering wot had 'appened to 'im. By the time 'e got up the other manwas arf a mile away; and young Ted stepped up and wiped 'im down with apocket-'andkerchief while Gerty explained to 'im 'ow she saw 'im slip ona piece o' banana peel. 

"It's 'ard lines, " she ses; "but never mind, you frightened 'im away, and I don't wonder at it. You do look terrible when you're angry, George; I didn't know you. "

She praised 'im all the way 'ome, and if it 'adn't been for his mouth andnose George would 'ave enjoyed it more than 'e did. She told 'er motherhow 'e had flown at a big man wot 'ad insulted her, and Mrs. Mitchellshook her 'ead at 'im and said his bold spirit would lead 'im intotrouble afore he 'ad done. 

They didn't seem to be able to make enough of 'im, and next day when hewent round Gerty was so upset at the sight of 'is bruises that he thoughtshe was going to cry. When he had 'ad his tea she gave 'im a cigar shehad bought for 'im herself, and when he 'ad finished smoking it shesmiled at him, and said that she was going to take 'im out for a pleasantevening to try and make up to 'im for wot he 'ad suffered for 'er. 

"We're all going to stand treat to each other, " she ses. "Bob alwayswould insist on paying for everything, but I like to feel a bitindependent. Give and take--that's the way I like to do things. "

"There's nothing like being independent, " ses George. "Bob ought to ha'known that. "

"I'm sure it's the best plan, " ses Gerty. "Now, get your 'at on. We'regoing to a theayter, and Ted shall pay the 'bus fares. "

George wanted to ask about the theayter, but 'e didn't like to, and arterGerty was dressed they went out and Ted paid the 'bus fares like a man. 

"Here you are, " ses Gerty, as the 'bus stopped outside the theayter. "Hurry up and get the tickets, George; ask for three upper circles. "

She bustled George up to the pay place, and as soon as she 'ad picked outthe seats she grabbed 'old of the tickets and told George to make haste. 

"Twelve shillings it is, " ses the man, as George put down arf a crown. 

"Twelve?" ses George, beginning to stammer. "Twelve? Twelve? Twel--?"

"Twelve shillings, " ses the man; "three upper circles you've 'ad. "

George was going to fetch Gerty back and 'ave cheaper seats, but she 'adgone inside with young Ted, and at last, arter making an awful fuss, hepaid the rest o' the money and rushed in arter her, arf crazy at the ideao' spending so much money. 

"Make 'aste, " ses Gerty, afore he could say anything; "the band 'as justbegun. "

She started running upstairs, and she was so excited that, when they gottheir seats and George started complaining about the price, she didn'tpay any attention to wot he was saying, but kept pointing out ladies'dresses to 'im in w'ispers and wondering wot they 'ad paid for them. George gave it up at last, and then he sat wondering whether he 'ad doneright arter all in taking Bob's gal away from him. 

Gerty enjoyed it very much, but when the curtain came down after thefirst act she leaned back in her chair and looked up at George and saidshe felt faint and thought she'd like to 'ave an ice-cream. "And you'ave one too, dear, " she ses, when young Ted 'ad got up and beckoned tothe gal, "and Ted 'ud like one too, I'm sure. "

She put her 'ead on George's shoulder and looked up at 'im. Then she puther 'and on his and stroked it, and George, reckoning that arter allice-creams were on'y a ha'penny or at the most a penny each, altered 'ismind about not spending any more money and ordered three. 

The way he carried on when the gal said they was three shillings wasalarming. At fust 'e thought she was 'aving a joke with 'im, and it tookanother gal and the fireman and an old gentleman wot was sitting behind'im to persuade 'im different. He was so upset that 'e couldn't eat hisarter paying for it, and Ted and Gerty had to finish it for 'im. 

"They're expensive, but they're worth the money, " ses Gerty. "You aregood to me, George. I could go on eating 'em all night, but you mustn'tfling your money away like this always. "

"I'll see to that, " ses George, very bitter. 

"I thought we was going to stand treat to each other? That was the idea, I understood. "

"So we are, " ses Gerty. "Ted stood the 'bus fares, didn't he?"

"He did, " ses George, "wot there was of 'em; but wot about you?"

"Me?" ses Gerty, drawing her 'ead back and staring at 'im. "Why, 'aveyou forgot that cigar already, George?"

George opened 'is mouth, but 'e couldn't speak a word. He sat looking at'er and making a gasping noise in 'is throat, and fortunately just as 'egot 'is voice back the curtain went up agin, and everybody said, "_H'sh!_"

He couldn't enjoy the play at all, 'e was so upset, and he began to seemore than ever 'ow wrong he 'ad been in taking Bob's gal away from 'im. He walked downstairs into the street like a man in a dream, with Gertysticking to 'is arm and young Ted treading on 'is heels behind. 

"Now, you mustn't waste any more money, George, " ses Gerty, when they gotoutside. "We'll walk 'ome. "

George 'ad got arf a mind to say something about a 'bus, but heremembered in time that very likely young Ted hadn't got any more money. Then Gerty said she knew a short cut, and she took them, walking alonglittle, dark, narrow streets and places, until at last, just as Georgethought they must be pretty near 'ome, she began to dab her eyes with 'erpocket-'andkerchief and say she'd lost 'er way. 

"You two go 'ome and leave me, " she ses, arf crying. "I can't walkanother step. "

"Where are we?" ses George, looking round. 

"I don't know, " ses Gerty. "I couldn't tell you if you paid me. I must'ave taken a wrong turning. Oh, hurrah! Here's a cab!"

Afore George could stop 'er she held up 'er umbrella, and a 'ansom cab, with bells on its horse, crossed the road and pulled up in front of 'em. Ted nipped in first and Gerty followed 'im. 

"Tell 'im the address, dear, and make 'aste and get in, " ses Gerty. 

George told the cabman, and then he got in and sat on Ted's knee, partlyon Gerty's umbrella, and mostly on nothing. 

"You are good to me, George, " ses Gerty, touching the back of 'is neckwith the brim of her hat. "It ain't often I get a ride in a cab. Allthe time I was keeping company with Bob we never 'ad one once. I onlywish I'd got the money to pay for it. "

George, who was going to ask a question, stopped 'imself, and then hekept striking matches and trying to read all about cab fares on a bill infront of 'im. 

"'Ow are we to know 'ow many miles it is?" he ses, at last. 

"I don't know, " ses Gerty; "leave it to the cabman. It's his bisness, ain't it? And if 'e don't know he must suffer for it. "

There was hardly a soul in Gerty's road when they got there, but aforeGeorge 'ad settled with the cabman there was a policeman moving the crowdon and arf the winders in the road up. By the time George had paid 'imand the cabman 'ad told him wot 'e looked like, Gerty and Ted 'addisappeared indoors, all the lights was out, and, in a state o' mind thatwon't bear thinking of, George walked 'ome to his lodging. 

[Illustration: "Afore George had settled with the cabman, there was apoliceman moving the crowd on. "]

Bob was asleep when he got there, but 'e woke 'im up and told 'im aboutit, and then arter a time he said that he thought Bob ought to pay arfbecause he 'ad saved 'is life. 

"Cert'nly not, " ses Bob. "We're quits now; that was the arrangement. I only wish it was me spending the money on her; I shouldn't grumble. "

George didn't get a wink o' sleep all night for thinking of the money he'ad spent, and next day when he went round he 'ad almost made up 'is mindto tell Bob that if 'e liked to pay up the money he could 'ave Gertyback; but she looked so pretty, and praised 'im up so much for 'isgenerosity, that he began to think better of it. One thing 'e wasdetermined on, and that was never to spend money like that agin for fiftyGertys. 

There was a very sensible man there that evening that George liked verymuch. His name was Uncle Joe, and when Gerty was praising George to 'isface for the money he 'ad been spending, Uncle Joe, instead o' lookingpleased, shook his 'ead over it. 

"Young people will be young people, I know, " he ses, "but still I don'tapprove of extravagance. Bob Evans would never 'ave spent all that moneyover you. "

"Bob Evans ain't everybody, " ses Mrs. Mitchell, standing up for Gerty. 

"He was steady, anyway, " ses Uncle Joe. "Besides, Gerty ought not to ha'let Mr. Crofts spend his money like that. She could ha' prevented it ifshe'd ha' put 'er foot down and insisted on it. "

He was so solemn about it that everybody began to feel a bit upset, andGerty borrowed Ted's pocket-'andkerchief, and then wiped 'er eyes on thecuff of her dress instead. 

"Well, well, " ses Uncle Joe; "I didn't mean to be 'ard, but don't do itno more. You are young people, and can't afford it. "

"We must 'ave a little pleasure sometimes, " ses Gerty. 

"Yes, I know, " ses Uncle Joe; "but there's moderation in everything. Look 'ere, it's time somebody paid for Mr. Crofts. To-morrow's Saturday, and, if you like, I'll take you all to the Crystal Palace. "

Gerty jumped up off of 'er chair and kissed 'im, while Mrs. Mitchell saidshe knew 'is bark was worse than 'is bite, and asked 'im who was wastinghis money now?

"You meet me at London Bridge Station at two o'clock, " ses Uncle Joe, getting up to go. "It ain't extravagance for a man as can afford it. "

He shook 'ands with George Crofts and went, and, arter George 'ad stayedlong enough to hear a lot o' things about Uncle Joe which made 'im thinkthey'd get on very well together, he went off too. 

They all turned up very early the next arternoon, and Gerty was dressedso nice that George couldn't take his eyes off of her. Besides her therewas Mrs. Mitchell and Ted and a friend of 'is named Charlie Smith. 

They waited some time, but Uncle Joe didn't turn up, and they all gotlooking at the clock and talking about it, and 'oping he wouldn't make'em miss the train. 

"Here he comes!" ses Ted, at last. 

Uncle Joe came rushing in, puffing and blowing as though he'd bust. "Take 'em on by this train, will you?" he ses, catching 'old o' George bythe arm. "I've just been stopped by a bit o' business I must do, andI'll come on by the next, or as soon arter as I can. "

He rushed off again, puffing and blowing his 'ardest, in such a hurrythat he forgot to give George the money for the tickets. However, Georgeborrowed a pencil of Mrs. Mitchell in the train, and put down on paper'ow much they cost, and Mrs. Mitchell said if George didn't like toremind 'im she would. 

They left young Ted and Charlie to stay near the station when they got tothe Palace, Uncle Joe 'aving forgotten to say where he'd meet 'em, buttrain arter train came in without 'im, and at last the two boys gave itup. 

"We're sure to run across 'im sooner or later, " ses Gerty. "Let's 'avesomething to eat; I'm so hungry. "

George said something about buns and milk, but Gerty took 'im up sharp. "Buns and milk?" she ses. "Why, uncle would never forgive us if wespoilt his treat like that. "

She walked into a refreshment place and they 'ad cold meat and bread andpickles and beer and tarts and cheese, till even young Ted said he'd 'adenough, but still they couldn't see any signs of Uncle Joe. They went onto the roundabouts to look for 'im, and then into all sorts o' shows atsixpence a head, but still there was no signs of 'im, and George had 'adto start on a fresh bit o' paper to put down wot he'd spent. 

"I suppose he must ha' been detained on important business, " ses Gerty, at last. 

"Unless it's one of 'is jokes, " ses Mrs. Mitchell, shaking her 'ead. "You know wot your uncle is, Gerty. "

"There now, I never thought o' that, " ses Gerty, with a start; "p'r'apsit is. "

"Joke?" ses George, choking and staring from one to the other. 

"I was wondering where he'd get the money from, " ses Mrs. Mitchell toGerty. "I see it all now; I never see such a man for a bit o' fun in allmy born days. And the solemn way he went on last night, too. Why, hemust ha' been laughing in 'is sleeve all the time. It's as good as aplay. "

"Look here!" ses George, 'ardly able to speak; "do you mean to tell me henever meant to come?"

"I'm afraid not, " ses Mrs. Mitchell, "knowing wot he is. But don't youworry; I'll give him a bit o' my mind when I see 'im. "

George Crofts felt as though he'd burst, and then 'e got his breath, andthe things 'e said about Uncle Joe was so awful that Mrs. Mitchell toldthe boys to go away. 

"How dare you talk of my uncle like that?" ses Gerty, firing up. 

"You forget yourself, George, " ses Mrs. Mitchell. "You'll like 'im whenyou get to know 'im better. "

"Don't you call me George, " ses George Crofts, turning on 'er. "I'vebeen done, that's wot I've been. I 'ad fourteen pounds when I was paidoff, and it's melting like butter. "

"Well, we've enjoyed ourselves, " ses Gerty, "and that's what money wasgiven us for. I'm sure those two boys 'ave had a splendid time, thanksto you. Don't go and spoil all by a little bit o' temper. "

"Temper!" ses George, turning on her. "I've done with you, I wouldn'tmarry you if you was the on'y gal in the world. I wouldn't marry you ifyou paid me. "

"Oh, indeed!" ses Gerty; "but if you think you can get out of it likethat you're mistaken. I've lost my young man through you, and I'm notgoing to lose you too. I'll send my two big cousins round to see youto-morrow. "

"They won't put up with no nonsense, I can tell you, " ses Mrs. Mitchell. 

She called the boys to her, and then she and Gerty, arter holding their'eads very high and staring at George, went off and left 'im alone. Hewent straight off 'ome, counting 'is money all the way and trying to makeit more, and, arter telling Bob 'ow he'd been treated, and trying hard toget 'im to go shares in his losses, packed up his things and cleared out, all boiling over with temper. 

Bob was so dazed he couldn't make head or tail out of it, but 'e wentround to see Gerty the first thing next morning, and she explained thingsto him. 

"I don't know when I've enjoyed myself so much, " she ses, wiping hereyes, "but I've had enough gadding about for once, and if you come roundthis evening we'll have a nice quiet time together looking at thefurniture shops. "

OVER THE SIDE

[Illustration: "Over the Side. "]

Of all classes of men, those who follow the sea are probably the mostprone to superstition. Afloat upon the black waste of waters, at themercy of wind and sea, with vast depths and strange creatures below them, a belief in the supernatural is easier than ashore, under the cheerfulgas-lamps. Strange stories of the sea are plentiful, and an incidentwhich happened within my own experience has made me somewhat chary ofdubbing a man fool or coward because he has encountered something hecannot explain. There are stories of the supernatural with prosaicsequels; there are others to which the sequel has never been published. 

I was fifteen years old at the time, and as my father, who had a strongobjection to the sea, would not apprentice me to it, I shipped before themast on a sturdy little brig called the _Endeavour, _ bound for Riga. Shewas a small craft, but the skipper was as fine a seaman as one could wishfor, and, in fair weather, an easy man to sail under. Most boys have arough time of it when they first go to sea, but, with a strong sense ofwhat was good for me, I had attached myself to a brawny, good-naturedinfant, named Bill Smith, and it was soon understood that whoever hit mestruck Bill by proxy. Not that the crew were particularly brutal, but asound cuffing occasionally is held by most seamen to be beneficial to alad's health and morals. The only really spiteful fellow among them wasa man named Jem Dadd. He was a morose, sallow-looking man, of aboutforty, with a strong taste for the supernatural, and a stronger tastestill for frightening his fellows with it. I have seen Bill almostafraid to go on deck of a night for his trick at the wheel, after a fewof his reminiscences. Rats were a favourite topic with him, and he wouldnever allow one to be killed if he could help it, for he claimed for themthat they were the souls of drowned sailors, hence their love of shipsand their habit of leaving them when they became unseaworthy. He was afirm believer in the transmigration of souls, some idea of which he had, no doubt, picked up in Eastern ports, and gave his shivering auditors tounderstand that his arrangements for his own immediate future werealready perfected. 

We were six or seven days out when a strange thing happened. Dadd hadthe second watch one night, and Bill was to relieve him. They were notvery strict aboard the brig in fair weather, and when a man's time wasup he just made the wheel fast, and, running for'ard, shouted down thefo'c's'le. On this night I happened to awake suddenly, in time to seeBill slip out of his bunk and stand by me, rubbing his red eyelids withhis knuckles. 

"Dadd's giving me a long time, " he whispered, seeing that I was awake;"it's a whole hour after his time. "

He pattered up on deck, and I was just turning over, thankful that I wastoo young to have a watch to keep, when he came softly down again, and, taking me by the shoulders, shook me roughly. 

"Jack, " he whispered. "Jack. "

I raised myself on my elbows, and, in the light of the smoking lamp, sawthat he was shaking all over. 

"Come on deck, " he said, thickly. 

I put on my clothes, and followed him quietly to the sweet, cool airabove. It was a beautiful clear night, but, from his manner, I lookednervously around for some cause of alarm. I saw nothing. The deck wasdeserted, except for the solitary figure at the wheel. 

"Look at him, " whispered Bill, bending a contorted face to mine. 

I walked aft a few steps, and Bill followed slowly. Then I saw that JemDadd was leaning forward clumsily on the wheel, with his hands clenchedon the spokes. 

"He's asleep, " said I, stopping short. 

Bill breathed hard. "He's in a queer sleep, " said he; "kind o' trancemore like. Go closer. "

I took fast hold of Bill's sleeve, and we both went. The light of thestars was sufficient to show that Dadd's face was very white, and thathis dim, black eyes were wide open, and staring in a very strange anddreadful manner straight before him. 

"Dadd, " said I, softly, "Dadd!"

There was no reply, and, with a view of arousing him, I tapped one sinewyhand as it gripped the wheel, and even tried to loosen it. 

He remained immovable, and, suddenly with a great cry, my couragedeserted me, and Bill and I fairly bolted down into the cabin and wokethe skipper. 

Then we saw how it was with Jem, and two strong seamen forcibly loosenedthe grip of those rigid fingers, and, laying him on the deck, covered himwith a piece of canvas. The rest of the night two men stayed at thewheel, and, gazing fearfully at the outline of the canvas, longed fordawn. 

It came at last, and, breakfast over, the body was sewn up in canvas, andthe skipper held a short service compiled from a Bible which belonged tothe mate, and what he remembered of the Burial Service proper. Then thecorpse went overboard with a splash, and the men, after standingawkwardly together for a few minutes, slowly dispersed to their duties. 

For the rest of that day we were all very quiet and restrained; pity forthe dead man being mingled with a dread of taking the wheel when nightcame. 

"The wheel's haunted, " said the cook, solemnly; "mark my words, there'smore of you will be took the same way Dadd was. "

The cook, like myself, had no watch to keep. 

The men bore up pretty well until night came on again, and then theyunanimously resolved to have a double watch. The cook, sorely againsthis will, was impressed into the service, and I, glad to oblige mypatron, agreed to stay up with Bill. 

Some of the pleasure had vanished by the time night came, and I seemedonly just to have closed my eyes when Bill came, and, with a rough shakeor two, informed me that the time had come. Any hope that I might havehad of escaping the ordeal was at once dispelled by his expectantdemeanour, and the helpful way in which he assisted me with my clothes, and, yawning terribly, I followed him on deck. 

The night was not so clear as the preceding one, and the air was chilly, with a little moisture in it. I buttoned up my jacket, and thrust myhands in my pockets. 

"Everything quiet?" asked Bill as he stepped up and took the wheel. 

"Ay, ay, " said Roberts, "quiet as the grave, " and, followed by hiswilling mate, he went below. 

I sat on the deck by Bill's side as, with a light touch on the wheel, he kept the brig to her course. It was weary work sitting there, doingnothing, and thinking of the warm berth below, and I believe that Ishould have fallen asleep, but that my watchful companion stirred me withhis foot whenever he saw me nodding. 

I suppose I must have sat there, shivering and yawning, for about anhour, when, tired of inactivity, I got up and went and leaned over theside of the vessel. The sound of the water gurgling and lapping by wasso soothing that I began to doze. 

I was recalled to my senses by a smothered cry from Bill, and, running tohim, I found him staring to port in an intense and uncomfortable fashion. At my approach, he took one hand from the wheel, and gripped my arm sotightly that I was like to have screamed with the pain of it. 

"Jack, " said he, in a shaky voice, "while you was away something poppedits head up, and looked over the ship's side. "

"You've been dreaming, " said I, in a voice which was a very fairimitation of Bill's own. 

"Dreaming, " repeated Bill, "dreaming! Ah, look there!"

He pointed with outstretched finger, and my heart seemed to stop beatingas I saw a man's head appear above the side. For a brief space it peeredat us in silence, and then a dark figure sprang like a cat on to thedeck, and stood crouching a short distance away. 

A mist came before my eyes, and my tongue failed me, but Bill let off aroar, such as I have never heard before or since. It was answered frombelow, both aft and for'ard, and the men came running up on deck just asthey left their beds. 

"What's up?" shouted the skipper, glancing aloft. 

For answer, Bill pointed to the intruder, and the men, who had justcaught sight of him, came up and formed a compact knot by the wheel. 

"Come over the side, it did, " panted Bill, "come over like a ghost out ofthe sea. "

The skipper took one of the small lamps from the binnacle, and, holdingit aloft, walked boldly up to the cause of alarm. In the little patch oflight we saw a ghastly black-bearded man, dripping with water, regardingus with unwinking eyes, which glowed red in the light of the lamp. 

"Where did you come from?" asked the skipper. 

The figure shook its head. 

"Where did you come from?" he repeated, walking up, and laying his handon the other's shoulder. 

Then the intruder spoke, but in a strange fashion and in strange words. We leaned forward to listen, but, even when he repeated them, we couldmake nothing of them. 

"He's a furriner, " said Roberts. 

"Blest if I've ever 'eard the lingo afore, " said Bill. "Does anybodyrekernize it?"

Nobody did, and the skipper, after another attempt, gave it up, and, falling back upon the universal language of signs, pointed first to theman and then to the sea. The other understood him, and, in a heavy, slovenly fashion, portrayed a man drifting in an open boat, and clutchingand clambering up the side of a passing ship. As his meaning dawned uponus, we rushed to the stern, and, leaning over, peered into the gloom, butthe night was dark, and we saw nothing. 

"Well, " said the skipper, turning to Bill, with a mighty yawn, "take himbelow, and give him some grub, and the next time a gentleman calls onyou, don't make such a confounded row about it. "

He went below, followed by the mate, and after some slight hesitation, Roberts stepped up to the intruder, and signed to him to follow. He camestolidly enough, leaving a trail of water on the deck, and, afterchanging into the dry things we gave him, fell to, but without muchappearance of hunger, upon some salt beef and biscuits, regarding usbetween bites with black, lack-lustre eyes. 

"He seems as though he's a-walking in his sleep, " said the cook. 

"He ain't very hungry, " said one of the men; "he seems to mumble hisfood. "

"Hungry!" repeated Bill, who had just left the wheel. "Course he ain'tfamished. He had his tea last night. "

The men stared at him in bewilderment. 

"Don't you see?" said Bill, still in a hoarse whisper; "ain't you everseen them eyes afore? Don't you know what he used to say about dying?It's Jem Dadd come back to us. Jem Dadd got another man's body, as healways said he would. "

"Rot!" said Roberts, trying to speak bravely, but he got up, and, withthe others, huddled together at the end of the fo'c's'le, and stared in abewildered fashion at the sodden face and short, squat figure of ourvisitor. For his part, having finished his meal, he pushed his platefrom him, and, leaning back on the locker, looked at the empty bunks. 

Roberts caught his eye, and, with a nod and a wave of his hand, indicatedthe bunks. The fellow rose from the locker, and, amid a breathlesssilence, climbed into one of them--Jem Dadd's!

He slept in the dead sailor's bed that night, the only man in thefo'c's'le who did sleep properly, and turned out heavily and lumpishly inthe morning for breakfast. 

The skipper had him on deck after the meal, but could make nothing ofhim. To all his questions he replied in the strange tongue of the nightbefore, and, though our fellows had been to many ports, and knew a wordor two of several languages, none of them recognized it. The skippergave it up at last, and, left to himself, he stared about him for sometime, regardless of our interest in his movements, and then, leaningheavily against the side of the ship, stayed there so long that wethought he must have fallen asleep. 

"He's half-dead now!" whispered Roberts. 

"Hush!" said Bill, "mebbe he's been in the water a week or two, and can'tquite make it out. See how he's looking at it now. "

He stayed on deck all day in the sun, but, as night came on, returned tothe warmth of the fo'c's'le. The food we gave him remained untouched, and he took little or no notice of us, though I fancied that he saw thefear we had of him. He slept again in the dead man's bunk, and whenmorning came still lay there. 

Until dinner-time, nobody interfered with him, and then Roberts, pushedforward by the others, approached him with some food. He motioned, itaway with a dirty, bloated hand, and, making signs for water, drank iteagerly. 

For two days he stayed there quietly, the black eyes always open, thestubby fingers always on the move. On the third morning Bill, who hadconquered his fear sufficiently to give him water occasionally, calledsoftly to us. 

"Come and look at him, " said he. "What's the matter with him?"

"He's dying!" said the cook, with a shudder. 

"He can't be going to die yet!" said Bill, blankly. 

As he spoke the man's eyes seemed to get softer and more life-like, andhe looked at us piteously and helplessly. From face to face he gazed inmute inquiry, and then, striking his chest feebly with his fist, utteredtwo words. 

We looked at each other blankly, and he repeated them eagerly, and againtouched his chest. 

"It's his name, " said the cook, and we all repeated them. 

He smiled in an exhausted fashion, and then, rallying his energies, heldup a forefinger; as we stared at this new riddle, he lowered it, and heldup all four fingers, doubled. 

"Come away, " quavered the cook; "he's putting a spell on us. "

We drew back at that, and back farther still, as he repeated the motions. Then Bill's face cleared suddenly, and he stepped towards him. 

"He means his wife and younkers!" he shouted eagerly. "This ain't no JemDadd!"

It was good then to see how our fellows drew round the dying sailor, andstrove to cheer him. Bill, to show he understood the finger business, nodded cheerily, and held his hand at four different heights from thefloor. The last was very low, so low that the man set his lips together, and strove to turn his heavy head from us. 

"Poor devil!" said Bill, "he wants us to tell his wife and childrenwhat's become of him. He must ha' been dying when he come aboard. Whatwas his name, again?"

But the name was not easy to English lips, and we had already forgottenit. 

"Ask him again, " said the cook, "and write it down. Who's got a pen?"

He went to look for one as Bill turned to the sailor to get him to repeatit. Then he turned round again, and eyed us blankly, for, by this time, the owner had himself forgotten it. 

THE FOUR PIGEONS

[Illustration: "The Four Pigeons. "]

The old man took up his mug and shifted along the bench until he was inthe shade of the elms that stood before the _Cauliflower_. The action alsohad the advantage of bringing him opposite the two strangers who wererefreshing themselves after the toils of a long walk in the sun. 

"My hearing ain't wot it used to be, " he said, tremulously. "When youasked me to have a mug o' ale I 'ardly heard you; and if you was to askme to 'ave another, I mightn't hear you at all. "

One of the men nodded. 

"Not over there, " piped the old man. "That's why I come over here, " headded, after a pause. "It 'ud be rude like to take no notice; if you wasto ask me. "

He looked round as the landlord approached, and pushed his mug gently inhis direction. The landlord, obeying a nod from the second stranger, filled it. 

"It puts life into me, " said the old man, raising it to his lips andbowing. "It makes me talk. "

"Time we were moving, Jack, " said the first traveller. The second, assenting to this as an abstract proposition, expressed, however, adetermination to finish his pipe first. 

I heard you saying something about shooting, continued the old man, andthat reminds me of some shooting we 'ad here once in Claybury. We'vealways 'ad a lot o' game in these parts, and if it wasn't for a low, poaching fellow named Bob Pretty--Claybury's disgrace I call 'im--we'd'ave a lot more. 

It happened in this way. Squire Rockett was going abroad to foreignparts for a year, and he let the Hall to a gentleman from London namedSutton. A real gentleman 'e was, open-'anded and free, and just aboutOctober he 'ad a lot of 'is friends come down from London to 'elp 'imkill the pheasants. 

The first day they frightened more than they killed, but they enjoyedtheirselves all right until one gentleman, who 'adn't shot a single thingall day, shot pore Bill Chambers wot was beating with about a dozen more. 

Bill got most of it in the shoulder and a little in the cheek, but therow he see fit to make you'd ha' thought he'd been killed. He laid onthe ground groaning with 'is eyes shut, and everybody thought 'e wasdying till Henery Walker stooped down and asked 'im whether 'e was hurt. 

It took four men to carry Bill 'ome, and he was that particular youwouldn't believe. They 'ad to talk in whispers, and when Peter Gubbinsforgot 'imself and began to whistle he asked him where his 'art was. When they walked fast he said they jolted 'im, and when they walked slow'e asked 'em whether they'd gone to sleep or wot. 

Bill was in bed for nearly a week, but the gentleman was very nice aboutit and said that it was his fault. He was a very pleasant-spokengentleman, and, arter sending Dr. Green to him and saying he'd pay thebill, 'e gave Bill Chambers ten pounds to make up for 'is sufferings. 

Bill 'ad intended to lay up for another week, and the doctor, wot 'adbeen calling twice a day, said he wouldn't be responsible for 'is life ifhe didn't; but the ten pounds was too much for 'im, and one evening, justa week arter the accident, he turned up at this _Cauliflower_ public-'ouseand began to spend 'is money. 

His face was bandaged up, and when 'e come in he walked feeble-like andspoke in a faint sort o' voice. Smith, the landlord, got 'im aeasy-chair and a couple of pillers out o' the parlour, and Bill sat therelike a king, telling us all his sufferings and wot it felt like to beshot. 

I always have said wot a good thing beer is, and it done Bill more goodthan doctor's medicine. When he came in he could 'ardly crawl, and atnine o'clock 'e was out of the easy-chair and dancing on the table aswell as possible. He smashed three mugs and upset about two pints o'beer, but he just put his 'and in his pocket and paid for 'em without aword. 

"There's plenty more where that came from, " he ses, pulling out a handfulo' money. 

Peter Gubbins looked at it, 'ardly able to speak. "It's worth whilebeing shot to 'ave all that money, " he ses, at last. 

"Don't you worry yourself, Peter, " ses Bob Pretty; "there's plenty moreof you as'll be shot afore them gentlemen at the Hall 'as finished. Bill's the fust, but 'e won't be the last--not by a long chalk. "

"They're more careful now, " ses Dicky Weed, the tailor. 

"All right; 'ave it your own way, " ses Bob, nasty-like. "I don't knowmuch about shooting, being on'y a pore labourin' man. All I know is Ishouldn't like to go beating for them. I'm too fond o' my wife andfamily. "

"There won't be no more shot, " ses Sam Jones. 

"We're too careful, " ses Peter Gubbins. 

"Bob Pretty don't know everything, " ses Dicky Weed. 

"I'll bet you what you like there'll be some more of you shot, " ses BobPretty, in a temper. "Now, then. "

"'Ow much'll you bet, Bob, " ses Sam Jones, with a wink at the others. "I can see you winking, Sam Jones, " ses Bob Pretty, "but I'll do morethan bet. The last bet I won is still owing to me. Now, look 'ere; I'llpay you sixpence a week all the time you're beating if you promise togive me arf of wot you get if you're shot. I can't say fairer thanthat. "

"Will you give me sixpence a week, too?" ses Henery Walker, jumping up. 

"I will, " ses Bob; "and anybody else that likes. And wot's more, I'llpay in advance. Fust sixpences now. "

Claybury men 'ave never been backward when there's been money to be madeeasy, and they all wanted to join Bob Pretty's club, as he called it. But fust of all 'e asked for a pen and ink, and then he got Smith, theland-lord, being a scholard, to write out a paper for them to sign. Henery Walker was the fust to write 'is name, and then Sam Jones, PeterGubbins, Ralph Thomson, Jem Hall, and Walter Bell wrote theirs. Bobstopped 'em then, and said six 'ud be enough to go on with; and then 'epaid up the sixpences and wished 'em luck. 

Wot they liked a'most as well as the sixpences was the idea o' gettingthe better o' Bob Pretty. As I said afore, he was a poacher, and thatartful that up to that time nobody 'ad ever got the better of 'im. 

They made so much fun of 'im the next night that Bob turned sulky andwent off 'ome, and for two or three nights he 'ardly showed his face; andthe next shoot they 'ad he went off to Wickham and nobody saw 'im allday. 

That very day Henery Walker was shot. Several gentlemen fired at arabbit that was started, and the next thing they knew Henery Walker waslying on the ground calling out that 'is leg 'ad been shot off. 

He made more fuss than Bill Chambers a'most, 'specially when they dropped'im off a hurdle carrying him 'ome, and the things he said to Dr. Greenfor rubbing his 'ands as he came into the bedroom was disgraceful. 

The fust Bob Pretty 'eard of it was up at the _Cauliflower_ at eighto'clock that evening, and he set down 'is beer and set off to see Heneryas fast as 'is legs could carry 'im. Henery was asleep when 'e gotthere, and, do all he could, Bob Pretty couldn't wake 'im till he satdown gentle on 'is bad leg. 

[Illustration: "The fust Bob Pretty 'eard of it was up at the_Cauliflower_ at eight o'clock that evening. "]

"It's on'y me, old pal, " he ses, smiling at 'im as Henery woke up andshouted at 'im to get up. 

Henery Walker was going to say something bad, but 'e thought better ofit, and he lay there arf busting with rage, and watching Bob out of thecorner of one eye. 

"I quite forgot you was on my club till Smith reminded me of it, " sesBob. "Don't you take a farthing less than ten pounds, Henery. "

Henery Walker shut his eyes again. "I forgot to tell you I made up mymind this morning not to belong to your club any more, Bob, " he ses. 

"Why didn't you come and tell me, Henery, instead of leaving it till itwas too late?" ses Bob, shaking his 'ead at 'im. 

"I shall want all that money, " ses Henery in a weak voice. "I might 'aveto have a wooden leg, Bob. "

"Don't meet troubles arf way, Henery, " ses Bob, in a kind voice. "I'veno doubt Mr. Sutton'll throw in a wooden leg if you want it, and lookhere, if he does, I won't trouble you for my arf of it. "

He said good-night to Henery and went off, and when Mrs. Walker went upto see 'ow Henery was getting on he was carrying on that alarming thatshe couldn't do nothing with 'im. 

He was laid up for over a week, though it's my opinion he wasn't muchhurt, and the trouble was that nobody knew which gentleman 'ad shot 'im. Mr. Sutton talked it over with them, and at last, arter a good deal o'trouble, and Henery pulling up 'is trousers and showing them 'is leg tillthey was fair sick of the sight of it, they paid 'im ten pounds, the sameas they 'ad Bill. 

It took Bob Pretty two days to get his arf, but he kept very quiet aboutit, not wishing to make a fuss in the village for fear Mr. Sutton shouldget to hear of the club. At last he told Henery Walker that 'e was goingto Wickham to see 'is lawyer about it, and arter Smith the landlord 'adread the paper to Henery and explained 'ow he'd very likely 'ave to paymore than the whole ten pounds then, 'e gave Bob his arf and said henever wanted to see 'im again as long as he lived. 

Bob stood treat up at the _Cauliflower_ that night, and said 'ow bad he'dbeen treated. The tears stood in 'is eyes a'most, and at last 'e saidthat if 'e thought there was going to be any more fuss of that kind he'dwind up the club. 

"It's the best thing you can do, " ses Sam Jones; "I'm not going to belongto it any longer, so I give you notice. If so be as I get shot I wantthe money for myself. "

"Me, too, " ses Peter Gubbins; "it 'ud fair break my 'art to give BobPretty five pounds. I'd sooner give it to my wife. "

All the other chaps said the same thing, but Bob pointed out to them thatthey 'ad taken their sixpences on'y the night afore, and they must stayin for the week. He said that was the law. Some of 'em talked aboutgiving 'im 'is sixpences back, but Bob said if they did they must pay upall the sixpences they had 'ad for three weeks. The end of it was theysaid they'd stay in for that week and not a moment longer. 

The next day Sam Jones and Peter Gubbins altered their minds. Sam founda couple o' shillings that his wife 'ad hidden in her Sunday bonnet, andPeter Gubbins opened 'is boy's money-box to see 'ow much there was in it. They came up to the _Cauliflower_ to pay Bob their eighteen-pences, but hewasn't there, and when they went to his 'ouse Mrs. Pretty said as 'owhe'd gone off to Wickham and wouldn't be back till Saturday. So they 'adto spend the money on beer instead. 

That was on Tuesday, and things went on all right till Friday, when Mr. Sutton 'ad another shoot. The birds was getting scarce and the gentlementhat anxious to shoot them there was no 'olding them. Once or twice thekeepers spoke to 'em about carefulness, and said wot large familiesthey'd got, but it wasn't much good. They went on blazing away, and justat the corner of the wood Sam Jones and Peter Gubbins was both hit; Samin the leg and Peter in the arm. 

The noise that was made was awful--everybody shouting that they 'adn'tdone it, and all speaking at once, and Mr. Sutton was dancing abouta'most beside 'imself with rage. Pore Sam and Peter was 'elped along bythe others; Sam being carried and Peter led, and both of 'em with theidea of getting all they could out of it, making such 'orrible noisesthat Mr. Sutton couldn't hear 'imself calling his friends names. 

"There seems to be wounded men calling out all over the place, " he ses, in a temper. 

"I think there is another one over there, sir, " ses one o' the keepers, pointing. 

Sam Jones and Peter Gubbins both left off to listen, and then they allheard it distinctly. A dreadful noise it was, and when Mr. Sutton andone or two more follered it up they found poor Walter Bell lying on 'isface in a bramble. 

"Wot's the matter?" ses Mr. Sutton, shouting at 'im. 

"I've been shot from behind, " ses Walter. "I'd got something in my boot, and I was just stooping down to fasten it up agin when I got it. 

"But there oughtn't to be anybody 'ere, " ses Mr. Sutton to one of thekeepers. 

"They get all over the place, sir, " ses the 'keeper, scratching his 'ead. "I fancied I 'eard a gun go off here a minute or two arter the others wasshot. "

"I believe he's done it 'imself, " says Mr. Sutton, stamping his foot. 

"I don't see 'ow he could, sir, " ses the keeper, touching his cap andlooking at Walter as was still lying with 'is face on 'is arms. 

They carried Walter 'ome that way on a hurdle, and Dr. Green spent allthe rest o' that day picking shots out o' them three men and telling 'emto keep still. He 'ad to do Sam Jones by candle-light, with Mrs. Jones'olding the candle with one hand and crying with the other. Twice thedoctor told her to keep it steady, and poor Sam 'ad only just passed theremark, "How 'ot it was for October, " when they discovered that the bedwas on fire. The doctor said that Sam was no trouble. He got off of thebed by 'imself, and, when it was all over and the fire put out, thedoctor found him sitting on the stairs with the leg of a broken chair in'is hand calling for 'is wife. 

Of course, there was a terrible to-do about it in Claybury, and up at theHall, too. All of the gentlemen said as 'ow they hadn't done it, and Mr. Sutton was arf crazy with rage. He said that they 'ad made 'im thelaughing-stock of the neighbourhood, and that they oughtn't to shoot withanything but pop-guns. They got to such high words over it that two ofthe gentlemen went off 'ome that very night. 

There was a lot of talk up at the _Cauliflower, _ too, and more than onepointed out 'ow lucky Bob Pretty was in getting four men out of the sixin his club. As I said afore, Bob was away at the time, but he came backthe next night and we 'ad the biggest row here you could wish for to see. 

Henery Walker began it. "I s'pose you've 'eard the dreadful news, BobPretty?" he ses, looking at 'im. 

"I 'ave, " ses Bob; "and my 'art bled for 'em. I told you wot thosegentlemen was like, didn't I? But none of you would believe me. Now youcan see as I was right. "

"It's very strange, " ses Henery Walker, looking round; "it's very strangethat all of us wot's been shot belonged to Bob Pretty's precious club. "

"It's my luck, Henery, " ses Bob, "always was lucky from a child. "

"And I s'pose you think you're going to 'ave arf of the money they get?"ses Henery Walker. 

"Don't talk about money while them pore chaps is suffering, " ses Bob. "I'm surprised at you, Henery. "

"You won't 'ave a farthing of it, " ses Henery Walker; "and wot's more, Bob Pretty, I'm going to 'ave my five pounds back. "

"Don't you believe it, Henery, " ses Bob, smiling at 'im. 

"I'm going to 'ave my five pounds back, " ses Henery, "and you know why. I know wot your club was for now, and we was all a pack o' silly foolsnot to see it afore. "

"Speak for yourself, Henery, " ses John Biggs, who thought Henery waslooking at 'im. 

"I've been putting two and two together, " ses Henery, looking round, "andit's as plain as the nose on your face. Bob Pretty hid up in the woodand shot us all himself!"

For a moment you might 'ave heard a pin drop, and then there was such anoise nobody could hear theirselves speak. Everybody was shouting his'ardest, and the on'y quiet one there was Bob Pretty 'imself. 

"Poor Henery; he's gorn mad, " he ses, shaking his 'ead. 

"You're a murderer, " ses Ralph Thomson, shaking 'is fist at him. 

"Henery Walker's gorn mad, " ses Bob agin. "Why, I ain't been near theplace. There's a dozen men'll swear that I was at Wickham each timethese misfortunate accidents 'appened. "

"Men like you, they'd swear anything for a pot o' beer, " ses Henery. "But I'm not going to waste time talking to you, Bob Pretty. I'm goingstraight off to tell Mr. Sutton. "

"I shouldn't do that if I was you, Henery, " ses Bob. 

"I dessay, " ses Henery Walker; "but then you see I am. "

"I thought you'd gorn mad, Henery, " ses Bob, taking a drink o' beer thatsomebody 'ad left on the table by mistake, "and now I'm sure of it. Why, if you tell Mr. Sutton that it wasn't his friends that shot them porefellers he won't pay them anything. 'Tain't likely 'e would, is it?"

Henery Walker, wot 'ad been standing up looking fierce at 'im, sat downagin, struck all of a heap. 

"And he might want your ten pounds back, Henery, " said Bob in a softvoice. "And seeing as 'ow you was kind enough to give five to me, andspent most of the other, it 'ud come 'ard on you, wouldn't it? Alwaysthink afore you speak, Henery. I always do. "

Henery Walker got up and tried to speak, but 'e couldn't, and he didn'tget 'is breath back till Bob said it was plain to see that he 'adn't gota word to say for 'imself. Then he shook 'is fist at Bob and called 'ima low, thieving, poaching murderer. 

"You're not yourself, Henery, " ses Bob. "When you come round you'll besorry for trying to take away the character of a pore labourin' man witha ailing wife and a large family. But if you take my advice you won'tsay anything more about your wicked ideas; if you do, these pore fellerswon't get a farthing. And you'd better keep quiet about the club matesfor their sakes. Other people might get the same crazy ideas in theirsilly 'eads as Henery. Keepers especially. "

That was on'y common sense; but, as John Biggs said, it did seem 'ard tothink as 'ow Bob Pretty should be allowed to get off scot-free, and withHenery Walker's five pounds too. "There's one thing, " he ses to Bob;"you won't 'ave any of these other pore chaps money; and, if they're men, they ought to make it up to Henery Walker for the money he 'as saved 'emby finding you out. "

"They've got to pay me fust, " ses Bob. "I'm a pore man, but I'll stickup for my rights. As for me shooting 'em, they'd ha' been 'urt a gooddeal more if I'd done it--especially Mr. Henery Walker. Why, they'rehardly 'urt at all. "

"Don't answer 'im, Henery, " ses John Biggs. "You save your breath to goand tell Sam Jones and the others about it. It'll cheer 'em up. "

"And tell 'em about my arf, in case they get too cheerful and gooverdoing it, " ses Bob Pretty, stopping at the door. "Good-night all. "

Nobody answered 'im; and arter waiting a little bit Henery Walker set offto see Sam Jones and the others. John Biggs was quite right about itsmaking 'em cheerful, but they see as plain as Bob 'imself that it 'ad gotto be kept quiet. "Till we've spent the money, at any rate, " ses WalterBell; "then p'r'aps Mr. Sutton might get Bob locked up for it. "

Mr. Sutton went down to see 'em all a day or two afterwards. Theshooting-party was broken up and gone 'ome, but they left some moneybehind 'em. Ten pounds each they was to 'ave, same as the others, butMr. Sutton said that he 'ad heard 'ow the other money was wasted at the_Cauliflower, _ and 'e was going to give it out to 'em ten shillings aweek until the money was gorn. He 'ad to say it over and over agin aforethey understood 'im, and Walter Bell 'ad to stuff the bedclo'es in 'ismouth to keep civil. 

Peter Gubbins, with 'is arm tied up in a sling, was the fust one to turnup at the _Cauliflower, _ and he was that down-'arted about it we couldn'tdo nothing with 'im. He 'ad expected to be able to pull out ten goldensovereigns, and the disapp'intment was too much for 'im. 

"I wonder 'ow they heard about it, " ses Dicky Weed. 

"I can tell you, " ses Bob Pretty, wot 'ad been sitting up in a corner byhimself, nodding and smiling at Peter, wot wouldn't look at 'im. "Afriend o' mine at Wickham wrote to him about it. He was so disgusted atthe way Bill Chambers and Henery Walker come up 'ere wasting their'ard-earned money, that he sent 'im a letter, signed 'A Friend of theWorking Man, ' telling 'im about it and advising 'im what to do. "

"A friend o' yours?" ses John Biggs, staring at 'im. "What for?"

"I don't know, " ses Bob; "he's a wunnerful good scholard, and he likeswritin' letters. He's going to write another to-morrer, unless I go overand stop 'im. "

"Another?" ses Peter, who 'ad been tellin' everybody that 'e wouldn'tspeak to 'im agin as long as he lived. "Wot about?"

"About the idea that I shot you all, " ses Bob. "I want my charactercleared. O' course, they can't prove anything against me--I've got mywitnesses. But, taking one thing with another, I see now that it doeslook suspicious, and I don't suppose any of you'll get any more of yourmoney. Mr. Sutton is so sick o' being laughed at, he'll jump atanything. "

"You dursn't do it, Bob, " ses Peter, all of a tremble. 

"It ain't me, Peter, old pal, " ses Bob, "it's my friend. But I don'tmind stopping 'im for the sake of old times if I get my arf. He'd listento me, I feel sure. "

At fust Peter said he wouldn't get a farthing out of 'im if his friendwrote letters till Dooms-day; but by-and-by he thought better of it, andasked Bob to stay there while he went down to see Sam and Walter aboutit. When 'e came back he'd got the fust week's money for Bob Pretty; buthe said he left Walter Bell carrying on like a madman, and, as for SamJones, he was that upset 'e didn't believe he'd last out the night. 

THE TEMPTATION OF SAMUEL BURGE

[Illustration: "The Temptation of Samuel Burge. "]

Mr. Higgs, jeweller, sat in the small parlour behind his shop, gazinghungrily at a supper-table which had been laid some time before. It wasa quarter to ten by the small town clock on the mantelpiece, and thejeweller rubbing his hands over the fire tried in vain to remember whatetiquette had to say about starting a meal before the arrival of anexpected guest. 

"He must be coming by the last train after all, sir, " said thehousekeeper entering the room and glancing at the clock. "I supposethese London gentlemen keep such late hours they don't understand uscountry folk wanting to get to bed in decent time. You must be wantingyour supper, sir. "

Mr. Higgs sighed. "I shall be glad of my supper, " he said slowly, "but Idare say our friend is hungrier still. Travelling is hungry work. "

"Perhaps he is thinking over his words for the seventh day, " said thehousekeeper solemnly. "Forgetting hunger and thirst and all our poorearthly feelings in the blessedness of his work. "

"Perhaps so, " assented the other, whose own earthly feelings wereparticularly strong just at that moment. 

"Brother Simpson used to forget all about meal-times when he stayedhere, " said the housekeeper, clasping her hands. "He used to sit by thewindow with his eyes half-closed and shake his head at the smell from thekitchen and call it flesh-pots of Egypt. He said that if it wasn't forkeeping up his strength for the work, luscious bread and fair water wasall he wanted. I expect Brother Burge will be a similar sort of man. "

"Brother Clark wrote and told me that he only lives for the work, " saidthe jeweller, with another glance at the clock. "The chapel atClerkenwell is crowded to hear him. It's a blessed favour and privilegeto have such a selected instrument staying in the house. I'm curious tosee him; from what Brother Clark said I rather fancy that he was a littlebit wild in his younger days. "

"Hallelujah!" exclaimed the housekeeper with fervour. "I mean to thinkas he's seen the error of his ways, " she added sharply, as her masterlooked up. 

"There he is, " said the latter, as the bell rang. 

The housekeeper went to the side-door, and drawing back the bolt admittedthe gentleman whose preaching had done so much for the small but selectsect known as the Seventh Day Primitive Apostles. She came back into theroom followed by a tall stout man, whose upper lip and short stubby beardstreaked with grey seemed a poor match for the beady eyes which lurkedbehind a pair of clumsy spectacles. 

"Brother Samuel Burge?" inquired the jeweller, rising. 

The visitor nodded, and regarding him with a smile charged with fraternallove, took his hand in a huge grip and shook it fervently. 

"I am glad to see you, Brother Higgs, " he said, regarding him fondly. "Oh, 'ow my eyes have yearned to be set upon you! Oh, 'ow my ears 'avelonged to hearken unto the words of your voice!"

He breathed thickly, and taking a seat sat with his hands upon his knees, looking at a fine piece of cold beef which the housekeeper had justplaced upon the table. 

"Is Brother Clark well?" inquired the jeweller, placing a chair for himat the table and taking up his carving-knife. 

"Dear Brother Clark is in excellent 'ealth, I thank you, " said the other, taking the proffered chair. "Oh! what a man he is; what a instrument forgood. Always stretching out them blessed hands of 'is to make one of thefallen a Seventh Day Primitive. "

"And success attends his efforts?" said the jeweller. 

"Success, Brother!" repeated Mr. Burge, eating rapidly and gesticulatingwith his knife. "Success ain't no name for it. Why, since this day lastweek he has saved three pick-pockets, two Salvationists, one bigamist anda Roman Catholic. "

Brother Higgs murmured his admiration. "You are also a power for good, "he said wistfully. "Brother Clark tells me in his letter that yourexhortations have been abundantly blessed. "

Mr. Burge shook his head. "A lot of it falls by the wayside, " he saidmodestly, "but some of it is an eye-opener to them as don't entirely shuttheir ears. Only the day before yesterday I 'ad two jemmies and a darklantern sent me with a letter saying as 'ow the owner had no further usefor 'em. "

The jeweller's eyes glistened with admiration not quite untinged withenvy. "Have you expounded the Word for long?" he inquired. 

"Six months, " replied the other. "It come to me quite natural--I was onthe penitent bench on the Saturday, and the Wednesday afterwards Ipreached as good a sermon as ever I've preached in my life. BrotherClark said it took 'is breath away. "

"And he's a judge too, " said the admiring jeweller. 

"Now, " continued Brother Burge, helping himself plentifully to pickledwalnuts. "Now there ain't standing room in our Bethel when I'mexpounding. People come to hear me from all parts--old and young--richand poor--and the Apostles that don't come early 'ave to stand outsideand catch the crumbs I throw 'em through the winders. "

"It is enough, " sighed Brother Higgs, whose own audience was frequentlycontent to be on the wrong side of the window, "it is enough to make aman vain. "

"I struggle against it, Brother, " said Mr. Burge, passing his cup up forsome more tea. "I fight against it hard, but once the Evil One wasalmost too much for me; and in spite of myself, and knowing besides thatit was a plot of 'is, I nearly felt uplifted. "

Brother Higgs, passing him some more beef, pressed for details. 

"He sent me two policemen, " replied the other, scowling darkly at themeanness of the trick. "One I might 'ave stood, but two come to beingpretty near too much for me. They sat under me while I gave 'em the Word'ot and strong, and the feeling I had standing up there and tellingpolicemen what they ought to do I shall never forget. "

"But why should policemen make you proud?" asked his puzzled listener. 

Mr. Burge looked puzzled in his turn. "Why, hasn't Brother Clark toldyou about me?" he inquired. 

Mr. Higgs shook his head. "He sort of--suggested that--that you had beena little bit wild before you came to us, " he murmured apologetically. 

"A--little--bit--wild?" repeated Brother Burge, in horrified accents. "ME? a little bit wild?"

"No doubt he exaggerated a little, " said the jeweller hurriedly. "Beingsuch a good man himself, no doubt things would seem wild to him thatwouldn't to us--to me, I mean. "

"A little bit wild, " said his visitor again. "Sam Burge, the ConvertedBurglar, a little bit wild. Well, well!"

"Converted what?" shouted the jeweller, half-rising from his chair. 

"Burglar, " said the other shortly. "Why, I should think I know moreabout the inside o' gaols than anybody in England; I've pretty nearkilled three policemen, besides breaking a gent's leg and throwing afootman out of window, and then Brother Clark goes and says I've been alittle bit wild. I wonder what he would 'ave?"

"But you--you've quite reformed now?" said the jeweller, resuming hisseat and making a great effort to hide his consternation. 

"I 'ope so, " said Mr. Burge, with alarming humility; "but it's anuncertain world, and far be it from me to boast. That's why I've comehere. "

Mr. Higgs, only half-comprehending, sat back gasping. 

"If I can stand this, " pursued Brother Burge, gesticulating wildly in thedirection of the shop, "if I can stand being here with all these 'erepretty little things to be 'ad for the trouble of picking of 'em up, Ican stand anything. Tempt me, I says to Brother Clark. Put me in theway o' temptation, I says. Let me see whether the Evil One or me is thestrongest; let me 'ave a good old up and down with the Powers o'Darkness, and see who wins. "

Mr. Higgs, gripping the edge of the table with both hands, gazed at thisnew Michael in speechless consternation. 

"I think I see his face now, " said Brother Burge, with tender enthusiasm. "All in a glow it was, and he patted me on the shoulder and says, 'I'llsend you on a week's mission to Duncombe, ' he says, and 'you shall stopwith Brother Higgs who 'as a shop full o' cunning wrought vanities insilver and gold. '"

"But suppose, " said the jeweller, finding his voice by a great effort, "suppose victory is not given unto you. "

"It won't make any difference, " replied his visitor. "Brother Clarkpromised that it shouldn't. 'If you fall, Brother, ' he says, 'we'll helpyou up again. When you are tired of sin come back to us--there's alwaysa welcome. '"

"But--" began the dismayed jeweller. 

"We can only do our best, " said Brother Burge, "the rest we must leave. I 'ave girded my loins for the fray, and taken much spiritual sustenanceon the way down from this little hymn-book. "

Mr. Higgs paid no heed. He sat marvelling over the fatuousness ofBrother Clark and trying to think of ways and means out of the dilemmainto which that gentleman's perverted enthusiasm had placed him. Hewondered whether it would be possible to induce Brother Burge to sleepelsewhere by offering to bear his hotel expenses, and at last, after somehesitation, broached the subject. 

"What!" exclaimed the other, pushing his plate from him and regarding himwith great severity. "Go and sleep at a hotel? After Brother Clark hasbeen and took all this trouble? Why, I wouldn't think of doing such athing. "

"Brother Clark has no right to expose you to such a trial, " said Mr. Higgs with great warmth. 

"I wonder what he'd say if he 'eard you, " remarked Mr. Burge sternly. "After his going and making all these arrangements, for you to try and goand upset 'em. To ask me to shun the fight like a coward; to ask me togo and hide in the rear-ranks in a hotel with everything locked up, or aCoffer Pallis with nothing to steal. "

"I should sleep far more comfortably if I knew that you were notundergoing this tremendous strain, " said the unhappy Mr. Higgs, "andbesides that, if you did give way, it would be a serious business for me--that's what I want you to look at. I am afraid that if--if unhappilyyou did fall, I couldn't prevent you. "

"I'm sure you couldn't, " said the other cordially. "That's the beauty ofit; that's when the Evil One's whispers get louder and louder. Why, Icould choke you between my finger and thumb. If unfortunately my fallennature should be too strong for me, don't interfere whatever you do. Imightn't be myself. "

Mr. Higgs rose and faced him gasping. 

"Not even--call for--the police--I suppose, " he jerked out. 

"That would be interfering, " said Brother Burge coldly. 

The jeweller tried to think. It was past eleven. The housekeeper hadgone to spend the night with an ailing sister, and a furtive glance atBrother Burge's small shifty eyes and fat unwholesome face was sufficientto deter him from leaving him alone with his property, while he went toask the police to give an eye to his house for the night. Besides, itwas more than probable that Mr. Burge would decline to allow such aproceeding. With a growing sense of his peril he resolved to tryflattery. 

"It was a great thing for the Brethren to secure a man like you, " hesaid. 

"I never thought they'd ha' done it, " said Mr. Burge frankly. "I've 'adall sorts trying to convert me; crying over me and praying over me. Iremember the first dear good man that called me a lorst lamb. He didn'tsay anything else for a month. "

"So upset, " hazarded the jeweller. 

"I broke his jor, pore feller, " said Brother Burge, a sad but withalindulgent smile lighting up his face at the vagaries of his formercareer. "What time do you go to bed, Brother?"

"Any time, " said the other reluctantly. "I suppose you are tired withyour journey?"

Mr. Burge assented, and rising from his chair yawned loudly and stretchedhimself. In the small room with his huge arms raised he looked colossal. 

"I suppose, " said the jeweller, still seeking to re-assure himself, "Isuppose dear Brother Clark felt pretty certain of you, else he wouldn'thave sent you here?"

"Brother Clark said 'What is a jeweller's shop compared with a 'umansoul, a priceless 'uman soul?'" replied Mr. Burge. "What is a fewgew-gaws to decorate them that perish, and make them vain, when you cometo consider the opportunity of such a trial, and the good it'll do andthe draw it'll be--if I do win--and testify to the congregation to thateffect? Why, there's sermons for a lifetime in it. "

"So there is, " said the jeweller, trying to look cheerful. "You've got agood face, Brother Burge, and you'll do a lot of good by your preaching. There is honesty written in every feature. "

Mr. Burge turned and surveyed himself in the small pier-glass. "Yes, " hesaid, somewhat discontentedly, "I don't look enough like a burglar tosuit some of 'em. "

"Some people are hard to please, " said the other warmly. 

Mr. Burge started and eyed him thoughtfully, and then as Mr. Higgs aftersome hesitation walked into the shop to turn the gas out, stood in thedoorway watching him. A smothered sigh as he glanced round the shop borewitness to the state of his feelings. 

The jeweller hesitated again in the parlour, and then handing BrotherBurge his candle turned out the gas, and led the way slowly upstairs tothe room which had been prepared for the honoured visitor. He shookhands at the door and bade him an effusive good-night, his voicetrembling despite himself as he expressed a hope that Mr. Burge wouldsleep well. He added casually that he himself was a very light sleeper. 

To-night sleep of any kind was impossible. He had given up the frontroom to his guest, and his own window looked out on an over-grown garden. He sat trying to read, with his ears alert for the slightest sound. Brother Burge seemed to be a long time undressing. For half an hourafter he had retired he could hear him moving restlessly about his room. 

Twelve o'clock struck from the tower of the parish church, and wasfollowed almost directly by the tall clock standing in the halldown-stairs. Scarcely had the sounds died away than a low moaning fromthe next room caused the affrighted jeweller to start from his chair andplace his ear against the wall. Two or three hollow groans came throughthe plaster, followed by ejaculations which showed clearly that BrotherBurge was at that moment engaged in a terrified combat with the Powersof Darkness to decide whether he should, or should not, rifle his host'sshop. His hands clenched and his ear pressed close to the wall, thejeweller listened to a monologue which increased in interest with everyword. 

"I tell you I won't, " said the voice in the next room with a groan, "Iwon't. Get thee behind me--Get thee--No, and don't shove me over to thedoor; if you can't get behind me without doing that, stay where you are. Yes, I know it's a fortune as well as what you do; but it ain't mine. "

The listener caught his breath painfully. 

"Diamond rings, " continued Brother Burge in a suffocating voice. "Stopit, I tell you. No, I won't just go and look at 'em. "

A series of groans which the jeweller noticed to his horror got weakerand weaker testified to the greatness of the temptation. He heardBrother Burge rise, and then a succession of panting snarls seemed toindicate a fierce bodily encounter. 

"I don't--want to look at 'em, " said Brother Burge in an exhausted voice. "What's--the good of--looking at 'em? It's like you, you know diamondsare my weakness. What does it matter if he is asleep? What's my knifegot to do with you?"

Brother Higgs reeled back and a mist passed before his eyes. He came tohimself at the sound of a door opening, and impelled with a vague idea ofdefending his property, snatched up his candle and looked out on to thelanding. 

The light fell on Brother Burge, fully dressed and holding his boots inhis hand. For a moment they gazed at each other in silence; then thejeweller found his voice. 

"I thought you were ill, Brother, " he faltered. 

An ugly scowl lit up the other's features. "Don't you tell me any ofyour lies, " he said fiercely. "You're watching me; that's what you'redoing. Spying on me. "

"I thought that you were being tempted, " confessed the trembling Mr. Higgs. 

An expression of satisfaction which he strove to suppress appeared on Mr. Burge's face. 

"So I was, " he said sternly. "So I was; but that's my business. I don'twant your assistance; I can fight my own battles. You go to bed--I'mgoing to tell the congregation I won the fight single-'anded. "

"So you have, Brother, " said the other eagerly; "but it's doing me goodto see it. It's a lesson to me; a lesson to all of us the way youwrestled. "

"I thought you was asleep, " growled Brother Burge, turning back to hisroom and speaking over his shoulder. "You get back to bed; the fightain't half over yet. Get back to bed and keep quiet. "

The door closed behind him, and Mr. Higgs, still trembling, regained hisroom and looked in agony at the clock. It was only half-past twelve andthe sun did not rise until six. He sat and shivered until a secondinstalment of groans in the next room brought him in desperation to hisfeet. 

Brother Burge was in the toils again, and the jeweller despite his fearscould not help realizing what a sensation the story of his temptationwould create. Brother Burge was now going round and round his room likean animal in a cage, and sounds as of a soul wrought almost beyondendurance smote upon the listener's quivering ear. Then there was a longsilence more alarming even than the noise of the conflict. Had BrotherBurge won, and was he now sleeping the sleep of the righteous, or----Mr. Higgs shivered and put his other ear to the wall. Then he heard hisguest move stealthily across the floor; the boards creaked and the handleof the door turned. 

Mr. Higgs started, and with a sudden flash of courage born of anger anddesperation seized a small brass poker from the fire-place, and takingthe candle in his other hand went out on to the landing again. BrotherBurge was closing his door softly, and his face when he turned it uponthe jeweller was terrible in its wrath. His small eyes snapped withfury, and his huge hands opened and shut convulsively. 

"What, agin!" he said in a low growl. "After all I told you!"

Mr. Higgs backed slowly as he advanced. 

"No noise, " said Mr. Burge in a dreadful whisper. "One scream and I'll--What were you going to do with that poker?"

He took a stealthy step forward. 

"I--I, " began the jeweller. His voice failed him. "Burglars, " hemouthed, "downstairs. "

"What?" said the other, pausing. 

Mr. Higgs threw truth to the winds. "I heard them in the shop, " he said, recovering, "that's why I took up the poker. Can't you hear them?"

Mr. Burge listened for the fraction of a second. "Nonsense, " he saidhuskily. 

"I heard them talking, " said the other recklessly. "Let's go down andcall the police. "

"Call 'em from the winder, " said Brother Burge, backing with some haste, "they might 'ave pistols or something, and they're ugly customers whenthey're disturbed. "

He stood with strained face listening. 

"Here they come, " whispered the jeweller with a sudden movement of alarm. 

Brother Burge turned, and bolting into his room clapped the door to andlocked it. The jeweller stood dumbfounded on the landing; then he heardthe window go up and the voice of Brother Burge, much strengthened by thereligious exercises of the past six months, bellowing lustily for thepolice. 

For a few seconds Mr. Higgs stood listening and wondering whatexplanation he should give. Still thinking, he ran downstairs, and, throwing open the pantry window, unlocked the door leading into the shopand scattered a few of his cherished possessions about the floor. By thetime he had done this, people were already beating upon the street-doorand exchanging hurried remarks with Mr. Burge at the window above. Thejeweller shot back the bolts, and half-a-dozen neighbours, headed by thebutcher opposite, clad in his nightgown and armed with a cleaver, burstinto the passage. A constable came running up just as the pallid face ofBrother Burge peered over the balusters. The constable went upstairsthree at a time, and twisting his hand in the ex-burglar's neck-clothbore him backwards. 

"I've got one, " he shouted. "Come up and hold him while I look round. "

The butcher was beside him in a moment; Brother Burge struggling wildly, called loudly upon the name of Brother Higgs. 

"That's all right, constable, " said the latter, "that's a friend ofmine. "

"Friend o' yours, sir?" said the disappointed officer, still holding him. 

The jeweller nodded. "Mr. Samuel Burge the Converted Burglar, " he saidmechanically. 

"Conver----" gasped the astonished constable. "Converted burglar?Here!"

"He is a preacher now, " added Mr. Higgs. 

"Preacher?" retorted the constable. "Why it's as plain as a pikestaff. Confederates: his part was to go down and let 'em in. "

Mr. Burge raised a piteous outcry. "I hope you may be forgiven for themwords, " he cried piously. 

"What time did you go up to bed?" pursued the constable. 

"About half-past eleven, " replied Mr. Higgs. 

The other grunted with satisfaction. "And he's fully dressed, with hisboots off, " he remarked. "Did you hear him go out of his room at all?"

"He did go out, " said the jeweller truth-fully, "but----"

"I thought so, " said the constable, turning to his prisoner withaffectionate solicitude. "Now you come along o' me. Come quietly, because it'll be the best for you in the end. "

"You won't get your skull split open then, " added the butcher, toyingwith his cleaver. 

The jeweller hesitated. He had no desire to be left alone with Mr. Burgeagain; and a sense of humour, which many years' association with thePrimitive Apostles had not quite eradicated, strove for hearing. 

"Think of the sermon it'll make, " he said encouragingly to the franticMr. Burge, "think of the congregation!"

Brother Burge replied in language which he had not used in public sincehe had joined the Apostles. The butcher and another man stood guard overhim while the constable searched the premises and made all secure again. Then with a final appeal to Mr. Higgs who was keeping in the background, he was pitched to the police-station by the energetic constable and fivezealous assistants. 

A diffidence, natural in the circumstances, prevented him from narratingthe story of his temptation to the magistrates next morning, and Mr. Higgs was equally reticent. He was put back while the policecommunicated with London, and in the meantime Brother Clark and a bandof Apostles flanked down to his support. 

On his second appearance before the magistrates he was confronted withhis past; and his past to the great astonishment of the Brethren beingfree from all blemish with the solitary exception of fourteen days forstealing milk-cans, he was discharged with a caution. The disillusionedPrimitive Apostles also gave him his freedom. 

THE MADNESS OF MR. LISTER

[Illustration: "The Madness of Mr. Lister. "]

Old Jem Lister, of the _Susannah, _ was possessed of two devils--the loveof strong drink and avarice--and the only thing the twain had in commonwas to get a drink without paying for it. When Mr. Lister paid for adrink, the demon of avarice masquerading as conscience preached ateetotal lecture, and when he showed signs of profiting by it, the demonof drink would send him hanging round public-house doors cadging fordrinks in a way which his shipmates regarded as a slur upon the entireship's company. Many a healthy thirst reared on salt beef and tickledwith strong tobacco had been spoiled by the sight of Mr. Lister standingby the entrance, with a propitiatory smile, waiting to be invited in toshare it, and on one occasion they had even seen him (him, Jem Lister, A. B. ) holding a horse's head, with ulterior motives. 

It was pointed out to Mr. Lister at last that his conduct was reflectingdiscredit upon men who were fully able to look after themselves in thatdirection, without having any additional burden thrust upon them. BillHenshaw was the spokesman, and on the score of violence (miscalledfirmness) his remarks left little to be desired. On the score ofprofanity, Bill might recall with pride that in the opinion of hisfellows he had left nothing unsaid. 

"You ought to ha' been a member o' Parliament, Bill, " said Harry Lea, when he had finished. 

"It wants money, " said Henshaw, shaking his head. 

Mr. Lister laughed, a senile laugh, but not lacking in venom. 

"That's what we've got to say, " said Henshaw, turning upon him suddenly. "If there's anything I hate in this world, it's a drinking miser. Youknow our opinion, and the best thing you can do is to turn over a newleaf now. "

"Take us all in to the Goat and Compasses, " urged Lea; "bring out some o'those sovrins you've been hoarding. "

Mr. Lister gazed at him with frigid scorn, and finding that theconversation still seemed to centre round his unworthy person, went up ondeck and sat glowering over the insults which had been heaped upon him. His futile wrath when Bill dogged his footsteps ashore next day andrevealed his character to a bibulous individual whom he had almostpersuaded to be a Christian--from his point of view--bordered upon themaudlin, and he wandered back to the ship, wild-eyed and dry of throat. 

For the next two months it was safe to say that every drink he had hepaid for. His eyes got brighter and his complexion clearer, nor washe as pleased as one of the other sex might have been when theself-satisfied Henshaw pointed out these improvements to his companions, and claimed entire responsibility for them. It is probable that Mr. Lister, under these circumstances, might in time have lived down histaste for strong drink, but that at just that time they shipped a newcook. 

He was a big, cadaverous young fellow, who looked too closely after hisown interests to be much of a favourite with the other men forward. Onthe score of thrift, it was soon discovered that he and Mr. Lister hadmuch in common, and the latter, pleased to find a congenial spirit, wasdisposed to make the most of him, and spent, despite the heat, much ofhis spare time in the galley. 

"You keep to it, " said the greybeard impressively; "money was made to betook care of; if you don't spend your money you've always got it. I'vealways been a saving man--what's the result?"

The cook, waiting some time in patience to be told, gently inquired whatit was. 

"'Ere am I, " said Mr. Lister, good-naturedly helping him to cut acabbage, "at the age of sixty-two with a bank-book down below in mychest, with one hundered an' ninety pounds odd in it. "

"One 'undered and ninety pounds!" repeated the cook, with awe. 

"To say nothing of other things, " continued Mr. Lister, with joyfulappreciation of the effect he was producing. "Altogether I've got alittle over four 'undered pounds. "

The cook gasped, and with gentle firmness took the cabbage from him asbeing unfit work for a man of such wealth. 

"It's very nice, " he said, slowly. "It's very nice. You'll be able tolive on it in your old age. "

Mr. Lister shook his head mournfully, and his eyes became humid. 

"There's no old age for me, " he said, sadly; "but you needn't tell them, "and he jerked his thumb towards the forecastle. 

"No, no, " said the cook. 

"I've never been one to talk over my affairs, " said Mr. Lister, in a lowvoice. "I've never yet took fancy enough to anybody so to do. No, mylad, I'm saving up for somebody else. "

"What are you going to live on when you're past work then?" demanded theother. 

Mr. Lister took him gently by the sleeve, and his voice sank with thesolemnity of his subject: "I'm not going to have no old age, " he said, resignedly. 

"Not going to live!" repeated the cook, gazing uneasily at a knife by hisside. "How do you know?"

"I went to a orsepittle in London, " said Mr. Lister. "I've been to twoor three altogether, while the money I've spent on doctors is more than Ilike to think of, and they're all surprised to think that I've lived solong. I'm so chock-full o' complaints, that they tell me I can't livemore than two years, and I might go off at any moment. "

"Well, you've got money, " said the cook, "why don't you knock off worknow and spend the evenin' of your life ashore? Why should you save upfor your relatives?"

"I've got no relatives, " said Mr. Lister; "I'm all alone. I 'spose Ishall leave my money to some nice young feller, and I hope it'll do 'imgood. "

With the dazzling thoughts which flashed through the cook's brain thecabbage dropped violently into the saucepan, and a shower of coolingdrops fell on both men. 

"I 'spose you take medicine?" he said, at length. 

"A little rum, " said Mr. Lister, faintly; "the doctors tell me that it isthe only thing that keeps me up--o' course, the chaps down there "--heindicated the forecastle again with a jerk of his head--"accuse me o'taking too much. "

"What do ye take any notice of 'em for?" inquired the other, indignantly. 

"I 'spose it is foolish, " admitted Mr. Lister; "but I don't like beingmisunderstood. I keep my troubles to myself as a rule, cook. I don'tknow what's made me talk to you like this. I 'eard the other day you waskeeping company with a young woman. "

"Well, I won't say as I ain't, " replied the other, busying himself overthe fire. 

"An' the best thing, too, my lad, " said the old man, warmly. "It keepsyou stiddy, keeps you out of public-'ouses; not as they ain't good inmoderation--I 'ope you'll be 'appy. "

A friendship sprang up between the two men which puzzled the remainderof the crew not a little. 

The cook thanked him, and noticed that Mr. Lister was fidgeting with apiece of paper. 

"A little something I wrote the other day, " said the old man, catchinghis eye. "If I let you see it, will you promise not to tell a soul aboutit, and not to give me no thanks?"

The wondering cook promised, and, the old man being somewhat emphatic onthe subject, backed his promise with a home made affidavit of singularpower and profanity. 

"Here it is, then, " said Mr. Lister. 

The cook took the paper, and as he read the letters danced before him. He blinked his eyes and started again, slowly. In plain black and whiteand nondescript-coloured finger-marks, Mr. Lister, after a generalstatement as to his bodily and mental health, left the whole of hisestate to the cook. The will was properly dated and witnessed, and thecook's voice shook with excitement and emotion as he offered to hand itback. 

"I don't know what I've done for you to do this, " he said. 

Mr. Lister waved it away again. "Keep it, " he said, simply; "whileyou've got it on you, you'll know it's safe. "

From this moment a friendship sprang up between the two men which puzzledthe remainder of the crew not a little. The attitude of the cook was asthat of a son to a father: the benignancy of Mr. Lister beautiful tobehold. It was noticed, too, that he had abandoned the reprehensiblepractice of hanging round tavern doors in favour of going inside anddrinking the cook's health. 

[Illustration: "A friendship sprang up between the two men which puzzledthe remainder of the crew not a little. "]

For about six months the cook, although always in somewhat straitenedcircumstances, was well content with the tacit bargain, and then, bit bybit, the character of Mr. Lister was revealed to him. It was not a nicecharacter, but subtle; and when he made the startling discovery that awill could be rendered invalid by the simple process of making anotherone the next day, he became as a man possessed. When he ascertained thatMr. Lister when at home had free quarters at the house of a marriedniece, he used to sit about alone, and try and think of ways and means ofsecuring capital sunk in a concern which seemed to show no signs of beingwound-up. 

"I've got a touch of the 'art again, lad, " said the elderly invalid, asthey sat alone in the forecastle one night at Seacole. 

"You move about too much, " said the cook. "Why not turn in and rest?"

Mr. Lister, who had not expected this, fidgeted. "I think I'll go ashorea bit and try the air, " he said, suggestively. "I'll just go as far asthe Black Horse and back. You won't have me long now, my lad. "

"No, I know, " said the cook; "that's what's worrying me a bit. ""Don't worry about me, " said the old man, pausing with his hand on theother's shoulder; "I'm not worth it. Don't look so glum, lad. "

"I've got something on my mind, Jem, " said the cook, staring straight infront of him. 

"What is it?" inquired Mr. Lister. 

"You know what you told me about those pains in your inside?" said thecook, without looking at him. 

Jem groaned and felt his side. 

"And what you said about its being a relief to die, " continued the other, "only you was afraid to commit suicide?"

"Well?" said Mr. Lister. 

"It used to worry me, " continued the cook, earnestly. "I used to say tomyself, 'Poor old Jem, ' I ses, 'why should 'e suffer like this when hewants to die? It seemed 'ard. '"

"It is 'ard, " said Mr. Lister, "but what about it?"

The other made no reply, but looking at him for the first time, surveyedhim with a troubled expression. 

"What about it?" repeated Mr. Lister, with some emphasis. 

"You did say you wanted to die, didn't you?" said the cook. "Nowsuppose suppose----"

"Suppose what?" inquired the old man, sharply. "Why don't you say whatyou're agoing to say?"

"Suppose, " said the cook, "some one what liked you, Jem--what liked you, mind--'eard you say this over and over again, an' see you sufferin' and'eard you groanin' and not able to do nothin' for you except lend you afew shillings here and there for medicine, or stand you a few glasses o'rum; suppose they knew a chap in a chemist's shop?"

"Suppose they did?" said the other, turning pale. 

"A chap what knows all about p'isons, " continued the cook, "p'isons whata man can take without knowing it in 'is grub. Would it be wrong, do youthink, if that friend I was speaking about put it in your food to put youout of your misery?"

"Wrong, " said Mr. Lister, with glassy eyes. "Wrong. Look 'ere, cook--"

"I don't mean anything to give him pain, " said the other, waving hishand; "you ain't felt no pain lately, 'ave you, Jem?"

"Do you mean to say, " shouted Mr. Lister. 

"I don't mean to say anything, " said the cook. "Answer my question. Youain't felt no pain lately, 'ave you?"

"Have--you--been--putting--p'ison--in--my--wittles?" demanded Mr. Lister, in trembling accents. 

"If I 'ad, Jem, supposin' that I 'ad, " said the cook, in accents ofreproachful surprise, "do you mean to say that you'd mind?"

"MIND, " said Mr. Lister, with fervour. "I'd 'ave you 'ung!"

"But you said you wanted to die, " said the surprised cook. 

Mr. Lister swore at him with startling vigour. "I'll 'ave you 'ung, " herepeated, wildly. 

"Me, " said the cook, artlessly. "What for?"

"For giving me p'ison, " said Mr. Lister, frantically. "Do you think youcan deceive me by your roundabouts? Do you think I can't see throughyou?"

The other with a sphinx-like smile sat unmoved. "Prove it, " he said, darkly. "But supposin' if anybody 'ad been givin' you p'ison, would youlike to take something to prevent its acting?"

"I'd take gallons of it, " said Mr. Lister, feverishly. 

The other sat pondering, while the old man watched him anxiously. "It'sa pity you don't know your own mind, Jem, " he said, at length; "still, you know your own business best. But it's very expensive stuff. "

"How much?" inquired the other. 

"Well, they won't sell more than two shillings-worth at a time, " said thecook, trying to speak carelessly, "but if you like to let me 'ave themoney, I'll go ashore to the chemist's and get the first lot now. "

Mr. Lister's face was a study in emotions, which the other tried in vainto decipher. 

Then he slowly extracted the amount from his trousers-pocket, and handedit over with-out a word. 

"I'll go at once, " said the cook, with a little feeling, "and I'll nevertake a man at his word again, Jem. "

He ran blithely up on deck, and stepping ashore, spat on the coins forluck and dropped them in his pocket. Down below, Mr. Lister, with hischin in his hand, sat in a state of mind pretty evenly divided betweenrage and fear. 

The cook, who was in no mood for company, missed the rest of the crew bytwo public-houses, and having purchased a baby's teething powder andremoved the label, had a congratulatory drink or two before going onboard again. A chatter of voices from the forecastle warned him that thecrew had returned, but the tongues ceased abruptly as he descended, andthree pairs of eyes surveyed him in grim silence. 

"What's up?" he demanded. 

"Wot 'ave you been doin' to poor old Jem?" demanded Henshaw, sternly. 

"Nothin', " said the other, shortly. 

"You ain't been p'isoning 'im?" demanded Henshaw. 

"Certainly not, " said the cook, emphatically. 

"He ses you told 'im you p'isoned 'im, " said Henshaw, solemnly, "and 'egive you two shillings to get something to cure 'im. It's too late now. "

"What?" stammered the bewildered cook. He looked round anxiously at themen. 

They were all very grave, and the silence became oppressive. "Where is he?" he demanded. 

Henshaw and the others exchanged glances. "He's gone mad, " said he, slowly. 

"Mad?" repeated the horrified cook, and, seeing the aversion of the crew, in a broken voice he narrated the way in which he had been victimized. 

"Well, you've done it now, " said Henshaw, when he had finished. "He'sgone right orf 'is 'ed. "

"Where is he?" inquired the cook. 

"Where you can't follow him, " said the other, slowly. 

"Heaven?" hazarded the unfortunate cook. "No; skipper's bunk, " said Lea. 

"Oh, can't I foller 'im?" said the cook, starting up. "I'll soon 'ave'im out o' that. "

"Better leave 'im alone, " said Henshaw. "He was that wild we couldn't donothing with 'im, singing an' larfin' and crying all together--Icertainly thought he was p'isoned. "

"I'll swear I ain't touched him, " said the cook. 

"Well, you've upset his reason, " said Henshaw; "there'll be an awful rowwhen the skipper comes aboard and finds 'im in 'is bed. 

"'Well, come an' 'elp me to get 'im out, " said the cook. 

"I ain't going to be mixed up in it, " said Henshaw, shaking his head. 

"Don't you, Bill, " said the other two. 

"Wot the skipper'll say I don't know, " said Henshaw; "anyway, it'll besaid to you, not----"

"I'll go and get 'im out if 'e was five madmen, " said the cook, compressing his lips. 

"You'll harve to carry 'im out, then, " said Henshaw. "I don't wish youno 'arm, cook, and perhaps it would be as well to get 'im out afore theskipper or mate comes aboard. If it was me, I know what I should do. "

"What?" inquired the cook, breathlessly. 

"Draw a sack over his head, " said Henshaw, impressively; "he'll screamlike blazes as soon as you touch him, and rouse the folks ashore if youdon't. Besides that, if you draw it well down it'll keep his arms fast. "

The cook thanked him fervently, and routing out a sack, rushed hastily ondeck, his departure being the signal for Mr. Henshaw and his friends tomake preparations for retiring for the night so hastily as almost tosavour of panic. 

The cook, after a hasty glance ashore, went softly below with the sackover his arm and felt his way in the darkness to the skipper's bunk. Thesound of deep and regular breathing reassured him, and without unduehaste he opened the mouth of the sack and gently raised the sleeper'shead. 

"Eh? Wha----" began a sleepy voice. 

The next moment the cook had bagged him, and gripping him tightly roundthe middle, turned a deaf ear to the smothered cries of his victim as hestrove to lift him out of the bunk. In the exciting time which followed, he had more than one reason for thinking that he had caught a centipede. 

"Now, you keep still, " he cried, breathlessly. "I'm not going to hurtyou. "

He got his burden out of bed at last, and staggered to the foot of thecompanion-ladder with it. Then there was a halt, two legs stickingobstinately across the narrow way and refusing to be moved, while afurious humming proceeded from the other end of the sack. 

Four times did the exhausted cook get his shoulder under his burden andtry and push it up the ladder, and four times did it wriggle and fightits way down again. Half crazy with fear and rage, he essayed it for thefifth time, and had got it half-way up when there was a suddenexclamation of surprise from above, and the voice of the mate sharplydemanding an explanation. 

"What the blazes are you up to?" he cried. 

"It's all right, sir, " said the panting cook; "old Jem's had a drop toomuch and got down aft, and I'm getting 'im for'ard again. "

"Jem?" said the astonished mate. "Why, he's sitting up here on thefore-hatch. He came aboard with me. "

"Sitting, " began the horrified cook; "sit--oh, lor!"

He stood with his writhing burden wedged between his body and the ladder, and looked up despairingly at the mate. 

"I'm afraid I've made a mistake, " he said in a trembling voice. 

The mate struck a match and looked down. 

"Take that sack off, " he demanded, sternly. 

The cook placed his burden upon its feet, and running up the ladder stoodby the mate shivering. The latter struck another match, and the twainwatched in breathless silence the writhings of the strange creature belowas the covering worked slowly upwards. In the fourth match it got free, and revealed the empurpled visage of the master of the _Susannah_. Forthe fraction of a second the cook gazed at him in speechless horror, andthen, with a hopeless cry, sprang ashore and ran for it, hotly pursued byhis enraged victim. At the time of sailing he was still absent, and theskipper, loth to part two such friends, sent Mr. James Lister, at theurgent request of the anxious crew, to look for him. 

THE WHITE CAT

[Illustration: "The White Cat. "]

The traveller stood looking from the tap-room window of the _Cauliflower_at the falling rain. The village street below was empty, and everythingwas quiet with the exception of the garrulous old man smoking with muchenjoyment on the settle behind him. 

"It'll do a power o' good, " said the ancient, craning his neck round theedge of the settle and turning a bleared eye on the window. "I ain'tlike some folk; I never did mind a drop o' rain. "

The traveller grunted and, returning to the settle opposite the old man, fell to lazily stroking a cat which had strolled in attracted by thewarmth of the small fire which smouldered in the grate. 

"He's a good mouser, " said the old man, "but I expect that Smith thelandlord would sell 'im to anybody for arf a crown; but we 'ad a cat inClaybury once that you couldn't ha' bought for a hundred goldensovereigns. "

The traveller continued to caress the cat. 

"A white cat, with one yaller eye and one blue one, " continued the oldman. "It sounds queer, but it's as true as I sit 'ere wishing that I 'adanother mug o' ale as good as the last you gave me. "

The traveller, with a start that upset the cat's nerves, finished his ownmug, and then ordered both to be refilled. He stirred the fire into ablaze, and, lighting his pipe and putting one foot on to the hob, prepared to listen. 

It used to belong to old man Clark, young Joe Clark's uncle, said theancient, smacking his lips delicately over the ale and extending atremulous claw to the tobacco-pouch pushed towards him; and he was nevertired of showing it off to people. He used to call it 'is blue-eyeddarling, and the fuss 'e made o' that cat was sinful. 

Young Joe Clark couldn't bear it, but being down in 'is uncle's will forfive cottages and a bit o' land bringing in about forty pounds a year, he'ad to 'ide his feelings and pretend as he loved it. He used to take itlittle drops o' cream and tit-bits o' meat, and old Clark was so pleasedthat 'e promised 'im that he should 'ave the cat along with all the otherproperty when 'e was dead. 

Young Joe said he couldn't thank 'im enough, and the old man, who 'adbeen ailing a long time, made 'im come up every day to teach 'im 'ow totake care of it arter he was gone. He taught Joe 'ow to cook its meatand then chop it up fine; 'ow it liked a clean saucer every time for itsmilk; and 'ow he wasn't to make a noise when it was asleep. 

"Take care your children don't worry it, Joe, " he ses one day, verysharp. "One o' your boys was pulling its tail this morning, and I wantyou to clump his 'ead for 'im. "

"Which one was it?" ses Joe. 

"The slobbery-nosed one, " ses old Clark. 

"I'll give 'im a clout as soon as I get 'ome, " ses Joe, who was very fondof 'is children. 

"Go and fetch 'im and do it 'ere, " ses the old man; "that'll teach 'im tolove animals. "

Joe went off 'ome to fetch the boy, and arter his mother 'ad washed hisface, and wiped his nose, an' put a clean pinneyfore on 'im, he took 'imto 'is uncle's and clouted his 'ead for 'im. Arter that Joe and 'is wife'ad words all night long, and next morning old Clark, coming in from thegarden, was just in time to see 'im kick the cat right acrost thekitchen. 

He could 'ardly speak for a minute, and when 'e could Joe see plain wot afool he'd been. Fust of all 'e called Joe every name he could think of--which took 'im a long time--and then he ordered 'im out of 'is house. 

"You shall 'ave my money wen your betters have done with it, " he ses, "and not afore. That's all you've done for yourself. "

Joe Clark didn't know wot he meant at the time, but when old Clark diedthree months arterwards 'e found out. His uncle 'ad made a new will andleft everything to old George Barstow for as long as the cat lived, providing that he took care of it. When the cat was dead the propertywas to go to Joe. 

The cat was only two years old at the time, and George Barstow, who wasarf crazy with joy, said it shouldn't be 'is fault if it didn't liveanother twenty years. 

The funny thing was the quiet way Joe Clark took it. He didn't seem tobe at all cut up about it, and when Henery Walker said it was a shame, 'e said he didn't mind, and that George Barstow was a old man, and he wasquite welcome to 'ave the property as long as the cat lived. 

"It must come to me by the time I'm an old man, " he ses, "ard that's allI care about. "

Henery Walker went off, and as 'e passed the cottage where old Clark usedto live, and which George Barstow 'ad moved into, 'e spoke to the old manover the palings and told 'im wot Joe Clark 'ad said. George Barstowonly grunted and went on stooping and prying over 'is front garden. 

"Bin and lost something?" ses Henery Walker, watching 'im. 

"No; I'm finding, " ses George Barstow, very fierce, and picking upsomething. "That's the fifth bit o' powdered liver I've found in mygarden this morning. "

Henery Walker went off whistling, and the opinion he'd 'ad o' Joe Clarkbegan to improve. He spoke to Joe about it that arternoon, and Joe saidthat if 'e ever accused 'im o' such a thing again he'd knock 'is 'eadoff. He said that he 'oped the cat 'ud live to be a hundred, and that'e'd no more think of giving it poisoned meat than Henery Walker would ofpaying for 'is drink so long as 'e could get anybody else to do it for'im. 

They 'ad bets up at this 'ere _Cauliflower_ public-'ouse that evening as to'ow long that cat 'ud live. Nobody gave it more than a month, and BillChambers sat and thought o' so many ways o' killing it on the sly that itwas wunnerful to hear 'im. 

George Barstow took fright when he 'eard of them, and the care 'e took o'that cat was wunnerful to behold. Arf its time it was shut up in theback bedroom, and the other arf George Barstow was fussing arter it tillthat cat got to hate 'im like pison. Instead o' giving up work as he'dthought to do, 'e told Henery Walker that 'e'd never worked so 'ard inhis life. 

"Wot about fresh air and exercise for it?" ses Henery. 

"Wot about Joe Clark?" ses George Bar-stow. "I'm tied 'and and foot. Idursent leave the house for a moment. I ain't been to the _Cauliflower_since I've 'ad it, and three times I got out o' bed last night to see ifit was safe. "

"Mark my words, " ses Henery Walker; "if that cat don't 'ave exercise, you'll lose it. 

"I shall lose it if it does 'ave exercise, " ses George Barstow, "that Iknow. "

He sat down thinking arter Henery Walker 'ad gone, and then he 'ad alittle collar and chain made for it, and took it out for a walk. Prettynearly every dog in Claybury went with 'em, and the cat was in such astate o' mind afore they got 'ome he couldn't do anything with it. It'ad a fit as soon as they got indoors, and George Barstow, who 'ad readabout children's fits in the almanac, gave it a warm bath. It brought itround immediate, and then it began to tear round the room and up anddownstairs till George Barstow was afraid to go near it. 

[Illustration: "He 'ad a little collar and chain made for it, and took itout for a walk. "]

It was so bad that evening, sneezing, that George Barstow sent for BillChambers, who'd got a good name for doctoring animals, and asked 'im togive it something. Bill said he'd got some powders at 'ome that wouldcure it at once, and he went and fetched 'em and mixed one up with a bito' butter. 

"That's the way to give a cat medicine, " he ses; "smear it with thebutter and then it'll lick it off, powder and all. "

He was just going to rub it on the cat when George Barstow caught 'old of'is arm and stopped 'im. 

"How do I know it ain't pison?" he ses. "You're a friend o' Joe Clark's, and for all I know he may ha' paid you to pison it. "

"I wouldn't do such a thing, " ses Bill. "You ought to know me betterthan that. "

"All right, " ses George Barstow; "you eat it then, and I'll give you twoshillings in stead o' one. You can easy mix some more. "

"Not me, " ses Bill Chambers, making a face. 

"Well, three shillings, then, " ses George Barstow, getting more and moresuspicious like; "four shillings--five shillings. "

Bill Chambers shook his 'ead, and George Barstow, more and more certainthat he 'ad caught 'im trying to kill 'is cat and that 'e wouldn't eatthe stuff, rose 'im up to ten shillings. 

Bill looked at the butter and then 'e looked at the ten shillings on thetable, and at last he shut 'is eyes and gulped it down and put the moneyin 'is pocket. 

"You see, I 'ave to be careful, Bill, " ses George Barstow, rather upset. 

Bill Chambers didn't answer 'im. He sat there as white as a sheet, andmaking such extraordinary faces that George was arf afraid of 'im. 

"Anything wrong, Bill?" he ses at last. 

Bill sat staring at 'im, and then all of a sudden he clapped 'is'andkerchief to 'is mouth and, getting up from his chair, opened the doorand rushed out. George Barstow thought at fust that he 'ad eaten pisonfor the sake o' the ten shillings, but when 'e remembered that BillChambers 'ad got the most delikit stummick in Claybury he altered 'ismind. 

The cat was better next morning, but George Barstow had 'ad such a frightabout it 'e wouldn't let it go out of 'is sight, and Joe Clark began tothink that 'e would 'ave to wait longer for that property than 'e hadthought, arter all. To 'ear 'im talk anybody'd ha' thought that 'e lovedthat cat. We didn't pay much attention to it up at the _Cauliflower_'ere, except maybe to wink at 'im--a thing he couldn't a bear--but at'ome, o' course, his young 'uns thought as everything he said wasGospel; and one day, coming 'ome from work, as he was passing GeorgeBarstow's he was paid out for his deceitfulness. 

"I've wronged you, Joe Clark, " ses George Barstow, coming to the door, "and I'm sorry for it. "

"Oh!" ses Joe, staring. 

"Give that to your little Jimmy, " ses George Barstow, giving 'im ashilling. "I've give 'im one, but I thought arterwards it wasn'tenough. "

"What for?" ses Joe, staring at 'im agin. 

"For bringing my cat 'ome, " ses George Barstow. "'Ow it got out I can'tthink, but I lost it for three hours, and I'd about given it up when yourlittle Jimmy brought it to me in 'is arms. He's a fine little chap and'e does you credit. "

Joe Clark tried to speak, but he couldn't get a word out, and HeneryWalker, wot 'ad just come up and 'eard wot passed, took hold of 'is armand helped 'im home. He walked like a man in a dream, but arf-way hestopped and cut a stick from the hedge to take 'ome to little Jimmy. Hesaid the boy 'ad been asking him for a stick for some time, but up tillthen 'e'd always forgotten it. 

At the end o' the fust year that cat was still alive, to everybody'ssurprise; but George Barstow took such care of it 'e never let it out of'is sight. Every time 'e went out he took it with 'im in a hamper, and, to prevent its being pisoned, he paid Isaac Sawyer, who 'ad the biggestfamily in Claybury, sixpence a week to let one of 'is boys taste its milkbefore it had it. 

The second year it was ill twice, but the horse-doctor that GeorgeBarstow got for it said that it was as 'ard as nails, and with care itmight live to be twenty. He said that it wanted more fresh air andexercise; but when he 'eard 'ow George Barstow come by it he said thatp'r'aps it would live longer indoors arter all. 

At last one day, when George Barstow 'ad been living on the fat o' theland for nearly three years, that cat got out agin. George 'ad raisedthe front-room winder two or three inches to throw something outside, and, afore he knew wot was 'appening, the cat was out-side and going upthe road about twenty miles an hour. 

George Barstow went arter it, but he might as well ha' tried to catch thewind. The cat was arf wild with joy at getting out agin, and he couldn'tget within arf a mile of it. 

He stayed out all day without food or drink, follering it about until itcame on dark, and then, o' course, he lost sight of it, and, hopingagainst 'ope that it would come home for its food, he went 'ome andwaited for it. He sat up all night dozing in a chair in the front roomwith the door left open, but it was all no use; and arter thinking for along time wot was best to do, he went out and told some o' the folks itwas lost and offered a reward of five pounds for it. 

You never saw such a hunt then in all your life. Nearly every man, woman, and child in Claybury left their work or school and went to tryand earn that five pounds. By the arternoon George Barstow made it tenpounds provided the cat was brought 'ome safe and sound, and people aswas too old to walk stood at their cottage doors to snap it up as it cameby. 

Joe Clark was hunting for it 'igh and low, and so was 'is wife and theboys. In fact, I b'lieve that everybody in Claybury excepting the parsonand Bob Pretty was trying to get that ten pounds. 

O' course, we could understand the parson--'is pride wouldn't let 'im;but a low, poaching, thieving rascal like Bob Pretty turning up 'is noseat ten pounds was more than we could make out. Even on the second day, when George Barstow made it ten pounds down and a shilling a week for ayear besides, he didn't offer to stir; all he did was to try and make funo' them as was looking for it. 

"Have you looked everywhere you can think of for it, Bill?" he ses toBill Chambers. "Yes, I 'ave, " ses Bill. 

"Well, then, you want to look everywhere else, " ses Bob Pretty. "I knowwhere I should look if I wanted to find it. "

"Why don't you find it, then?" ses Bill. 

"'Cos I don't want to make mischief, " ses Bob Pretty. "I don't want tobe unneighbourly to Joe Clark by interfering at all. "

"Not for all that money?" ses Bill. 

"Not for fifty pounds, " ses Bob Pretty; "you ought to know me better thanthat, Bill Chambers. "

"It's my belief that you know more about where that cat is than you oughtto, " ses Joe Gubbins. 

"You go on looking for it, Joe, " ses Bob Pretty, grinning; "it's goodexercise for you, and you've only lost two days' work. "

"I'll give you arf a crown if you let me search your 'ouse, Bob, " sesBill Chambers, looking at 'im very 'ard. 

"I couldn't do it at the price, Bill, " ses Bob Pretty, shaking his 'ead. "I'm a pore man, but I'm very partikler who I 'ave come into my 'ouse. "

O' course, everybody left off looking at once when they heard about Bob--not that they believed that he'd be such a fool as to keep the cat in his'ouse; and that evening, as soon as it was dark, Joe Clark went round tosee 'im. 

"Don't tell me as that cat's found, Joe, " ses Bob Pretty, as Joe openedthe door. 

"Not as I've 'eard of, " said Joe, stepping inside. "I wanted to speak toyou about it; the sooner it's found the better I shall be pleased. "

"It does you credit, Joe Clark, " ses Bob Pretty. 

"It's my belief that it's dead, " ses Joe, looking at 'im very 'ard; "butI want to make sure afore taking over the property. "

Bob Pretty looked at 'im and then he gave a little cough. "Oh, you wantit to be found dead, " he ses. "Now, I wonder whether that cat's worthmost dead or alive?"

Joe Clark coughed then. "Dead, I should think, " he ses at last. "George Barstow's just 'ad bills printed offering fifteen pounds for it, "ses Bob Pretty. 

"I'll give that or more when I come into the property, " ses Joe Clark. 

"There's nothing like ready-money, though, is there?" ses Bob. 

"I'll promise it to you in writing, Bob, " ses Joe, trembling. 

"There's some things that don't look well in writing, Joe, " says BobPretty, considering; "besides, why should you promise it to me?"

"O' course, I meant if you found it, " ses Joe. 

"Well, I'll do my best, Joe, " ses Bob Pretty; "and none of us can do nomore than that, can they?"

They sat talking and argufying over it for over an hour, and twice BobPretty got up and said 'e was going to see whether George Barstowwouldn't offer more. By the time they parted they was as thick asthieves, and next morning Bob Pretty was wearing Joe Clark's watch andchain, and Mrs. Pretty was up at Joe's 'ouse to see whether there was anyof 'is furniture as she 'ad a fancy for. 

She didn't seem to be able to make up 'er mind at fust between a chest o'drawers that 'ad belonged to Joe's mother and a grand-father clock. Shewalked from one to the other for about ten minutes, and then Bob, who 'adcome in to 'elp her, told 'er to 'ave both. 

"You're quite welcome, " he ses; "ain't she, Joe?"

Joe Clark said "Yes, " and arter he 'ad helped them carry 'em 'ome thePrettys went back and took the best bedstead to pieces, cos Bob said asit was easier to carry that way. Mrs. Clark 'ad to go and sit down atthe bottom o' the garden with the neck of 'er dress undone to giveherself air, but when she saw the little Prettys each walking 'ome withone of 'er best chairs on their 'eads she got and walked up and down likea mad thing. 

"I'm sure I don't know where we are to put it all, " ses Bob Pretty to JoeGubbins, wot was looking on with other folks, "but Joe Clark is thatgenerous he won't 'ear of our leaving anything. "

"Has 'e gorn mad?" ses Bill Chambers, staring at 'im. 

"Not as I knows on, " ses Bob Pretty. "It's 'is good-'artedness, that'sall. He feels sure that that cat's dead, and that he'll 'ave GeorgeBarstow's cottage and furniture. I told 'im he'd better wait till he'dmade sure, but 'e wouldn't. "

Before they'd finished the Prettys 'ad picked that 'ouse as clean as abone, and Joe Clark 'ad to go and get clean straw for his wife andchildren to sleep on; not that Mrs. Clark 'ad any sleep that night, norJoe neither. 

Henery Walker was the fust to see what it really meant, and he wentrushing off as fast as 'e could run to tell George Barstow. Georgecouldn't believe 'im at fust, but when 'e did he swore that if a 'air ofthat cat's head was harmed 'e'd 'ave the law o' Bob Pretty, and arterHenery Walker 'ad gone 'e walked round to tell 'im so. 

"You're not yourself, George Barstow, else you wouldn't try and take awaymy character like that, " ses Bob Pretty. 

"Wot did Joe Clark give you all them things for?" ses George, pointing tothe furniture. 

"Took a fancy to me, I s'pose, " ses Bob. "People do sometimes. There'ssomething about me at times that makes 'em like me. "

"He gave 'em to you to kill my cat, " ses George Barstow. "It's plainenough for any-body to see. "

Bob Pretty smiled. "I expect it'll turn up safe and sound one o' thesedays, " he ses, "and then you'll come round and beg my pardon. P'r'aps--"

"P'r'aps wot?" ses George Barstow, arter waiting a bit. 

"P'r'aps somebody 'as got it and is keeping it till you've drawed thefifteen pounds out o' the bank, " ses Bob, looking at 'im very hard. 

"I've taken it out o' the bank, " ses George, starting; "if that cat'salive, Bob, and you've got it, there's the fifteen pounds the moment you'and it over. "

"Wot d'ye mean--me got it?" ses Bob Pretty. "You be careful o' mycharacter. "

"I mean if you know where it is, " ses George Barstow trembling all over. 

"I don't say I couldn't find it, if that's wot you mean, " ses Bob. "Ican gin'rally find things when I want to. "

"You find me that cat, alive and well, and the money's yours, Bob, " sesGeorge, 'ardly able to speak, now that 'e fancied the cat was stillalive. 

Bob Pretty shook his 'ead. "No; that won't do, " he ses. "S'pose I did'ave the luck to find that pore animal, you'd say I'd had it all the timeand refuse to pay. "

"I swear I wouldn't, Bob, " ses George Barstow, jumping up. 

"Best thing you can do if you want me to try and find that cat, " says BobPretty, "is to give me the fifteen pounds now, and I'll go and look forit at once. I can't trust you, George Barstow. "

"And I can't trust you, " ses George Barstow. 

"Very good, " ses Bob, getting up; "there's no 'arm done. P'r'aps JoeClark 'll find the cat is dead and p'r'aps you'll find it's alive. It'sall one to me. "

George Barstow walked off 'ome, but he was in such a state o' mind 'edidn't know wot to do. Bob Pretty turning up 'is nose at fifteen poundslike that made 'im think that Joe Clark 'ad promised to pay 'im more ifthe cat was dead; and at last, arter worrying about it for a couple o'hours, 'e came up to this 'ere _Cauliflower_ and offered Bob the fifteenpounds. 

"Wot's this for?" ses Bob. 

"For finding my cat, " ses George. 

"Look here, " ses Bob, handing it back, "I've 'ad enough o' your insults;I don't know where your cat is. "

"I mean for trying to find it, Bob, " ses George Barstow. 

"Oh, well, I don't mind that, " ses Bob, taking it. "I'm a 'ard-workingman, and I've got to be paid for my time; it's on'y fair to my wife andchildren. I'll start now. "

He finished up 'is beer, and while the other chaps was telling GeorgeBarstow wot a fool he was Joe Clark slipped out arter Bob Pretty andbegan to call 'im all the names he could think of. 

"Don't you worry, " ses Bob; "the cat ain't found yet. "

"Is it dead?" ses Joe Clark, 'ardly able to speak. 

"'Ow should I know?" ses Bob; "that's wot I've got to try and find out. That's wot you gave me your furniture for, and wot George Barstow gave methe fifteen pounds for, ain't it? Now, don't you stop me now, 'cos I'mgoin' to begin looking. "

He started looking there and then, and for the next two or three daysGeorge Barstow and Joe Clark see 'im walking up and down with his 'andsin 'is pockets looking over garden fences and calling "Puss. " He askedeverybody 'e see whether they 'ad seen a white cat with one blue eye andone yaller one, and every time 'e came into the _Cauliflower_ he put his'ead over the bar and called "Puss, " 'cos, as 'e said, it was as likelyto be there as anywhere else. 

It was about a week after the cat 'ad disappeared that George Barstow wasstanding at 'is door talking to Joe Clark, who was saying the cat must bedead and 'e wanted 'is property, when he sees a man coming up the roadcarrying a basket stop and speak to Bill Chambers. Just as 'e got nearthem an awful "miaow" come from the basket and George Barstow and JoeClark started as if they'd been shot. 

"He's found it?" shouts Bill Chambers, pointing to the man. 

"It's been living with me over at Ling for a week pretty nearly, " ses theman. "I tried to drive it away several times, not knowing that there wasfifteen pounds offered for it. "

George Barstow tried to take 'old of the basket. 

"I want that fifteen pounds fust, " ses the man. 

"That's on'y right and fair, George, " ses Bob Pretty, who 'ad just comeup. "You've got all the luck, mate. We've been hunting 'igh and low forthat cat for a week. "

Then George Barstow tried to explain to the man and call Bob Pretty namesat the same time; but it was all no good. The man said it 'ad nothing todo with 'im wot he 'ad paid to Bob Pretty; and at last they fetchedPoliceman White over from Cudford, and George Barstow signed a paper topay five shillings a week till the reward was paid. 

George Barstow 'ad the cat for five years arter that, but he never let itget away agin. They got to like each other in time and died within afortnight of each other, so that Joe Clark got 'is property arter all.