SEA URCHINS By W. W. Jacobs 1899. TO MY SISTER FLORENCE. Contents: SMOKED SKIPPER. A SAFETY MATCH. A RASH EXPERIMENT. THE CABIN PASSENGER. "CHOICE SPIRITS. " A DISCIPLINARIAN. BROTHER HUTCHINS. THE DISBURSEMENT SHEET. RULE OF THREE. PICKLED HERRING. TWO OF A TRADE. AN INTERVENTION. THE GREY PARROT. MONEY CHANGERS. THE LOST SHIP. SMOKED SKIPPER. "Wapping Old Stairs?" said the rough individual, shouldering thebran-new sea-chest, and starting off at a trot with it; "yus, I know theplace, captin. Fust v'y'ge, sir?" "Ay, ay, my hearty, " replied the owner of the chest, a small, ill-looking lad of fourteen. "Not so fast with those timbers of yours. D'ye hear?" "All right, sir, " said the man, and, slackening his pace, twisted hishead round to take stock of his companion. "This ain't your fust v'y'ge, captin, " he said admiringly; "don't tellme. I could twig that directly I see you. Ho, what's the use o' tryingto come it over a poor 'ard-working man like that?" "I don't think there's much about the sea I don't know, " said the boy ina satisfied voice. "Starboard, starboard your hellum a bit. " The man obeying promptly, they went the remainder of the distance inthis fashion, to the great inconvenience of people coming from the otherdirection. "And a cheap 'arf-crown's worth, too, captin, " said the man, as he putthe chest down at the head of the stairs and thoughtfully sat on itpending payment. "I want to go off to the _Susan Jane_, " said the boy, turning to awaterman who was sitting in his boat, holding on to the side of thesteps with his hand. "All right, " said the man, "give us a hold o' your box. " "Put it aboard, " said the boy to the other man. "A' right, captin, " said the man, with a cheerful smile, "but I'll 'avemy 'arf-crown fust if you don't mind. " "But you said sixpence at the station, " said the boy. "_Two an' sixpence_, captin, " said the man, still smiling, "but I'm abit 'usky, an' p'raps you didn't hear the two--'arf a crown's the reglerprice. We ain't allowed to do it under. " "Well, I won't tell anybody, " said the boy. "Give the man 'is 'arf-crown, " said the waterman, with sudden heat;"that's 'is price, and my fare's eigh-teen pence. " "All right, " said the boy readily; "cheap, too. I didn't know the price, that's all. But I can't pay either of you till I get aboard. I've onlygot sixpence. I'll tell the captain to give you the rest. " "Tell 'oo?" demanded the light-porter, with some violence. "The captain, " said the boy. "Look 'ere, you give me that 'arf-crown, " said the other, "else I'llchuck your box overboard, an' you after it. " "Wait a minute, then, " said the boy, darting away up the narrow alleywhich led to the stairs; "I'll go and get change. " "'E's goin' to change 'arf a suvren, or p'raps a suvren, " said thewaterman; "you'd better make it five bob, matey. " "Ah, an' you make yours more, " said the light-porter cordially. "Well, I'm---- Well of all the----" "Get off that box, " said the big policeman who had come back with theboy. "Take your sixpence an' go. If I catch you down this way again----" He finished the sentence by taking the fellow by the scruff of the neckand giving him a violent push as he passed him. "Waterman's fare is threepence, " he said to the boy, as the man in theboat, with an utterly expressionless face, took the chest from him, "I'll stay here till he has put you aboard. " The boy took his seat, and the waterman, breathing hard, pulled outtowards the vessels in the tier. He looked at the boy and then at thefigure on the steps, and, apparently suppressing a strong inclination tospeak, spat violently over the side. "Fine big chap, ain't he?" said the boy. The waterman, affecting not to hear, looked over his shoulder, andpulled strongly with his left towards a small schooner, from the deck ofwhich a couple of men were watching the small figure in the boat. "That's the boy I was going to tell you about, " said the skipper, "andremember this 'ere ship's a pirate. " "It's got a lot o' pirates aboard of it, " said the mate fiercely, ashe turned and regarded the crew, "a set o' lazy, loafing, idle, worthless----" "It's for the boy's sake, " interrupted the skipper. "Where'd you pick him up?" inquired the other. "He's the son of a friend o' mine what I've brought aboard to oblige, "replied the skipper. "He's got a fancy for being a pirate, so just tooblige his father I told him we was a pirate. He wouldn't have come if Ihadn't. " "I'll pirate him, " said the mate, rubbing his hands. "He's a dreadful 'andful, by all accounts, " continued the other; "gothis 'ed stuffed full o' these 'ere penny dreadfuls till they've turnedhis brain almost. He started by being an Indian, and goin' off on 'isown with two other kids. When 'e wanted to turn cannibal the other twoobjected, and gave 'im in charge. After that he did a bit o' burgling, and it cost 'is old man no end o' money to hush it up. " "Well, what did _you_ want him for?" grumbled the mate. "I'm goin' to knock the nonsense out of him, " said the skipper softly, as the boat grazed the side. "Just step for'ard and let the hands knowwhat's expected of 'em. When we get to sea it won't matter. " The mate moved off grumbling, as the small fare stood on the thwartsand scrambled up over the side. The waterman passed up the chest, anddropping the coppers into his pocket, pushed off again without a word. "Well, you've got here all right, Ralph?" said the skipper. "What do youthink of her?" "She's a rakish-looking craft, " said the boy, looking round the dingyold tub with much satisfaction; "but where's your arms?" "Hush!" said the skipper, and laid his finger on his nose. "Oh, all right, " said the youth testily, "but you might tell _me_. " "You shall know all in good time, " said the skipper patiently, turningto the crew, who came shuffling up, masking broad grins with dirtypalms. "Here's a new shipmate for you, my lads. He's small, but he's the rightstuff. " The newcomer drew himself up, and regarded the crew with somedissatisfaction. For desperadoes they looked far too good-tempered andprone to levity. "What's the matter with you, Jem Smithers?" inquired the skipper, scowling at a huge fair-haired man, who was laughing discordantly. "I was thinkin' o' the last party I killed, sir, " said Jem, with suddengravity. "I allers laugh when I think 'ow he squealed. " "You laugh too much, " said the other sternly, as he laid a hand onRalph's shoulder. "Take a lesson from this fine feller; he don't laugh. He acts. Take 'im down below an' show him 'is bunk. " "Will you please to follow me, sir?" said Smithers, leading the waybelow. "I dessay you'll find it a bit stuffy, but that's owing to BillDobbs. A regler old sea-dog is Bill, always sleeps in 'is clothes andnever washes. " "I don't think the worse of him for that, " said Ralph, regarding thefermenting Dobbs kindly. "You'd best keep a civil tongue in your 'ed, my lad, " said Dobbsshortly. "Never mind 'im, " said Smithers cheerfully; "nobody takes any notice o'old Dobbs. You can 'it 'im if you like. I won't let him hurt you. " "I don't want to start by quarrelling, " said Ralph seriously. "You're afraid, " said Jem tauntingly; "you'll never make one of us. 'It'im; I won't let him hurt you. " Thus aroused, the boy, first directing Dobbs' attention to hisstomach by a curious duck of the head, much admired as a feint in hisneighbourhood, struck him in the face. The next moment the forecastlewas in an uproar and Ralph prostrate on Dobbs' knees, franticallyreminding Jem of his promise. "All right, I won't let him 'urt you, " said Jem consolingly. "But he _is_ hurting me, " yelled the boy. "He's hurting me _now_. " "Well, wait till I get 'im ashore, " said Jem, "his old woman won't knowhim when I've done with him. " The boy's reply to this was a torrent of shrill abuse, principallydirected to Jem's facial shortcomings. "Now don't get rude, " said the seaman, grinning. "Squint-eyes, " cried Ralph fiercely. "When you've done with that 'ere young gentleman, Dobbs, " said Jem, withexquisite politeness, "I should like to 'ave 'im for a little bit toteach 'im manners. " "'E don't want to go, " said Dobbs, grinning, as Ralph clung to him. "Heknows who's kind to him. " "Wait till I get a chance at you, " sobbed Ralph, as Jem took him awayfrom Dobbs. "Lord lumme, " said Jem, regarding him in astonishment. "Why, he'sactooaly cryin'. I've seen a good many pirates in my time, Bill, butthis is a new sort. " "Leave the boy alone, " said the cook, a fat, good-natured man. "Here, come 'ere, old man. They don't mean no 'arm. " Glad to escape, Ralph made his way over to the cook, grinding his teethwith shame as that worthy took him between his knees and mopped his eyeswith something which he called a handkerchief. "You'll be all right, " he said kindly. "You'll be as good a pirate asany of us before you've finished. " "Wait till the first engagement, that's all, " sobbed the boy. "Ifsomebody don't get shot in the back it won't be my fault. " The two seamen looked at each other. "That's wot hurt my 'and then, "said Dobbs slowly. "I thought it was a jack-knife. " He reached over, and unceremoniously grabbing the boy by the collar, pulled him towards him, and drew a small cheap revolver from his pocket. "Look at that, Jem. " "Take your fingers orf the blessed trigger and then I will, " said theother, somewhat sourly. "I'll pitch it overboard, " said Dobbs. "Don't be a fool, Bill, " said Smithers, pocketing it, "that's worth afew pints o' anybody's money. Stand out o' the way, Bill, the Pirit Kingwants to go on deck. " Bill moved aside as the boy went to the ladder, and allowing him to getup four or five steps, did the rest for him with his shoulder. The boyreached the deck on all fours, and, regaining a more dignified positionas soon as possible, went and leaned over the side, regarding with loftycontempt the busy drudges on wharf and river. They sailed at midnight and brought up in the early dawn in Longreach, where a lighter loaded with barrels came alongside, and the boy smeltromance and mystery when he learnt that they contained powder. They tookin ten tons, the lighter drifted away, the hatches were put on, and theystarted once more. It was his first voyage, and he regarded with eager interest the craftpassing up and down. He had made his peace with the seamen, and theyregaled him with blood-curdling stories of their adventures, in the vainhope of horrifying him. "'E's a beastly little rascal, that's wot 'e is, " said the indignantBill, who had surprised himself by his powers of narration; "fancylarfin' when I told 'im of pitchin' the baby to the sharks. " "'E's all right, Bill, " said the cook softly. "Wait till you've gotseven of 'em. " "What are you doing here, boy?" demanded the skipper, as Ralph, findingthe seamen's yarns somewhat lacking in interest, strolled aft with hishands in his pockets. "Nothing, " said the boy, staring. "Keep the other end o' the ship, " said the skipper sharply, "an' go an''elp the cook with the taters. " Ralph hesitated, but a grin on the mate's face decided him. "I didn't come here to peel potatoes, " he said loftily. "Oh, indeed, " said the skipper politely; "an' wot might you 'ave comefor, if it ain't being too inquisitive?" "To fight the enemy, " said Ralph shortly. "Come 'ere, " said the skipper. The boy came slowly towards him. "Now look 'ere, " said the skipper, "I'm going to try and knock a littlesense into that stupid 'ed o' yours. I've 'eard all about your sillylittle games ashore. Your father said he couldn't manage you, so I'mgoin' to have a try, and you'll find I'm a very different sort o' manto deal with to wot 'e is. The idea o' thinking this ship was a pirate. Why, a boy your age ought to know there ain't such things nowadays. " "You told me you was, " said the boy hotly, "else I wouldn't have come. " "That's just why I told you, " said the skipper. "But I didn't thinkyou'd be such a fool as to believe it. Pirates, indeed! Do we look likepirates?" "You don't, " said the boy with a sneer; "you look more like--" "Like wot?" asked the skipper, edging closer to him. "Eh, like wot?" "I forget the word, " said Ralph, with strong good sense. "Don't tell any lies now, " said the skipper, flushing, as he hearda chuckle from the mate. "Go on, out with it. I'll give you just twominutes. " "I forget it, " persisted Ralph. "Dustman?" suggested the mate, coming to his assistance. "Coster, chimbley-sweep, mudlark, pickpocket, convict, washer-worn--" "If you'll look after your dooty, George, instead o' interferin' inmatters that don't concern you, " said the skipper in a choking voice, "Ishall be obliged. Now, then, you boy, what were you going to say I waslike?" "Like the mate, " said Ralph slowly. "Don't tell lies, " said the skipper furiously; "you couldn't 'ave forgotthat word. " "I didn't forget it, " said Ralph, "but I didn't know how you'd like it. " The skipper looked at him dubiously, and pushing his cap from his browscratched his head. "And I didn't know how the mate 'ud like it, either, " continued the boy. He relieved the skipper from an awkward dilemma by walking off to thegalley and starting on a bowl of potatoes. The master of the _SusanJane_ watched him blankly for some time and then looked round at themate. "You won't get much change out of 'im, " said the latter, with a nod;"insultin' little devil. " The other made no reply, but as soon as the potatoes were finished sethis young friend to clean brass work, and after that to tidy the cabinup and help the cook clean his pots and pans. Meantime the mate wentbelow and overhauled his chest. "This is where he gets all them ideas from, " he said, coming aft with abig bundle of penny papers. "Look at the titles of 'em--'The Lion of thePacific, ' 'The One-armed Buccaneer, ' 'Captain Kidd's Last Voyage. '" He sat down on the cabin skylight and began turning them over, and, picking out certain gems of phraseology, read them aloud to the skipper. The latter listened at first with scorn and then with impatience. "I can't make head or tail out of what you're reading, George, " he saidsnappishly. "Who was Rudolph? Read straight ahead. " Thus urged, the mate, leaning forward so that his listener might hearbetter, read steadily through a serial in the first three numbers. Thethird instalment left Rudolph swimming in a race with three sharks anda boat-load of cannibals; and the joint efforts of both men failed todiscover the other numbers. "Just wot I should 'ave expected of 'im, " said the skipper, as the matereturned from a fruitless search in the boy's chest. "I'll make him abit more orderly on this ship. Go an' lock them other things up in yourdrawer, George. He's not to 'ave 'em again. " The schooner was getting into open water now, and began to feel it. In front of them was the blue sea, dotted with white sails andfunnels belching smoke, speeding from England to worlds of romance andadventure. Something of the kind the cook said to Ralph, and urgedhim to get up and look for himself. He also, with the best intentions, discussed the restorative properties of fat pork from a medical point ofview. The next few days the boy divided between seasickness and work, thelatter being the skipper's great remedy for piratical yearnings. Threeor four times he received a mild drubbing, and, what was worse thanthe drubbing, had to give an answer in the affirmative to the skipper'sinquiry as to whether he felt in a more wholesome frame of mind. On thefifth morning they stood in towards Fairhaven, and to his great joy hesaw trees and houses again. They stayed at Fairhaven just long enough to put out a small portion oftheir cargo, Ralph, stripped to his shirt and trousers, having to workin the hold with the rest, and proceeded to Lowport, a little place somethirty miles distant, to put out their powder. It was evening before they arrived, and, the tide being out, anchored inthe mouth of the river on which the town stands. "Git in about four o'clock, " said the skipper to the mate, as he lookedover the side towards the little cluster of houses on the shore. "Do youfeel better now I've knocked some o' that nonsense out o' you, boy?" "Much better, sir, " said Ralph respectfully. "Be a good boy, " said the skipper, pausing on the companion-ladder, "andyou can stay with us if you like. Better turn in now, as you'll have tomake yourself useful again in the morning working out the cargo. " He went below, leaving the boy on deck. The crew were in the forecastlesmoking, with the exception of the cook, who was in the galley over alittle private business of his own. An hour later the cook went below to prepare for sleep. The othertwo men were already in bed, and he was about to get into his when henoticed that Ralph's bunk, which was under his own, was empty. He wentup on deck and looked round, and, returning below, scratched his nose inthought. "Where's the boy?" he demanded, taking Jem by the arm and shaking him. "Eh?" said Jem, rousing. "Whose boy?" "Our boy, Ralph, " said the cook. "I can't see 'im nowhere. I 'ope 'eain't gone overboard, pore little chap. " Jem refusing to discuss the matter, the cook awoke Dobbs. Dobbs sworeat him peacefully, and resumed his slumbers. The cook went up again andprowled round the deck, looking in all sorts of unlikely places forthe boy. He even climbed a little way into the rigging, and, finding notraces of him, was reluctantly forced to the conclusion that he had goneoverboard. "Pore little chap, " he said solemnly, looking over the ship's side atthe still water. He walked slowly aft, shaking his head, and looking over the stern, brought up suddenly with a cry of dismay and rubbed his eyes. The ship'sboat had also disappeared. "Wot?" said the two seamen as he ran below and communicated the news. "Well, if it's gorn, it's gorn. " "Hadn't I better go an' tell the skipper?" said the cook. "Let 'im find it out 'isself, " said Jem, purring contentedly in theblankets. "It's 'is boat. Go' night. " "Time we 'ad a noo 'un too, " said Dobbs, yawning. "Don't you worry your'ed, cook, about what don't consarn you. " The cook took the advice, and, having made his few simple preparationsfor the night, blew out the lamp and sprang into his bunk. Then heuttered a sharp exclamation, and getting out again fumbled for thematches and relit the lamp. A minute later he awoke his exasperatedfriends for the third time. "S'elp me, cook, " began Jem fiercely. "If you don't I will, " said Dobbs, sitting up and trying to reach thecook with his clenched fist. "It's a letter pinned to my pillow, " said the cook in trembling tones, as he held it to the lamp. "Well, we don't want to 'ear it, " said Jem. "Shut up, d'ye hear?" But there was that in the cook's manner which awed him. "Dear cook, " he read feverishly, "I have made an infernal machine withclockwork, and hid it in the hold near the gunpowder when we were atFairhaven. I think it will go off between ten and eleven to-night, butI am not quite sure about the time. Don't tell those other beasts, butjump overboard and swim ashore. I have taken the boat I would have takenyou too, but you told me you swam seven miles once, so you can eas--" The reading came to an abrupt termination as his listeners sprang outof their bunks, and, bolting on dock, burst wildly into the cabin, and breathlessly reeled off the heads of the letter to its astonishedoccupants. "Stuck a wot in the hold?" gasped the skipper. "Infernal machine, " said the mate; "one of them things wot you blow upthe 'Ouses of Parliament with. " "Wot's the time now?" interrogated Jem anxiously. "'Bout ha'-past ten, " said the cook trembling. "Let's give 'em a hailashore. " They leaned over the side, and sent a mighty shout across the water. Most of Lowport had gone to bed, but the windows in the inn were bright, and lights showed in the upper windows of two or three of the cottages. Again they shouted in deafening chorus, casting fearful looks behindthem, and in the silence a faint answering hail came from the shore. They shouted again like madmen, until listening intently they heard aboat's keel grate on the beach, and then the welcome click of oars inthe rowlocks. "Make haste, " bawled Dobbs vociferously, as the boat came creeping outof the darkness. "W'y don't you make 'aste?" "Wot's the row?" cried a voice from the boat. "Gunpowder!" yelled the cook frantically; "there's ten tons of it aboardjust going to explode. Hurry up. " The sound of the oars ceased and a startled murmur was heard from theboat; then an oar was pulled jerkily. "They're putting back, " said Jem suddenly. "I'm going to swim for it. Stand by to pick me up, mates, " he shouted, and lowering himself with asplash into the water struck out strongly towards them. Dobbs, a poor swimmer, after a moment's hesitation, followed hisexample. "I can't swim a stroke, " cried the cook, his teeth chattering. The others, who were in the same predicament, leaned over the side, listening. The swimmers were invisible in the darkness, but theirprogress was easily followed by the noise they made. Jem was the firstto be hauled on board, and a minute or two later the listeners onthe schooner heard him assisting Dobbs. Then the sounds of strife, ofthumps, and wicked words broke on their delighted ears. "They're coming back for us, " said the mate, taking a deep breath. "Welldone, Jem. " The boat came towards them, impelled by powerful strokes, and was soonalongside. The three men tumbled in hurriedly, their fall being modifiedby the original crew, who were lying crouched up in the bottom of theboat. Jem and Dobbs gave way with hearty goodwill, and the doomed shipreceded into the darkness. A little knot of people had gathered on theshore, and, receiving the tidings, became anxious for the safety oftheir town. It was felt that the windows, at least, were in imminentperil, and messengers were hastily sent round to have them opened. Still the deserted _Susan Jane_ made no sign. Twelve o'clock struck fromthe little church at the back of the town, and she was still intact. "Something's gone wrong, " said an old fisherman with a bad way ofputting things. "Now's the time for somebody to go and tow her out tosea. " There was no response. "To save Lowport, " said the speaker feelingly. . "If I was only twentyyears younger--" "It's old men's work, " said a voice. The skipper, straining his eyes through the gloom in the direction ofhis craft, said nothing. He began to think that she had escaped afterall. Two o'clock struck, and the crowd began to disperse. . Some of the bolderinhabitants who were fidgety about draughts closed their windows, andchildren who had been routed out of their beds to take a nocturnal walkinland were led slowly back. By three o'clock the danger was felt to beover, and day broke and revealed the forlorn _Susan Jane_ still ridingat anchor. "I'm going aboard, " said the skipper suddenly; "who's coming with me?" Jem and the mate and the town policeman volunteered, and, borrowing theboat which had served them before, pulled swiftly out to their vessel, and, taking the hatches off with unusual gentleness, commenced theirsearch. It was nervous work at first, but they became inured to it, and, moreover, a certain suspicion, slight at first, but increasing inintensity as the search proceeded, gave them some sense of security. Later still they began to eye each other shamefacedly. "I don't believe there's anything there, " said the policeman, sittingdown and laughing boisterously; "that boy's been making a fool of you. " "That's about the size of it, " groaned the mate. "We'll be thelaughing-stock o' the town. " The skipper, who was standing with his back towards him, said nothing;but, peering about, stooped suddenly, and, with a sharp exclamation, picked up something from behind a damaged case. "I've got it, " he yelled suddenly; "stand clear!" He scrambled hastily on deck, and, holding his find at arm's length, with his head averted, flung it far into the water. A loud cheer froma couple of boats which were watching greeted his action, and a distantresponse came from the shore. "Was that a infernal machine?" whispered the bewildered Jem to the mate. "Why, it looked to me just like one o' them tins o' corned beef. " The mate shook his head at him and glanced at the constable, who wasgazing longingly over the side. "Well, I've 'eard of people being killedby _them_ sometimes, " he said with a grin. A SAFETY MATCH. Mr. Boom, late of the mercantile marine, had the last word, but only bythe cowardly expedient of getting out of earshot of his daughterfirst, and then hurling it at her with a voice trained to compete withhurricanes. Miss Boom avoided a complete defeat by leaning forwardwith her head on one side in the attitude of an eager but unsuccessfullistener, a pose which she abandoned for one of innocent joy when hersire, having been deluded into twice repeating his remarks, was fain torelieve his overstrained muscles by a fit of violent coughing. "I b'lieve she heard it all along, " said Mr. Boom sourly, as hecontinued his way down the winding lane to the little harbour below. "The only way to live at peace with wimmen is to always be at sea; thenthey make a fuss of you when you come home--if you don't stay too long, that is. " He reached the quay, with its few tiny cottages, and brown nets spreadabout to dry in the sun, and walking up and down, grumbling, regardedwith jaundiced eye a few small smacks which lay in the harbour, and twoor three crusted amphibians lounging aimlessly about. "Mornin', Mr. Boom, " said a stalwart youth in sea-boots, appearingsuddenly over the edge of the quay from his boat. "Mornin', Dick, " said Mr. Boom affably; "just goin' off?" "'Bout an hour's time, " said the other: "Miss Boom well, sir?" "She's a' right, " said Mr. Boom; "me an' her 've just had a few words. She picked up something off the floor what she said was a cake o' mudoff my heel. Said she wouldn't have it, " continued Mr. Boom, his voicerising. "My own floor too. Swep' it up off the floor with a dustpan andbrush, and held it in front of me to look at. " Dick Tarrell gave a grunt which might mean anything--Mr. Boom took itfor sympathy. "I called her old maid, " he said with gusto; "'you're a fidgety oldmaid, ' I said. You should ha' seen her look. Do you know what I think, Dick?" "Not exactly, " said Tarrell cautiously. "I b'leeve she's that savage that she'd take the first man that askedher, " said the other triumphantly; "she's sitting up there at the doorof the cottage, all by herself. " Tarrell sighed. "With not a soul to speak to, " said Mr. Boom pointedly. The other kicked at a small crab which was passing, and returned it toits native element in sections. "I'll walk up there with you if you're going that way, " he said atlength. "No, I'm just having a look round, " said Mr. Boom, "but there's nothingto hinder you going, Dick, if you've a mind to. " "There's no little thing you want, as I'm going there, I s'pose?"suggested Tarrell. "It's awkward when you go there and say, 'Good-morning, ' and the girl says, 'Good-morning, ' and then you don'tsay any more and she don't say any more. If there was anything youwanted that I could help her look for, it 'ud make talk easier. " "Well--go for my baccy pouch, " said Mr. Boom, after a minute's thought, "it'll take you a long time to find that. " "Why?" inquired the other. "'Cos I've got it here, " said the unscrupulous Mr. Boom, producing it, and placidly filling his pipe. "You might spend--ah--the best part of an hour looking for that. " He turned away with a nod, and Tarrell, after looking about him in ahesitating fashion to make sure that his movements were not attractingthe attention his conscience told him they deserved, set off in thehang-dog fashion peculiar to nervous lovers up the road to the cottage. Kate Boom was sitting at the door as her father had described, and, inapparent unconsciousness of his approach, did not raise her eyes fromher book. "Good-morning, " said Tarrell, in a husky voice. Miss Boom returned the salutation, and, marking the place in her bookwith her forefinger, looked over the hedge on the other side of the roadto the sea beyond. "Your father has left his pouch behind, and being as I was coming thisway, asked me to call for it, " faltered the young man. Miss Boom turned her head, and, regarding him steadily, noted the risingcolour and the shuffling feet. "Did he say where he had left it?" she inquired. "No, " said the other. "Well, my time's too valuable to waste looking for pouches, " said Kate, bending down to her book again, "but if you like to go in and look forit, you may!" She moved aside to let him pass, and sat listening with a slight smileas she heard him moving about the room. "I can't find it, " he said, after a pretended search. "Better try the kitchen now then, " said Miss Boom, without looking up, "and then the scullery. It might be in the woodshed or even down thegarden. You haven't half looked. " She heard the kitchen door close behind him, and then, taking her bookwith her, went upstairs to her room. The conscientious Tarrell, havingduly searched all the above-mentioned places, returned to the parlourand waited. He waited a quarter of an hour, and then going out by thefront door, stood irresolute. "I can't find it, " he said at length, addressing himself to the bedroomwindow. "No. I was coming down to tell you, " said Miss Boom, glancing sedatelyat him from over the geraniums. "I remember seeing father take it outwith him this morning. " Tarrell affected a clumsy surprise. "It doesn't matter, " he said. "Hownice your geraniums are. " "Yes, they're all right, " said Miss Boom briefly. "I can't think how you keep 'em so nice, " said Tarrell. "Well, don't try, " said Miss Boom kindly. "You'd better go back and tellfather about the pouch. Perhaps he's waiting for a smoke all this time. " "There's no hurry, " said the young man; "perhaps he's found it. " "Well, I can't stop to talk, " said the girl; "I'm busy reading. " With these heartless words she withdrew into the room, and thediscomfited swain, only too conscious of the sorry figure he cut, went slowly back to the harbour, to be met by Mr. Boom with a wink ofaggravating and portentous dimensions. "You've took a long time, " he said slyly. "There's nothing like a littlescheming in these things. " "It didn't lead to much, " said the discomfited Tarrell. "Don't be in a hurry, my lad, " said the elder man, after listening tohis experiences. "I've been thinking over this little affair for sometime now, an' I think I've got a plan. " "If it's anything about baccy pouches--" began the young manungratefully. "It ain't, " interrupted Mr. Boom, "it's quite diff'rent Now, you'dbest get aboard your craft and do your duty. There's more young men wongirls' 'arts while doing of ther duty than--than--if they wasn't doingtheir duty. Do you understand me?" It is inadvisable to quarrel with a prospective father-in-law, so thatTarrell said he did, and with a moody nod tumbled into his boat andput off to the smack. Mr. Boom having walked up and down a bit, andexchanged a few greetings, bent his steps in the direction of the "JollySailor, " and, ordering two mugs of ale, set them down on a small benchopposite his old friend Raggett. "I see young Tarrell go off grumpy-like, " said Raggett, drawing a mugtowards him and gazing at the fast-receding boats. "Ay, we'll have to do what we talked about, " said Boom slowly. "It'sopposition what that gal wants. She simply sits and mopes for the wantof somebody to contradict her. " "Well, why don't you do it?" said Raggett. "That ain't much for a fatherto do surely. " "I hev, " said the other slowly, "more than once. O' course, whenI insist upon a thing, it's done; but a woman's a delikit creeter, Raggett, and the last row we had she got that ill that she couldn't getup to get my breakfast ready, no, nor my dinner either. It made us bothill, that did. " "Are you going to tell Tarrell?" inquired Raggett. "No, " said his friend. "Like as not he'd tell her just to curry favourwith her. I'm going to tell him he's not to come to the house no more. That'll make her want him to come, if anything will. Now there's no usewasting time. You begin to-day. " "I don't know what to say, " murmured Raggett, nodding to him as heraised the beer to his lips. "Just go now and call in--you might take her a nosegay. " "I won't do nothing so damned silly, " said Raggett shortly. "Well, go without 'em, " said Boom impatiently; "just go and getyourselves talked about, that's all--have everybody making game of bothof you, talking about a good-looking young girl being sweet-hearted byan old chap with one foot in the grave and a face like a dried herring. That's what I want. " Mr. Raggett, who was just about to drink, put his mug down again andregarded his friend fixedly. "Might, I ask who you're alloodin' to?" he inquired somewhat shortly. Mr. Boom, brought up in mid-career, shuffled a little and laugheduneasily. "Them ain't my words, old chap, " he said; "it was the way shewas speaking of you the other day. " "Well, I won't have nothin' to do with it, " said Raggett, rising. "Well, nobody needn't know anything about it, " said Boom, pulling himdown to his seat again. "She won't tell, I'm sure--she wouldn't like thedisgrace of it. " "Look here, " said Raggett, getting up again. "I mean from her point of view, " said Mr. Boom querulously; "you're very'asty, Raggett. " "Well, I don't care about it, " said Raggett slowly; "it seemed allright when we was talking about it; but s'pose I have all my trouble fornothing, and she don't take Dick after all? What then?" "Well, then there's no harm done, " said his friend, "and it 'll be a bito' sport for both of us. You go up and start, an' I'll have another pintof beer and a clean pipe waiting for you against you come back. " Sorely against his better sense Mr. Raggett rose and went off, grumbling. It was fatiguing work on a hot day, climbing the road up thecliff, but he took it quietly, and having gained the top, moved slowlytowards the cottage. "Morning, Mr. Raggett, " said Kate cheerily, as he entered the cottage. "Dear, dear, the idea of an old man like you climbing about! It'swonderful. " "I'm sixty-seven, " said Mr. Raggett viciously, "and I feel as young asever I did. " "To be sure, " said Kate soothingly; "and look as young as ever you did. Come in and sit down a bit. " Mr. Raggett with some trepidation complied, and sitting in a veryupright position, wondered how he should begin. "I am just sixty-seven, "he said slowly. "I'm not old and I'm not young, but I'm just old enoughto begin to want somebody to look after me a bit. " "I shouldn't while I could get about if I were you, " said the innocentKate. "Why not wait until you're bed-ridden?" "I don't mean that at all, " said Mr. Raggett snappishly. "I mean I'mthinking of getting married. " "Good--gracious!" said Kate, open-mouthed. "I may have one foot in the grave, and resemble a dried herring in theface, " pursued Mr. Raggett with bitter sarcasm, "but--" "You can't help that, " said Kate gently. "But I'm going to get married, " said Raggett savagely. "Well, don't get in a way about it, " said the girl. "Of course, if youwant to, and--and--you can find somebody else who wants to, there's noreason why you shouldn't! Have you told father about it?" "I have, " said Mr. Raggett, "and he has given his consent. " He put such meaning into this remark, and so much more in the contortionof visage which accompanied it, that the girl stood regarding him inblank astonishment. "His consent?" she said in a strange voice. Mr. Raggett nodded. "I went to him first, " he said, trying to speak confidently. "Now I'vecome to you--I want you to marry me!" "Don't you be a silly old man, Mr. Raggett, " said Kate, recovering hercomposure. "And as for my father, you go back and tell him I want to seehim. " She drew aside and pointed to the door, and Mr. Raggett, thinking thathe had done quite enough for one day, passed out and retraced his stepsto the "Jolly Sailor. " Mr. Boom met him half-way, and having receivedhis message, spent the rest of the morning in fortifying himself for thereception which awaited him. It would be difficult to say which of the two young people was the moreastonished at this sudden change of affairs. Miss Boom, pretending tothink that her parent's reason was affected, treated him accordingly, a state of affairs not without its drawbacks, as Mr. Boom found tohis cost Tarrell, on the other hand, attributed it to greed, andbeing forbidden the house, spent all his time ashore on a stile nearlyopposite, sullenly watching events. For three weeks Mr. Raggett called daily, and after staying to tea, usually wound up the evening by formally proposing for Kate's hand. Bothconspirators were surprised and disappointed at the quietness with whichMiss Boom received these attacks; Mr. Raggett meeting with a politenesswhich was a source of much wonder to both of them. His courting came to an end suddenly. He paused one evening with hishand on the door, and having proposed in the usual manner, was goingout, when Miss Boom called him back. "Sit down, Mr. Raggett, " she said calmly. Mr. Raggett, wonderinginwardly, resumed his seat. "You have asked me a good many times to marry you, " said Kate. "I have, " said Mr. Raggett, nodding. "And I'm sure it's very kind of you, " continued the girl, "and if I'vehurt your feelings by refusing you, it is only because I have thoughtperhaps I was not good enough for you. " In the silence which followed this unexpected and undeserved tributeto Mr. Raggett's worth, the two old men eyed each other in silentconsternation. "Still, if you've made up your mind, " continued the girl, "I don't knowthat it's for me to object. You're not much to look at, but you'vegot the loveliest chest of drawers and the best furniture all round inMastleigh. And I suppose you've got a little money?" Mr. Raggett shook his head, and in a broken voice was understood to say:"A very little. " "I don't want any fuss or anything of that kind, " said Miss Boom calmly. "No bridesmaids or anything of that sort; it wouldn't be suitable atyour age. " Mr. Raggett withdrew his pipe and holding it an inch or two from hismouth, listened like one in a dream. "Just a few old friends, and a bit of cake, " continued Miss Boommusingly. "And instead of spending a lot of money in foolish waste, we'll have three weeks in London. " Mr. Raggett made a gurgling noise in his throat, and suddenly, remembering himself, pretended to think that it was something wrong withhis pipe, and removing it blew noisily through the mouthpiece. "Perhaps, " he said, in a trembling voice--"perhaps you'd better take alittle longer to consider, my dear. " Kate shook her head. "I've quite made up my mind, " she said, "quite. And now I want to marry you just as much as you want to marry me. Good-night, father; good-night--George. " Mr. Raggett started violently, and collapsed in his chair. "Raggett, " said Mr. Boom huskily. "Don't talk to me, " said the other, "I can't bear it. " Mr. Boom, respecting his friend's trouble, relapsed into silence again, and for a long time not a word was spoken. "My 'ed's in a whirl, " said Mr. Raggett at length. "It 'ud be a wonder if it wasn't, " said Mr. Boom sympathetically. "To think, " continued the other miserably, "how I've been let in forthis. The plots an' the plans and the artfulness what's been goin' onround me, an' I've never seen it. " "What d'ye mean?" demanded Mr. Boom, with sudden violence. "I know what I mean, " said Mr. Raggett darkly. "P'raps you'll tell me then, " said the other. "Who thought of it first?" demanded Mr. Raggett ferociously. "Who cameto me and asked me to court his slip of a girl?" "Don't you be a old fool, " said Mr. Boom heatedly. "It's done now, andwhat's done can't be undone. I never thought to have a son-in-law sevenor eight years older than what I am, and what's more, I don't want it. " "Said I wasn't much to look at, but she liked my chest o' drawers, "repeated Raggett mechanically. "Don't ask me where she gets her natur' from, cos I couldn't tell you, "said the unhappy parent; "she don't get it from me. " Mr. Raggett allowed this reflection upon the late Mrs. Boom to passunnoticed, and taking his hat from the table fixed it firmly upon hishead, and gazing with scornful indignation upon his host, stepped slowlyout of the door without going through the formality of bidding himgood-night. "George, " said a voice from above him. Mr. Raggett started, and glanced up at somebody leaning from the window. "Come in to tea to-morrow early, " said the voice pressingly;"good-night, dear. " Mr. Raggett turned and fled into the night, dimly conscious that a darkfigure had detached itself from the stile opposite, and was walkingbeside him. "That you, Dick?" he inquired nervously, after an oppressive silence. "That's me, " said Dick. "I heard her call you 'dear. '" Mr. Raggett, hisface suffused with blushes, hung his head. "Called you 'dear, '" repeated Dick; "I heard her say it. I'm going topitch you in the harbour. I'll learn you to go courting a young girl. What are you stopping for?" Mr. Raggett delicately intimated that he was stopping because hepreferred, all things considered, to be alone. Finding the young man, however, bent upon accompanying him, he divulged the plot of which hehad been the victim, and bitterly lamented his share in it. "You don't want to marry her then?" said the astonished Dick. "Course I don't, " snarled Mr. Raggett; "I can't afford it. I'm too old;besides which, she'll turn my little place topsy-turvy. Look here, Dick, I done this all for you. Now, it's evident she only wants my furniture:if I give all the best of it to you, she'll take you instead. " "No, she won't, " said Dick grimly; "I wouldn't have her now, not if sheasked me on her bended knee. " "Why not?" said Raggett. "I don't want to marry that sort o' girl, " said the other scornfully;"it's cured me. " "What about me then?" said the unfortunate Raggett. "Well, so far as I can see it serves you right for mixing in otherpeople's business, " said Dick shortly. "Well, good-night, and good luckto you. " To Mr. Raggett's sore disappointment he kept to his resolution, andbeing approached by Mr. Boom on his elderly friend's behalf, was rudelyfrank to him. "I'm a free man again, " he said blithely, "and I feel better than I'vefelt for ever so long. More manly. " "You ought to think of other people, " said Mr. Boom severely; "think ofpoor old Raggett. " "Well, he's got a young wife out of it, " said Dick. "I daresay he'll behappy enough. He wants somebody to help him spend his money. " In this happy frame of mind he resumed his ordinary life, and when heencountered his former idol, met her with a heartiness and unconcernwhich the lady regarded with secret disapproval. He was now so sure ofhimself that, despite a suspicion of ulterior design on the part of Mr. Boom, he even accepted an invitation to tea. The presence of Mr. Raggett made it a slow and solemn function, Nobodywith any feelings could eat with an appetite with that afflicted man atthe table, and the meal passed almost in silence. Kate cleared the mealaway, and the men sat at the open door with their pipes while she washedup in the kitchen. "Me an' Raggett thought o' stepping down to the 'Sailor, '" said Mr. Boom, after a third application of his friend's elbow. "I'll come with you, " said Dick. "Well, we've got a little business to talk about, " said Boomconfidentially; "but we sha'n't be long. If you wait here, Dick, we'llsee you when we come back. " "All right, " said Tarrell. He watched the two old men down the road, and then, moving his chairback into the room, silently regarded the busy Kate. "Make yourself useful, " said she brightly; "shake the tablecloth. " Tarrell took it to the door, and having shaken it, folded it with muchgravity, and handed it back. "Not so bad for a beginner, " said Kate, taking it and putting it in adrawer. She took some needlework from another drawer, and, sitting down, began busily stitching. "Wedding-dress?" inquired Tarrell, with an assumption of great ease. "No, tablecloth!" said the girl, with a laugh. "You'll want to know a little more before you get married. " "Plenty o' time for me, " said Tarrell; "I'm in no hurry. " The girl put her work down and looked up at him. "That's right, " she said staidly. "I suppose you were rather surprisedto hear I was going to get married?" "A little, " said Tarrell; "there's been so many after old Raggett, Ididn't think he'd ever be caught. " "Oh!" said Kate. "I daresay he'll make a very good husband, " said Tarrell patronisingly. "I think you'll make a nice couple. He's got a nice home. " "That's why I'm going to marry him, " said Kate. "Do you think it's wrongto marry a man for that?" "That's your business, " said Tarrell coldly. "Speaking for myself, andnot wishing to hurt your feelings, I shouldn't like to marry a girl likethat. " "You mean you wouldn't like to marry me?" said Kate softly. She leaned forward as she spoke, until her breath fanned his face. "That's what I do mean, " said Tarrell, with a suspicion of doggedness inhis voice. "Not even if I asked you on my bended knees?" said Kate. "Aren't youglad you're cured?" "Yes, " said Tarrell manfully. "So am I, " said the girl; "and now that you are happy, just go down tothe 'Jolly Sailor, ' and make poor old Raggett happy too. " "How?" asked Tarrell. "Tell him that I have only been having a joke with him, " said Kate, surveying him with a steady smile. "Tell him that I overheard himand father talking one night, and that I resolved to give them both alesson. And tell them that I didn't think anybody could have been sostupid as they have been to believe in it. " She leaned back in her chair, and, regarding the dumbfounded Tarrellwith a smile of wicked triumph, waited for him to speak. "Raggett, indeed!" she said disdainfully. "I suppose, " said Tarrell at length, speaking very slowly, "my beingstupid was no surprise to you?" "Not a bit, " said the girl cheerfully. "I'll ask you to tell Raggett yourself, " said Tarrell, rising and movingtowards the door. "I sha'n't see him. Good-night. " "Good-night, " said she. "Where are you going, then?" There was no reply. "Where are you going?" she repeated. Then a suspicion of his purposeflashed across her. "You're not foolish enough to be going away?" shecried in dismay. "Why not?" said Tarrell slowly. "Because, " said Kate, looking down--"oh, because--well, it's ridiculous. I'd sooner have you stay here and feel what a stupid you've been makingof yourself. I want to remind you of it sometimes. " "I don't want reminding, " said Tarrell, taking Raggett's chair; "I knowit now. " A RASH EXPERIMENT. The hands on the wharf had been working all Saturday night and well intothe Sunday morning to finish the _Foam_, and now, at ten o'clock, withhatches down and freshly-scrubbed decks, the skipper and mate stoodwatching the tide as it rose slowly over the smooth Thames mud. "What time's she coming?" inquired the skipper, turning a lazy eye up atthe wharf. "About ha'-past ten she said, " replied the mate. "It's very good o' youto turn out and let her have your state-room. " "Don't say another word about that, " said the skipper impressively. "I've met your wife once or twice, George, an' I must say that a nicerspoken woman, an' a more well-be'aved one, I've seldom seen. " "Same to you, " said the mate; "your wife I mean. " "Any man, " continued the skipper, "as would lay in a comfortablestate-room, George, and leave a lady a-trying to turn and to dressand ondress herself in a poky little locker, ought to be ashamed ofhimself. " "You see, it's the luggage they bring, " said the mate, slowly refillinghis pipe. "What they want with it all I can't think. As soon as my oldwoman makes up her mind to come for a trip, tomorrow being Bank Holiday, an' she being in the mind for a outing, what does she do?' Goes downCommercial Road and buys a bonnet far beyond her station. " "They're all like it, " said the skipper; "mine's just as bad. What doesthat boy want?" The boy approached the edge of the jetty, and, peering down at them, answered for himself. "Who's Captain Bunnett?" he demanded shrilly. "That's me, my lad, " said the skipper, looking up. "I've got a letter for yer, " said the boy, holding it out. The skipper held out his hands and caught it; and, after reading thecontents, felt his beard and looked at the mate. "It never rains but it pours, " he said figuratively. "What's up?" inquired the other. "'Ere's my old woman coming now, " said the skipper. "Sent a note tosay she's getting ready as fast as she can, an' I'm not to sail on anyaccount till she comes. " "That's awkward, " said the mate, who felt that he was expected to saysomething. "It never struck me to tell her your wife was coming, " said the skipper. "Where we're to put 'em both I don't know. I s'pose it's quite certainyour wife'll come?" "Certain, " said the mate. "No chance of 'er changing 'er mind?" suggested the skipper, lookingaway from him. "Not now she's got that bonnet, " replied the mate. "I s'pose there's nochance of your wife changing hers?" The skipper shook his head. "There's one thing, " he said hopefully, "they'll be nice company for each other. They'll have to 'ave thestate-room between 'em. It's a good job my wife ain't as big as yours. " "We'll be able to play four 'anded wist sometimes, " said the mate, as hefollowed the skipper below to see what further room could be made. "Crowded, but jolly, " said the other. The two cabs drove up almost at the same moment while they were below, and Mrs. Bunnett's cabman had no sooner staggered on to the jetty withher luggage than Mrs. Fillson's arrived with hers. The two ladies, who were entire strangers, stood regarding each othercuriously as they looked down at the bare deck of the _Foam_. "_George!_" cried Mrs. Fillson, who was a fine woman, raising her voicealmost to a scream in the effort to make herself heard above the winchof a neighbouring steamer. It was unfortunate perhaps that both officers of the schooner bore thesame highly-respectable Christian name. "_George!_" cried Mrs. Bunnett, glancing indignantly at the other lady. "_Ge-orge!_" cried Mrs. Fillson, returning her looks with interest. "Hussy, " said Mrs. Bunnett under her breath, but not very much under. "George!" There was no response. "_George!_" cried both ladies together. Still no response, and they made a louder effort There was yet another George on board, in the forecastle, and, inresponse to pushes from curious friends below, he came up, and regardedthe fair duettists open-mouthed. "What d'yer want?" he said at length sheepishly. "Will you tell Captain Bunnett that his wife, Mrs. Bunnett, is here?"said that lady, a thin little woman with bright black eyes. "Yes, mum, " said the seaman, and was hurrying off when Mrs. Fillsoncalled him back. "Will you tell Mr. Fillson that his wife, Mrs. Fillson, is up here?" shesaid politely. "All right, mum, " said the other, and went below to communicate thepleasing tidings. Both husbands came up on deck hastily, and a glanceserved to show them how their wives stood. "How do you do, Cap'n Bunnett, " said Mrs. Fill-son, with a fascinatingsmile. "Good-morning, marm, " said the skipper, trying to avoid his wife's eye;"that's my wife, Mrs. Bunnett. " "Good-morning, ma'am, " said Mrs. Fillson, adjusting the new bonnet withthe tips of her fingers. "Good-morning to you, " said Mrs. Bunnett in a cold voice, andpatronising. "You have come to bring your husband some of his things, Isuppose?" "She's coming with us, " said the skipper, in a hurry to have it over. "Wait half a moment, and I'll help you down. " He got up on to the side and helped them both to the deck, and, with agreat attempt at cheery conversation, led the way below, where, in themidst of an impressive silence, he explained that the ladies would haveto share the state-room between them. "That's the only way out of it, " said the mate, after waiting in vainfor them to say something. "It's a fairish size when you come to look at it, " said the skipper, putting his head on one side to see whether the bunk looked larger thatway. "Pack three in there at a pinch, " said the mate hardily. Still the ladies said nothing, but there was a storm-signal hoisted inMrs. Bunnett's cheek, which boded no good to her husband. There was roomonly for one trunk in the state-room, and by prompt generalship Mrs. Fillson got hers in first. Having seen it safe she went up on deck, fora look round. "George, " said Mrs. Bunnett fiercely, as soon as they were alone. "Yes, my dear, " said her husband. "Pack that woman off home, " said Mrs. Bunnett sharply. "I couldn't do that, " said the skipper firmly. "It's your own fault; youshould have said you was coming. " "Oh, I know you didn't want me to come, " said Mrs. Bunnett, the roses onher bonnet trembling. "The mate can think of a little pleasure for _his_wife, but I can stay at home and do your mending and keep the houseclean. Oh, I know; don't tell me. " "Well, it's too late to alter it, " said her husband. "I must get upabove now; you'd better come too. " Mrs. Bunnett followed him on deck, and, getting as far from the mate'swife as possible, watched with a superior air of part ownership themovements of the seamen as they got under way. A favourable westerlybreeze was blowing, and the canvas once set she stood by her husbandas he pointed out the various objects of interest on the banks of theriver. They were still in the thick of the traffic at dinner-time, so that theskipper was able, to his secret relief, to send the mate below to do thehonours of the table. He came up from it pale and scared, and, catchingthe skipper's eye, hunched his shoulders significantly. "No words?" inquired the latter anxiously, in a half-whisper. "Not exactly words, " replied the mate. "What you might call snacks. " "I know, " said the other with a groan. "If you don't now, " said the mate, "you will at tea-time. I'm not goingto sit down there with them alone again. You needn't think it If you wasto ask me what I've been eating I couldn't tell you. " He moved off a bit as his table companions came up on deck, and themaster of the _Foam_ deciding to take the bull by the horns, calledboth of them to him, and pointed out the beauties of the various passingcraft. In the midst of his discourse his wife moved off, leaving theunhappy man conversing alone with Mrs. Fillson, her face containing anexpression such as is seen in the prints of the very best of martyrs asshe watched them. At tea-time the men sat in misery; Mrs. Bunnett passed Mrs. Fillson hertea without looking at her, an example which Mrs. Fillson followed inhanding her the cut bread and butter. When she took the plate back itwas empty, and Mrs. Bunnett, convulsed with rage, was picking the slicesout of her lap. "Oh, I _am_ sorry, " said Mrs. Fillson. "You're not, ma'am, " said Mrs. Bunnett fiercely. "You did it a purpose. " "There, there!" said both men feebly. "Of course my husband'll sit quite calm and see me insulted, " said Mrs. Bunnett, rising angrily from her seat. "And my husband'll sit still drinking tea while I'm given the lie, " saidMrs. Fillson, bending an indignant look upon the mate. "If you think I'm going to share the state-room with that woman, George, you're mistaken, " said Mrs. Bunnett in a terrible voice. "I'd soonersleep on a doorstep. " "And I'd sooner sleep on the scraper, " said Mrs. Fillson, regarding herfoe's scanty proportions. "Very well, me an' the mate'll sleep there, " said the skipper wearily. "You can have the mate's bunk and Mrs. Fillson can have the locker. Youdon't mind, George?" "Oh, George don't mind, " said Mrs. Bunnett mimickingly; "anything'lldo for George. If you'd got the spirit of a man, you wouldn't let me beinsulted like this. " "And if you'd got the spirit of a man, " said Mrs. Fillson, turning onher husband, "you wouldn't let them talk to me like this. You neverstick up for me. " She flounced up on deck where Mrs. Bunnett, after a vain attempt tofinish her tea, shortly followed her. The two men continued their mealfor some time in silence. "We'll have to 'ave a quarrel just to oblige them, George, " said theskipper at length, as he put down his cup. "Nothing else'll satisfy'em. " "It couldn't be done, " said the mate, reaching over and clapping him onthe back. "Just pretend, I mean, " said the other. "It couldn't be done proper, " said the mate; "they'd see through it. We've sailed together five years now, an' never 'ad what I could call areally nasty word. " "Well, if you can think o' anything, " said the skipper, "say so. Thissort o' thing is worrying. " "See how we get on at breakfast, " said the mate, as he lit his pipe. "Ifthat's as bad as this, we'll have a bit of a row to please 'em. " Breakfast next morning was, if anything, worse, each lady directlyinciting her lord to acts of open hostility. In this they wereunsuccessful, but in the course of the morning the husbands arrangedmatters to their own satisfaction, and at the next meal the storm brokewith violence. "I don't wish to complain or hurt anybody's feelings, " said the skipper, after a side-wink at the mate, "but if you could eat your wittles with alittle less noise, George, I'd take it as a favour. " "Would you?" said the mate, as his wife stiffened suddenly in her seat. "Oh!" Both belligerents, eyeing each other ferociously, tried hard to think offurther insults. "Like a pig, " continued the skipper grumblingly. The mate hesitated so long for a crushing rejoinder that his wife lostall patience and rose to her feet crimson with wrath. "How dare you talk to my husband like that?" she demanded fiercely. "George, come up on deck this instant!" "I don't mind what he says, " said the mate, who had only just begun hisdinner. "You come away at once, " said his wife, pushing his plate from him. The mate got up with a sigh, and, meeting the look of horror-strickencommiseration in his captain's eye, returned it with one of impotentrage. "Use a larger knife, cap'n, " he said savagely. "You'll swallow thatlittle 'un one of these days. " The skipper, with the weapon in question gripped in his fist, turnedround and stared at him in petrified amazement, "If I wasn't the cap'no' this ship, George, " he said huskily, "an' bound to set a good exampleto the men, I'd whop you for them words. " "It's all for your good, Captain Bunnett, " said Mrs. Fillson mincingly. "There was a poor old workhouse man I used to give a penny to sometimes, who would eat with his knife, and he choked himself with it. " "Ay, he did that, and he hadn't got a mouth half the size o' yours, "said the mate warningly. "Cap'n or no cap'n, crew or no crew, " said the skipper in a suffocatingvoice, "I can't stand this. Come up on deck, George, and repeat themwords. " Before the mate could accept the invitation, he was dragged back by hiswife, while at the same time Mrs. Bunnett, with a frantic scream, threwher arms round her husband's neck, and dared him to move. "You wait till I get you ashore, my lad, " said the skipperthreateningly. "I'll have to bring the ship home after I've done with you, " retortedthe mate as he passed up on deck with his wife. During the afternoon the couples exchanged not a word, though the twohusbands exchanged glances of fiery import, and later on, their spousesbeing below, gradually drew near to each other. The mate, however, hadbeen thinking, and as they came together met his foe with a pleasantsmile. "Bravo, old man, " he said heartily. "What d'yer mean?" demanded the skipper in gruff astonishment. "I mean the way you pretended to row me, " said the mate. "Splendid youdid it. I tried to back you up, but lor! I wasn't in it with you. " "What, d'yer mean to say you didn't mean what you said?" inquired theother. "Why, o' course, " said the mate with an appearance of great surprise. "You didn't, did you?" "No, " said the skipper, swallowing something in his throat. "No, o'course not But you did it well, too, George. Uncommon well, you did. " "Not half so well as you did, " said the mate. "Well, I s'pose we've gotto keep it up now. " "I s'pose so, " said the skipper; "but we mustn't keep it up on the samethings, George. Swallerin' knives an' that sort o' thing, I mean. " "No, no, " said the mate hastily. "An' if you could get your missus to go home by train from Summercove, George, we might have a little peace and quietness, " added the other. "She'd never forgive me if I asked her, " said the mate; "you'll have toorder it, cap'n. " "I won't do that, George, " said the skipper firmly. "I'd never treat alady like that aboard my ship. I 'ope I know 'ow to behave myself if Ido eat with my knife. " "Stow that, " said the mate, reddening. "We'll wait an' see what turnsup, " he added hopefully. For the next three days nothing fresh transpired, and the bickeringbetween the couples, assumed on the part of the men and virulent on thepart of their wives, went from bad to worse. It was evident that theladies preferred it to any other amusement life on ship-board couldoffer, and, after a combined burst of hysterics on their part, in whichthe whole ship's company took a strong interest, the husbands met todiscuss heroic remedies. "It's getting worse and worse, " said the skipper ruefully. "We'll bethe laughing-stock o' the crew even afore they're done with us. There'sanother day afore we reach Summercove, there's five or six days there, an' at least five back again. " "There'll be murder afore then, " said the mate, shaking his head. "If we could only pack 'em _both_ 'ome by train, " continued the skipper. "That's an expense, " said the mate. "It 'ud be worth it, " said the other. "An' they wouldn't do it, " said the mate, "neither of 'em. " "I've seen women having rows afore, " said the skipper, "but then theycould get away from each other. It's being boxed up in this little craftas does the mischief. " "S'pose we pretend the ship's not seaworthy, " said the mate. "Then they'd stand by us, " said the skipper, "closer than ever. " "I b'leeve they would, " said the mate. "They'd go fast enough if we'dgot a case o' small-pox or anything like that aboard, though. " The skipper grunted assent. "It 'ud be worth trying, " said the mate. "We've pretended to have aquarrel. Now just as we're going into port let one of the hands, the boyif you like, pretend he's sickening for small-pox. " "How's he going to do it?" inquired the skipper derisively. "You leave it to me, " replied the other. "I've got an idea how it's tobe done. " Against his better judgment the skipper, after some demur, consented, and the following day, when the passengers were on deck gazing at thesmall port of Summercove as they slowly approached it, the cook came upexcitedly and made a communication to the skipper. "What?" cried the latter. "Nonsense. " "What's the matter?" demanded Mrs. Bunnett, turning round. "Cook, here, has got it into his head that the boy's got the small-pox, "said the skipper. Both women gave a faint scream. "Nonsense, " said Mrs. Bunnett, with a pale face. "Rubbish, " said Mrs. Fillson, clasping her hands nervously. "Very good, mum, " said the cook calmly. "You know best, o' course, butI was on a barque once what got it aboard bad, and I think I _ought_ toknow it when I see it. " "Yes; and now you think everything's the smallpox, " said Mrs. Bunnettuneasily. "Very well, mum, " said the cook, spreading out his hands. "Will you comedown an' 'ave a _look_ at 'im?" "No, " snapped Mrs. Bunnett, retreating a pace or two. "Will you come down an' 'ave a look at 'im, sir, " inquired the cook. "You stay where you are, George, " said Mrs. Bunnett shrilly, as herhusband moved forward. "Go farther off, cook. " "And keep your tongue still when we get to port, " said the mate. "Don'tgo blabbing it all over the place, mind, or we shan't get nobody to workus out. " "Ay, ay, " said the cook, moving off. "I ain't afraid of it--I've givenit to people, but I've never took it myself yet. " "I'm sure I wish I was off this dreadful ship, " said Mrs. Fillsonnervously. "Nothing but unpleasantness. How long before we get toSummercove, Cap'n Bunnett?" "'Bout a hour an' a 'arf ought to do it, " said the skipper. Both ladies sighed anxiously, and, going as far aft as possible, gazedeagerly at the harbour as it opened out slowly before them. "I shall go back by train, " said Mrs. Bunnett. "It's a shame, having myholiday spoilt like this. " "It's one o' them things what can't be helped, " said her husbandpiously. "You'd better give me a little money, " continued his wife. "I shall getlodgings in the town for a day or two, till I see how things are going. " "It 'ud be better for you to get straight back home, " said the skipper. "Nonsense, " said his wife sharply. "Suppose you take it yourself, Ishould have to be here to see you were looked after. I'm sure Mrs. Fillson isn't going home. " Mrs. Fillson, holding out her hand to Mr. Fillson, said she was sure shewasn't. "It 'ud be a load off our minds if you did go, " said the mate, speakingfor both. "Well, we're not going for a day or two at any-rate, " said Mrs. Bunnett, glancing almost amiably at Mrs. Fillson. In face of this declaration, and in view of the persistent demands ofthe ladies, both men, with a very ill grace furnished them with somemoney. "Don't say a word about it ashore, mind, " said the mate, avoiding hischief's indignant gaze. "But you must have a doctor, " said Mrs. Bunnett. "I know of a doctor here, " said the mate; "that's all arranged for. " He moved away for a little private talk with the skipper, but thatgentleman was not in a conversational mood, and a sombre silence fellupon all until they were snugly berthed at Summercove, and the ladies, preceded by their luggage on a trolly, went off to look for lodgings. They sent down an hour later to say that they had found them, and thatthey were very clean and comfortable, but a little more than theyhad intended to give. They implored their husbands not to run anyunnecessary risks, and sent some disinfectant soap for them to washwith. For three days they kept their lodgings and became fast friends, going, despite their anxiety, for various trips in the neighbourhood. Twicea day at least they sent down beef-tea and other delicacies for theinvalid, which never got farther than the cabin, communication beingkept up by a small boy who had strict injunctions not to go aboard. Onthe fourth day in the early morning they came down as close to the shipas they dared to bid farewell. "Write if there's any change for the worse, " cried Mrs. Bunnett. "Or if you get it, George, " cried Mrs. Fillson anxiously. "It's all right, he's going on beautiful, " said the mate. The two wives appeared to be satisfied, and with a final adieu went offto the railway station, turning at every few yards to wave farewellsuntil they were out of sight. "If ever I have another woman aboard my ship, George, " said the skipper, "I'll run into something. Who's the old gentleman?" He nodded in the direction of an elderly man with white side-whiskers, who, with a black bag in his hand, was making straight for the schooner. "Captain Bunnett?" he inquired sharply. "That's me, sir, " said the skipper. "Your wife sent me, " said the tall man briskly. "My name's Thompson--Dr. Thompson. She says you've got a case of small-pox on board which shewants me to see. " "We've got a doctor, " said the skipper and mate together. "So your wife said, but she wished me particularly to see the case, "said Dr. Thompson. "It's also my duty as the medical officer of theport. " "You've done it, George, you've done it, " moaned the panic-strickenskipper reproachfully. "Well, anybody can make a mistake, " whispered the mate' back; "an' hecan't touch us, as it _ain't_ small-pox. Let him come, and we'll lay iton to the cook. Say he made a mistake. " "That's the ticket, " said the skipper, and turned to assist the doctorto the deck as the mate hurried below to persuade the indignant boy tostrip and go to bed. In the midst of a breathless silence the doctor examined the patient;then, to the surprise of all, he turned to the crew and examined themone after the other. "How long has this boy been ill?" he demanded. "About four days, " said the puzzled skipper. "You see what comes of trying to hush this kind of thing up, " said thedoctor sternly. "You keep the patient down here instead of havinghim taken away and the ship disinfected, and now all these other poorfellows have got it. " "_What?_" screamed the skipper, as the crew broke into profaneexpressions of astonishment and self-pity. "Got what?" "Why, the small-pox, " said the doctor. "Got it in its worst form too. Suppressed. There's not one of them got a mark on him. It's all inside. " "Well, I'm damned, " said the skipper, as the crew groaned despairingly. "What else did you expect?" inquired the doctor wrathfully. "Well, theycan't be moved now; they must all go to bed, and you and the mate mustnurse them. " "And s'pose we catch it?" said the mate feelingly. "You must take your chance, " said the doctor; then he relented a little. "I'll try to send a couple of nurses down this afternoon, " he added. "Inthe meantime you must do what you can for them. " "Very good sir, " said the skipper brokenly. "All you can do at present, " said the doctor, as he slowly mountedthe steps, "is to sponge them all over with cold water. Do it everyhalf-hour till the rash comes out. " "Very good, " said the skipper again. "But you'll hurry up with thenurses, sir!" He stood in a state of bewilderment until the doctor was out of sight, and then, with a heavy sigh, took his coat off and set to work. He and the mate, after warning off the men who had come down to work, spent all the morning in sponging their crew, waiting with an impatienceborn of fatigue for the rash to come out. This impatience was shared bythe crew, the state of mind of the cook after the fifth sponging callingfor severe rebuke on the part of the skipper. "I wish the nurses 'ud come, George, " he said, as they sat on the deckpanting after their exertions; "this is a pretty mess if you like. " "Seems like a judgment, " said the mate wearily. "Halloa, there, " came a voice from the quay. Both men turned and looked up at the speaker. "Halloa, " said the skipper dully. "What's all this about small-pox?" demanded the new-comer abruptly. The skipper waved his hand languidly towards the forecastle. "Five of 'em down with it, " he said quietly. "Are you another doctor, sir?" Without troubling to reply, their visitor jumped on board and wentnimbly below, followed by the other two. "Stand out of the light, " he said brusquely. "Now, my lads, let's have alook at you. " He examined them in a state of bewilderment, grunting strangely as thewashed-out men submitted to his scrutiny. "They've had the best of cold sponging, " said the skipper, not without alittle pride. "Best of what?" demanded the other. The skipper told him, drawing back indignantly as the doctor suddenlysat down and burst into a hoarse roar of laughter. The unfeeling noisegrated harshly on the sensitive ears of the sick men, and Joe Burrows, raising himself in his bunk, made a feeble attempt to hit him. "You've been sold, " said the doctor, wiping his eyes. "I don't take your meaning, " said the skipper with dignity. "Somebody's been having a joke with you, " said the doctor. "Get up, youfools; you've got about as much small-pox as I have. " "Do you mean to tell me--" began the skipper. "Somebody's been having a joke with you, I tell you, " repeated thedoctor, as the men, with sundry oaths, half of relief, half of dudgeon, got out of bed and began groping for their clothes. "Who is it, do youthink?" The skipper shook his head, and the mate, following his lead, in dutybound, shook his; but a little while after, as they sat by the wheelsmoking and waiting for the men to return to work the cargo out, theywere more confidential. The skipper removed his pipe from his mouth, and, having eyed the mate for some time in silence, jerked his thumb inthe direction of the railway station. The mate, with a woe-begone nod, assented. THE CABIN PASSENGER. The captain of the _Fearless_ came on to the wharf in a manner moresuggestive of deer-stalking than that of a prosaic shipmaster returningto his craft. He dodged round an empty van, lurked behind an emptybarrel, flitted from that to a post, and finally from the interior of asteam crane peeped melodramatically on to the deck of his craft. To the ordinary observer there was no cause for alarm. The decks were abit slippery but not dangerous except to a novice; the hatches were on, and in the lighted galley the cook might be discovered moving about in amanner indicative of quiet security and an untroubled conscience. With a last glance behind him the skipper descended from the crane andstepped lightly aboard. "Hist, " said the cook, coming out quietly. "I've been watching for youto come. " "Damned fine idea of watching you've got, " said the skipper irritably. "What is it?" The cook jerked his thumb towards the cabin. "He's down there, " he saidin a hoarse whisper. "The mate said when you came aboard you was justto go and stand near the companion and whistle 'God Save the Queen' andhe'll come up to you to see what's to be done. " "_Whistle!_" said the skipper, trying to moisten his parched lips withhis tongue. "I couldn't whistle just now to save my life. " "The mate don't know what to do, and that was to be the signal, " saidthe cook. "He's darn there with him givin' 'im drink and amoosin' 'im. " "Well, you go and whistle it, " said the skipper. The cook wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "'Ow does it go?" heinquired anxiously. "I never could remember toons. " "Oh, go and tell Bill to do it!" said the skipper impatiently. Summoned noiselessly by the cook, Bill came up from the forecastle, andon learning what was required of him pursed up his lips and startedour noble anthem with a whistle of such richness and volume that thehorrified skipper was almost deafened with it. It acted on the matelike a charm, and he came from below and closed Bill's mouth, none toogently, with a hand which shook with excitement. Then, as quietly aspossible, he closed the companion and secured the fastenings. "He's all right, " he said to the skipper breathlessly. "He's a prisoner. He's 'ad four goes o' whisky, an' he seems inclined to sleep. " "Who let him go down the cabin?" demanded the skipper angrily. "It's afine thing I can't leave the ship for an hour or so but what I come backand find people sitting all round my cabin. " "He let hisself darn, " said the cook, who saw a slight openingadvantageous to himself in connection with a dish smashed the daybefore, "an' I was that surprised, not to say alarmed, that I droppedthe large dish and smashed it. " "What did he say?" inquired the skipper. "The blue one, I mean, " said the cook, who wanted that matter settledfor good, "the one with the place at the end for the gravy to run into. " "What did he say?" vociferated the skipper. "'E ses, 'Ullo, ' he ses, 'you've done it now, old man, '" replied thetruthful cook. The skipper turned a furious face to the mate. "When the cook come up and told me, " said the mate, in answer, "I see atonce what was up, so I went down and just talked to him clever like. " "I should like to know what you said, " muttered the skipper. "Well, if you think you can do better than I did you'd better go downand see him, " retorted the mate hotly. "After all, it's you what 'e cometo see. He's your visitor. " "No offence, Bob, " said the skipper. "I didn't mean nothing. " "I don't know nothin' o' horse-racin', " continued the mate, with aninsufferable air, "and I never 'ad no money troubles in my life, bein'always brought up proper at 'ome and warned of what would 'appen, but Iknow a sheriff's officer when I see 'im. " "What am I to do?" groaned the skipper, too depressed even to resenthis subordinate's manner. "It's a judgment summons. It's ruin if he getsme. " "Well, so far as I can see, the only thing for you to do is to miss theship this trip, " said the mate, without looking at him. "I can take herout all right. " "I won't, " said the skipper, interrupting fiercely. "Very well, you'll be nabbed, " said the mate. "You've been wanting to handle this craft a long time, " said the skipperfiercely. "You could ha' got rid of him if you'd wanted to. He's nobusiness down my cabin. " "I tried everything I could think of, " asseverated the mate. "Well, he's come down on my ship without being asked, " said the skipperfiercely, "and, damme, he can stay there. Cast off. " "But, " said the mate, "s'pose--" "Cast off, " repeated the skipper. "He's come on my ship, and I'll givehim a trip free. " "And where are you and the mate to sleep?" inquired the cook, who was aman of pessimistic turn of mind, and given to forebodings. "In your bunks, " said the skipper brutally. "Cast off there. " The men obeyed, grinning, and the schooner was soon threading her wayin the darkness down the river, the skipper listening somewhat nervouslyfor the first intimation of his captive's awakening. He listened in vain that night, for the prisoner made no sign, but atsix o'clock in the morning, when the _Fearless_, coming within sight ofthe Nore, began to dance like a cork upon the waters, the mate reportedhollow groans from the cabin. "Let him groan, " said the skipper briefly, "as holler as he likes. " "Well, I'll just go down and see how he is, " said the mate. "You stay where you are, " said the skipper sharply. "Well, but you ain't going to starve the man?" "Nothing to do with me, " said the skipper ferociously; "if a man likesto come down and stay in my cabin, that's his business. I'm not supposedto know he's there; and if I like to lock my cabin up and sleep ina foc'sle what's got more fleas in it than ten other foc'sles puttogether, and what smells worse than ten foc'sles rolled into one, that's my business. " "Yes, but I don't want to berth for'ard too, " grumbled the other. "Hecan't touch me. I can go and sleep in my berth. " "You'll do what I wish, my lad, " said the skipper. "I'm the mate, " said the other darkly. "And I'm the master, " said the other; "if the master of a ship can staydown the foc'sle, I'm sure a tuppeny-ha'penny mate can. " "The men don't like it, " objected the mate. "Damn the men, " said the skipper politely, "and as to starving the chap, there's a water-bottle full o' water in my state-room, to say nothing ofa jug, and a bag o' biscuits under the table. " The mate walked off whistling, and the skipper, by no means so easy inhis mind as he pretended to be, began to consider ways and means out ofthe difficulty which he foresaw must occur when they reached port. "What sort o' looking chap is he?" he inquired of the cook. "Big, strong-looking chap, " was the reply. "Look as though he'd make a fuss if I sent you and Bill down below togag him when we get to the other end?" suggested the skipper. The cook said that judging by appearances "fuss" would be no word forit. "I can't understand him keeping so quiet, " said the skipper; "that'swhat gets over me. " "He's biding 'is time, I expect, " said the cook comfortingly. "He's a'ard looking customer, 'sides which he's likely sea-sick. " The day passed slowly, and as night approached a sense of mystery anddiscomfort overhung the vessel. The man at the wheel got nervous, andflattered Bill into keeping him company by asking him to spin him ayarn. He had good reason for believing that he knew his comrade's stockof stories by heart, but in the sequel it transpired that there was one, of a prisoner turning into a cat and getting out of the porthole andrunning up helmsmen's backs, which he hadn't heard before. And he toldBill in the most effective language he could command that he neverwanted to hear it again. The night passed and day broke, and still the mysterious passenger madeno sign. The crew got in the habit of listening at the companion andpeeping through the skylight; but the door of the stateroom was closed, and the cabin itself as silent as the grave. The skipper went about witha troubled face, and that afternoon, unable to endure the suspense anylonger, civilly asked the mate to go below and investigate. "I'd rather not, " said the mate, shrugging his shoulders. "I'd sooner he served me and have done with it, " said the skipper. "Iget thinking all sorts of awful things. " "Well, why don't you go down yourself?" said the mate. "He'd serve youfast enough, I've no doubt. " "Well, it may be just his artfulness, " said the skipper; "an' I don'twant to humour him if he's all right. I'm askin' it as a favour, Bob. " "I'll go if the cook'll come, " said the mate after a pause. The cook hesitated. "Go on, cook, " said the skipper sharply; "don't keep the mate waiting, and, whatever you do, don't let him come up on deck. " The mate led the way to the companion, and, opening it quietly, led theway below, followed by the cook. There was a minute's awful suspense, and then a wild cry rang out below, and the couple came dashing madly upon deck again. "What is it?" inquired the pallid skipper. The mate, leaning for support against the wheel, opened his mouth, butno words came; the cook, his hands straight by his side and his eyesglassy, made a picture from which the crew drew back in awe. "What's--the--matter?" said the skipper again. Then the mate, regaining his composure by an effort, spoke. "You needn't trouble to fasten the companion again, " he said slowly. The skipper's face changed from white to grey. "Why not?" he asked in atrembling voice. "He's dead, " was the solemn reply. "Nonsense, " said the other, with quivering lips. "He's shamming or elsefainting. Did you try to bring him round?" "I did not, " said the mate. "I don't deceive you. I didn't stay downthere to do no restoring, and I don't think you would either. " "Go down and see whether you can wake him, cook, " said the skipper. "Not me, " said the cook with a mighty shudder. Two of the hands went and peeped furtively down through the skylight. The empty cabin looked strangely quiet and drear, and the door of thestateroom stood ajar. There was nothing to satisfy their curiosity, butthey came back looking as though they had seen a ghost. "What's to be done?" said the skipper helplessly. "Nothing can be done, " said the mate. "He's beyond our aid. " "I wasn't thinking about _him_, " said the skipper. "Well, the best thing _you_ can do when we get to Plymouth is to bolt, "said the mate. "We'll hide it up as long as we can to give you a startIt's a hanging matter. " The hapless master of the _Fearless_ wiped his clammy brow. "I can'tthink he's dead, " he said slowly. "Who'll come down with me to see?" "You'd better leave it alone, " said the mate kindly, "it ain't pleasant, and besides that we can all swear up to the present that you haven'ttouched him or been near him. " "Who'll come down with me?" repeated the skipper. "I believe it's atrick, and that he'll start up and serve me, but I feel I must go. " He caught Bill's eye, and that worthy seaman, after a short tussle withhis nerves, shuffled after him. The skipper, brushing aside the mate, who sought to detain him, descended first, and entering the cabin stoodhesitating, with Bill close behind him. "Just open the door, Bill, " he said slowly. "Arter you, sir, " said the well-bred Bill. The skipper stepped slowly towards it and flung it suddenly open. Thenhe drew back with a sharp cry and looked nervously about him. _The bedwas empty_. "Where's he gone?" whispered the trembling Bill. The other made no reply, but in a dazed fashion began to grope about thecabin. It was a small place and soon searched, and the two men sat downand eyed each other in blank amazement. "Where is he?" said Bill at length. The skipper shook his head helplessly, and was about to ascribe themystery to supernatural agencies when the truth in all its nakedsimplicity flashed upon him and he spoke. "It's the mate, " he saidslowly, "the mate and the cook. I see it all now; there's never beenanybody here. It was a little job on the mate's part to get the ship. Ifyou want to hear a couple o' rascals sized up, Bill, come on deck. " And Bill, grinning in anticipation, went. "CHOICE SPIRITS. " The day was fine, and the breeze so light that the old patched sailswere taking the schooner along at a gentle three knots per hour. A sailor two shone like snow in the offing, and a gull hovered in the airastern. From the cabin to the galley, and from the galley to the untidytangle in the bows, there was no sign of anybody to benefit by theconversation of the skipper and mate as they discussed a wicked andmutinous spirit which had become observable in the crew. "It's sheer rank wickedness, that's what it is, " said the skipper, asmall elderly man, with grizzled beard and light blue eyes. "Rank, " agreed the mate, whose temperament was laconic. "Why, when I was a boy you wouldn't believe what I had to eat, " said theskipper; "not if I took my Bible oath on it, you wouldn't. " "They're dainty, " said the mate. "Dainty!" said the other indignantly. "What right have hungry sailormento be dainty? Don't I give them enough to eat? Look! Look there!" He drew back, choking, and pointed with his forefinger as Bill Smith, A. B. , came on deck with a plate held at arm's length, and a nosedisdainfully elevated. He affected not to see the skipper, and, walkingin a mincing fashion to the side, raked the food from the plate into thesea with his fingers. He was followed by George Simpson, A. B. , whoin the same objectionable fashion wasted food which the skipper hadintended should nourish his frame. "I'll pay 'em for this!" murmured the skipper. "There's some more, " said the mate. Two more men came on deck, grinning consciously, and disposed of theirdinners. Then there was an interval--an interval in which everybody, fore and aft, appeared to be waiting for something; the something beingat that precise moment standing at the foot of the foc'sle ladder, trying to screw its courage up. "If the boy comes, " said the skipper in a strained, unnatural voice, "I'll flay him alive. " "You'd better get your knife out then, " said the mate. The boy appeared on deck, very white about the gills, and lookingpiteously at the crew for support. He became conscious from their scowlsthat he had forgotten something, and remembering himself, stretched outhis skinny arms to their full extent, and, crinkling his nose, walkedwith great trepidation to the side. "Boy!" vociferated the skipper suddenly. "Yessir, " said the urchin hastily. "Comm'ere, " said the skipper sternly. "Shove your dinner over first, " said four low, menacing voices. The boy hesitated, then walked slowly towards the skipper. "What are you going to do with that dinner?" demanded the latter grimly. "Eat it, " said the youth modestly. "What d'yer bring it on deck for, then?" inquired the other, bending hisbrows on him. "I thought it would taste better on deck, sir, " said the boy. "Taste better!" growled the skipper ferociously. "Ain't it good?" "Yessir, " said the boy. "Speak louder, " said the skipper sternly. "Is it very good?" "Beautiful, " said the boy in a shrill falsetto. "Did you ever taste better wittles than you get aboard this ship?"demanded the skipper, setting him a fine example in loud speaking. "Never, " yelled the boy, following it. "Everything as it should be?" roared the skipper. "Better than it should be, " shrilled the craven. "Sit down and eat it, " commanded the other. The boy sat on the cabin skylight, and, taking out his pocket-knife, began his meal with every appearance of enjoyment, the skipper, with hiselbows on the side, and his legs crossed, regarding him serenely. "I suppose, " he said loudly, after watching the boy for some time, "Is'pose the men threw theirs overboard becos they hadn't been used tosuch good food?" "Yessir, " said the boy. "Did they say so?" bawled the other. The boy hesitated, and glanced nervously forward. "Yessir, " he saidat length, and shuddered as a low, ominous growl came from the crew. Despite his slowness, the meal came to an end at last, and, in obedienceto orders, he rose, and taking his plate forward, looked entreatingly atthe crew as he passed them. "Come down below, " said Bill; "we want to have a talk with you. " "Can't, " said the boy. "I've got my work to do. I haven't got time totalk. " He stayed up on deck until evening, and then, the men's anger havingevaporated somewhat, crept softly below, and climbed into his bunk. Simpson leaned over and made a clutch at him, but Bill pushed him aside. "Leave him alone, " said he quietly; "we'll take it out of himto-morrow. " For some time Tommy lay worrying over the fate in store for him, andthen, yielding to fatigue, turned over and slept soundly until he wasawakened some three hours later by the men's voices, and, looking out, saw that the lamp was alight and the crew at supper, listening quietlyto Bill, who was speaking. "I've a good mind to strike, that's what I've a good mind to do, " hesaid savagely, as, after an attempt at the butter, he put it aside andate dry biscuit. "An' get six months, " said old Ned. "That won't do, Bill. " "Are we to go a matter of six or seven days on dry biscuit and rottentaters?" demanded the other fiercely. "Why, it's slow sooicide. " "I wish one of you would commit sooicide, " said Ned, looking wistfullyround at the faces, "that 'ud frighten the old man, and bring him rounda bit. " "Well, you're the eldest, " said Bill pointedly. "Drowning's a easy death too, " said Simpson persuasively. "You can'thave much enjoyment in life at your age, Ned?" "And you might leave a letter behind to the skipper, saying as 'ow youwas drove to it by bad food, " said the cook, who was getting excited. "Talk sense!" said the old man very shortly. "Look here, " said Bill suddenly. "I tell you what we can do: let oneof us pretend to commit suicide, and write a letter as Slushy here ses, saying as 'ow we're gone overboard sooner than be starved to death. It'ud scare the old man proper; and p'raps he'd let us start on the othermeat without eating up this rotten stuff first. " "How's it to be done?" asked Simpson, staring. "Go an' 'ide down the fore 'old, " said Bill. "There's not much stuffdown there. We'll take off the hatch when one of us is on watchto-night, and--whoever wants to--can go and hide down there till the oldman's come to his senses. What do you think of it, mates?" "It's all right as an idea, " said Ned slowly, "but who's going?" "Tommy, " replied Bill simply. "Blest if I ever thought of him, " said Ned admiringly; "did you, cookie?" "Never crossed my mind, " said the cook. "You see the best o' Tommy's going, " said Bill, "is that the old man 'udonly give him a flogging if he found it out. We wouldn't split as to whoput the hatch on over him. He can be there as comfortable as you please, do nothing, and sleep all day if he likes. O' course we don't knowanything about it, we miss Tommy, and find the letter wrote on thistable. " The cook leaned forward and regarded his colleague favourably; then hepursed his lips, and nodded significantly at an upper bunk from whichthe face of Tommy, pale and scared, looked anxiously down. "Halloa!" said Bill, "have you heard what we've been saying?" "I heard you say something about going to drown old Ned, " said Tommyguardedly. "He's heard all about it, " said the cook severely. "Do you know wherelittle boys who tell lies go to, Tommy?" "I'd sooner go there than down the fore 'old, " said Tommy, beginning toknuckle his eyes. "I won't go. I'll tell the skipper. " "No you won't, " said Bill sternly. "This is your punishment for themlies you told about us to-day, an' very cheap you've got off too. Now, get out o' that bunk. Come on afore I pull you out. " With a miserable whimper the youth dived beneath his blankets, and, clinging frantically to the edge of his berth, kicked convulsively as hewas lifted down, blankets and all, and accommodated with a seat at thetable. "Pen and ink and paper, Ned, " said Bill. The old man produced them, and Bill, first wiping off with hiscoat-sleeve a piece of butter which the paper had obtained from thetable, spread it before the victim. "I can't write, " said Tommy suddenly. The men looked at each other in dismay. "It's a lie, " said the cook. "I tell you I can't, " said the urchin, becoming hopeful; "that's whythey sent me to sea, becos I couldn't read or write. " "Pull his ear, Bill, " said Ned, annoyed at these aspersions upon anhonourable profession. "It don't matter, " said Bill calmly. "I'll write it for 'im; the old mandon't know my fist. " He sat down at the table, and, squaring his shoulders, took a noisy dipof ink, and scratching his head, looked pensively at the paper. "Better spell it bad, Bill, " suggested Ned. "Ay, ay, " said the other. "'Ow do you think a boy would spell'sooicide, ' Ned?" The old man pondered. "S-o-o-e-y-s-i-d-e, " he said slowly. "Why, that's the right way, ain't it?" inquired the cook, looking fromone to the other. "We mustn't spell it right, " said Bill, with his pen hovering over thepaper. "Be careful, Ned. " "We'll say 'killed myself instead, '" said the old man. "A boy wouldn'tuse such a big word as that p'raps. " Bill bent over his work, and, apparently paying great attention to hisfriends' entreaties not to write it too well, slowly wrote the letter. "How's this?" he inquired, sitting back in his seat. "'Deer captin i take my pen in hand for the larst time to innform youthat i am no more suner than heat the 'orrible stuff what you kail meeti have drownded miself it is a moor easy death than starvin' i 'ave leftmy clasp nife to bill an' my silver wotch to it is 'ard too dee so youngtommie brown. '" "Splendid!" said Ned, as the reader finished and looked inquiringlyround. "I put in that bit about the knife and the watch to make it seem real, "said Bill, with modest pride; "but, if you like, I'll leave 'em to youinstead, Ned. " "I don't want 'em, " said the old man generously. "Put your cloes on, " said Bill, turning to the whimpering Tommy. "I'm _not_ going down that fore 'old, " said Tommy desperately. "You mayas well know now as later on--I won't go. " "Cookie, " said Bill calmly, "just 'and me them cloes, will you? Now, Tommy. " "I tell you I'm not going to, " said Tommy. "An' that little bit o' rope, cookie, " said Bill; "it's just down byyour 'and. Now, Tommy. " The youngest member of the crew looked from his clothes to the rope, andfrom the rope back to his clothes again. "How 'm I goin' to be fed?" he demanded sullenly, as he began to dress. "You'll have a stone bottle o' water to take down with you an' somebiskits, " replied Bill, "an' of a night-time we'll hand you down some o'that meat you're so fond of. Hide 'em behind the cargo, an' if you hearanybody take the hatch off in the daytime, nip behind it yourself. " "An' what about fresh air?" demanded the sacrifice. "You'll 'ave fresh air of a night when the hatch is took off, " saidBill. "Don't you worry, I've thought of everything. " The arrangements being concluded, they waited until Simpson relievedthe mate at the helm, and then trooped up on deck, half pushing and halfleading their reluctant victim. "It's just as if he was going on a picnic, " said old Ned, as the boystood unwillingly on the deck, with a stone bottle in one hand and somebiscuits wrapped up in an old newspaper in the other. "Lend a 'and, Bill. Easy does it. " Noiselessly the two seamen took off the hatch, and, as Tommy declined tohelp in the proceedings at all, Ned clambered down first to receivehim. Bill took him by the scruff of the neck and lowered him, kickingstrongly, into the hold. "Have you got him?" he inquired. "Yes, " said Ned in a smothered voice, and, depositing the boy in thehold, hastily clambered up again, wiping his mouth. "Been having a swig at the bottle?" inquired Bill. "Boy's heel, " said Ned very shortly. "Get the hatch on. " The hatch was replaced, and Bill and his fellow conspirator, treadingquietly and not without some apprehension for the morrow, went below andturned in. Tommy, who had been at sea long enough to take things as hefound them, curled up in the corner of the hold, and with his bottle asa pillow fell asleep. It was not until eight o'clock next morning that the master of the_Sunbeam_ discovered that he was a boy short. He questioned the cook ashe sat at breakfast The cook, who was a very nervous man, turned pale, set the coffee-pot down with a thump which upset some of the liquor, andbolted up on deck. The skipper, after shouting for him in some of themost alluring swear words known on the high seas, went raging up ondeck, where he found the men standing in a little knot, looking very illat ease. "Bill, " said the skipper uneasily, "what's the matter with that damnedcook?" "'E's 'ad a shock, sir, " said Bill, shaking his head; "we've all 'ad ashock. " "You'll have another in a minute, " said the skipper emotionally. "Where's the boy?" For a moment Bill's hardihood forsook him, and he looked helplessly athis mates. In their anxiety to avoid his gaze they looked over the side, and a horrible fear came over the skipper. He looked at Bill mutely, andBill held out a dirty piece of paper. The skipper read it through in a state of stupefaction, then he handedit to the mate, who had followed him on deck. The mate read it andhanded it back. "It's yours, " he said shortly. "I don't understand it, " said the skipper, shaking his head. "Why, onlyyesterday he was up on deck here eating his dinner, and saying it wasthe best meat he ever tasted. You heard him, Bob?" "I _heard_ him, pore little devil!" said the mate. "You all heard him, " said the skipper. "Well, there's five witnessesI've got. He must have been mad. Didn't nobody hear him go overboard?" "I 'eard a splash, sir, in my watch, " said Bill. "Why didn't you run and see what it was?" demanded the other. "I thought it was one of the chaps come up to throw his supperoverboard, " said Bill simply. "Ah!" said the skipper, biting his lip, "did you? You're always going onabout the grub. What's the matter with it?" "It's pizon, sir, " said Ned, shaking his head. "The meat's awful. " "It's as sweet as nuts, " said the skipper. "Well, you can have it out ofthe other tank if you like. Will that satisfy you?" The men brightened up a little and nudged each other. "The butter's bad too, sir, " said Bill. "Butter bad!" said the skipper, frowning. "How's that, cook?" "I ain't done nothing to it, sir, " said the cook helplessly. "Give 'em butter out o' the firkin in the cabin, " growled the skipper. "It's my firm belief you'd been ill-using that boy; the food wasdelicious. " He walked off, taking the letter with him, and, propping it up againstthe sugar-basin, made but a poor breakfast. For that day the men lived, as Ned put it, on the fat of the land, inaddition to the other luxuries. Figgy duff, a luxury hitherto reservedfor Sundays, being also served out to them. Bill was regarded as abig-brained benefactor of the human race; joy reigned in the foc'sle, and at night the hatch was taken off and the prisoner regaled with aportion which had been saved for him. He ate it ungratefully, and putchurlish and inconvenient questions as to what was to happen at the endof the voyage. "Well smuggle you ashore all right, " said Bill; "none of us are going tosign back in this old tub. I'll take you aboard some ship with me--Eh?" "I didn't say anything, " said Tommy untruthfully. To the wrath and confusion of the crew, next day their commandingofficer put them back on the old diet again. The old meat was againserved out, and the grass-fed luxury from the cabin stopped. Bill sharedthe fate of all leaders when things go wrong, and, from being the idolof his fellows, became a butt for their gibes. "What about your little idea now?" grunted old Ned, scornfully, thatevening as he broke his biscuit roughly with his teeth, and dropped itinto his basin of tea. "You ain't as clever as you thought you was, Bill, " said the cook withthe air of a discoverer. "And there's that pore dear boy shut up in the dark for nothing, " saidSimpson, with somewhat belated thoughtfulness. "An' cookie doing hiswork. " "I'm not going to be beat, " said Bill blackly; "the old man was badlyscared yesterday. We must have another sooicide, that's all. " "Let Tommy do it again, " suggested the cook flippantly, and they alllaughed. "Two on one trip 'll about do the old man up, " said Bill, regarding theinterruption unfavourably. "Now, who's going to be the next?" "We've had enough o' this game, " said Simpson, shrugging his shoulders;"you've gone cranky, Bill. " "No I ain't, " said Bill; "I'm not going to be beat, that's all. Whoevergoes down, they'll have a nice, easy, lazy time. Sleep all day if helikes, and nothing to do. _You_ ain't been looking very well lately, Ned. " "Oh?" said the old man coldly. "Well, settle it between you, " said Bill carelessly; "it's all one tome, which of you goes. " "Ho, an' what about you?" demanded Simpson. "Me?" inquired Bill in astonishment. "Why, I've got to stay up here andmanage it. " "Well, we'll stay up and help you, " said Simpson derisively. Ned and the cook laughed, Simpson joined in. Bill rose, and, going tohis bunk, fished out a pack of greasy cards from beneath his bedding. "Larst cut, sooicide, " he said briefly, "I'm in it. " He held the pack before the cook. The cook hesitated, and looked at theother two. "Don't be a fool, Bill, " said Simpson. "Why, do you funk it?" sneered Bill. "It's a fool's game, I tell you, " said Simpson. "Well, you 'elped me start it, " said the other. "You're afraid, that'swhat you are, --afraid. You can let the boy go down there, but when itcomes to yourselves you turn chicken-'arted. " "All right, " said Simpson recklessly, "let Bill 'ave 'is way; cut, cookie. " Sorely against his will the cook complied, and drew a ten; Ned, aftermuch argument, cut and drew seven; Simpson, with a king in his fist, leaned back on the locker and fingered his beard nonchalantly. "Go on, Bill, " he said; "see what you can do. " Bill took the pack and shuffled it "I orter be able to beat seven, " hesaid slowly. He handed the pack to Ned, drew a card, and the other threesat back and laughed boisterously. "Three!" said Simpson. "Bravo, Bill! I'll write your letter for you;he'd know your writing. What shall I say?" "Say what you like, " retorted Bill, breathing hard as he thought of thehold. He sat back sneering disdainfully, as the other three merrily sat downto compose his letter, replying only by a contemptuous silence whenSimpson asked him whether he wanted any kisses put in. When the letterwas handed over for his inspection he only made one remark. "I thought you could write better than that, George, " he said haughtily. "I'm writing it for you, " said Simpson. Bill's hauteur vanished and he became his old self again. "If you want aplug in the eye, George, " he said feelingly, "you've only got to say so, you know. " His temper was so unpleasant that half the pleasure of the evening wasspoiled, and instead of being conducted to his hiding-place with quipsand light laughter, the proceedings were more like a funeral thananything else. The crowning touch to his ill-nature was furnishedby Tommy, who upon coming up and learning that Bill was to be hisroom-mate, gave way to a fit of the most unfeigned horror. "There's another letter for you this morning, " said the mate, as theskipper came out of his stateroom buttoning up his waistcoat. "Another what?" demanded the other, turning pale. The mate jerked his thumb upwards. "Old Ned has got it, " he continued. "I can't think what's come over the men. " The skipper dashed up on deck, and mechanically took the letter from Nedand read it through. He stood for some time like a man in a dream, andthen stumbled down the forecastle, and looked in all the bunks and evenunder the table; then he came up and stood by the hold, with his head onone side. The men held their breath. "What's the meaning of all this?" he demanded at length, sitting limplyon the hatch, with his eyes down. "Bad grub, sir, " said Simpson, gaining courage from his manner; "that'swhat we'll have to say when we get ashore. " "You're not to say a word about it!" said the other, firing up. "It's our dooty, sir, " said Ned impressively. "Look here now, " said the skipper, and he looked at the remainingmembers of the crew entreatingly. "Don't let's have no more suicides. The old meat's gone now, and you can start the other, and when we get toport I'll ship in some fresh butter and vegetables. But I don't want youto say anything about the food being bad, or about these letters, whenwe get to port I shall simply say the two of 'em disappeared, an' I wantyou to say the same. " "It can't be done, sir, " said Simpson firmly. The skipper rose and walked to the side. "Would a fi'pun note make anydifference?" he asked in a low voice. "It 'ud make a little difference, " said Ned cautiously. The skipper looked up at Simpson. On the face of Simpson was anexpression of virtuous arithmetical determination. The skipper looked down again. "Or a fi'pun note each?" he said, in alow voice. "I can't go beyond that. " "Call it twenty pun and it's a bargain, ain't it, mates?" said Simpson. Ned said it was, and even the cook forgot his nervousness, and said itwas evident the skipper meant to do the generous thing, and they'd standby him. "Where's the money coming from?" inquired the mate, as the skipper wentdown to breakfast, and discussed the matter with him. "They wouldn't getnothing out of me!" The skylight was open; the skipper with a glance at it bent forward andwhispered in his ear. "Wot!" said the mate. He endeavoured to suppress his laughter with hotcoffee and bacon, with the result that he had to rise from his seat andstand patiently while the skipper dealt him some hearty thumps on theback. With the prospect of riches before them the men cheerfully faced theextra work; the cook did the boy's, while Ned and Simpson did Bill'sbetween them. When night came they removed the hatch again, and with alittle curiosity waited to hear how their victims were progressing. "Where's my dinner?" growled Bill hungrily, as he drew himself up ondeck. "Dinner!" said Ned, in surprise; "why, you ain't got none. " "_Wot?_" said Bill ferociously. "You see the skipper only serves out for three now, " said the cook. "Well, why didn't you save us some?" demanded the other. "There ain't enough of it, Bill, there ain't indeed, " said Ned. "Wehave to do more work now, and there ain't enough even for us. You've gotbiscuit and water, haven't you?" Bill swore at him. "I've 'ad enough o' this, " he said fiercely. "I'm coming up, let the oldman do what he likes. I don't care. " "Don't do that, Bill, " said the old man persuasively. "Everything'sgoing beautiful. You was quite right what you said about the old man. Wewas wrong. He's skeered fearful, and he's going to give us twenty pun tosay nothing about it when we get ashore. " "I'm going to have ten out o' that, " said Bill, brightening a little, "and it's worth it too. I get the 'orrors shut up down there all day. " "Ay, ay, " said Ned, with a side kick at the cook, who was about toquestion Bill's method of division. "The old man sucked it all in beautiful, " said the cook. "He's in adreadful way. He's got all your clothes and things, and the boy's, andhe's going to 'and 'em over to your friends. It's the best joke I everheard. " "You're a fool!" said Bill shortly, and lighting his pipe went andsquatted in the bows to wrestle grimly with a naturally bad temper. For the ensuing four days things went on smoothly enough. The weatherbeing fair, the watch at night was kept by the men, and regularly theyhad to go through the unpleasant Jack-in-the-box experience of takingthe lid off Bill. The sudden way he used to pop out and rate them abouthis sufferings and their callousness was extremely trying, and it wasonly by much persuasion and reminders of his share of the hush-moneythat they could persuade him to return again to his lair at daybreak. Still undisturbed they rounded the Land's End. The day had been closeand muggy, but towards night the wind freshened, and the schooner beganto slip at a good pace through the water. The two prisoners, glad toescape from the stifling atmosphere of the hold, sat in the bows with anappetite which the air made only too keen for the preparations made tosatisfy it. Ned was steering, and the other two men having gone below and turned in, there were no listeners to their low complaints about the food. "It's a fool's game, Tommy, " said Bill, shaking his head. "_Game?_" said Tommy, sniffing. "'Ow are we going to get away when weget to Northsea?" "You leave that to me, " said Bill. "Old Ned seems to ha' got a badcough, " he added. "He's choking, I should think, " said Tommy, leaning forward. "Look! he'swaving his hand at us. " Both sprang up hastily, but ere they could make any attempt to escapethe skipper and mate emerged from the companion and walked towards them. "Look here, " said the skipper, turning to the mate, and indicating theculprits with his hand; "perhaps you'll disbelieve in dreams now. " "'Straordinary!" said the mate, rubbing his eyes, as Bill stood sullenlywaiting events, while the miserable Tommy skulked behind him. "I've heard o' such things, " continued the skipper, in impressive tones, "but I never expected to see it You can't say you haven't seen a ghostnow, Bob. " "'Straordinary!" said the mate, shaking his head again. "Lifelike!" "The ship's haunted, Ned, " cried the skipper in hollow tones. "Here'sthe sperrits o' Bill and the boy standing agin the windlass. " The bewildered old seaman made no reply; the smaller spirit sniffed andwiped his nose on his cuff, and the larger one began to whistle softly. "Poor things!" said the skipper, after they had discussed theseextraordinary apparitions for some time. "Can you see the windlassthrough the boy, Bob?" "I can see through both of 'em, " said the mate slyly. They stayed on deck a little longer, and then coming to the conclusionthat their presence on deck could do no good, and indeed seemed only toembarrass their visitors, went below again, leaving all hands a prey tothe wildest astonishment. "Wot's 'is little game?" asked Simpson, coming cautiously up on deck. "Damned if I know, " said Bill savagely. "He don't really think you're ghosts?" suggested the cook feebly. "O' course not, " said Bill scornfully. "He's got some little game on. Well, I'm going to my bunk. You'd better come too, Tommy. We'll find outwhat it all means to-morrer, I've no doubt. " On the morrow they received a little enlightenment, for after breakfastthe cook came forward nervously to break the news that meat andvegetables had only been served out for three. Consternation fell uponall. "I'll go an' see 'im, " said Bill ravenously. He found the skipper laughing heartily over something with the mate. Atthe seaman's approach he stepped back and eyed him coolly. "Mornin', sir, " said Bill, shuffling up. "We'd like to know, sir, me an'Tommy, whether we can have our rations for dinner served out now same asbefore?" "_Dinner?_" said the skipper in surprise. "What do you want dinner for?" "Eat, " said Bill, eyeing him reproachfully. "Eat?" said the skipper. "What's the good o' giving dinner to a ghost?Why you've got nowhere to put it. " By dint of great self-control Bill smiled in a ghastly fashion, andpatted his stomach. "All air, " said the skipper turning away. "Can we have our clothes and things then?" said Bill grinding his teeth. "Ned says as how you've got 'em. " "Certainly not, " said the skipper. "I take 'em home and give 'em to yournext o' kin. That's the law, ain't it, Bob?" "It is, " said the mate. "They'll 'ave your effects and your pay up to the night you committedsuicide, " said the skipper. "We didn't commit sooicide, " said Bill; "how could we when we'restanding here?" "Oh, yes, you did, " said the other. "I've got your letters in my pocketto prove it; besides, if you didn't I should give you in charge fordesertion directly we get to port. " He exchanged glances with the mate, and Bill, after standing first onone leg and then on the other, walked slowly away. For the rest of themorning he stayed below setting the smaller ghost a bad example in theway of language, and threatening his fellows with all sorts of fearfulpunishments. Until dinner-time the skipper heard no more of them, but he had justfinished that meal and lit his pipe when he heard footsteps on the deck, and the next moment old Ned, hot and angry, burst into the cabin. "Bill's stole our dinner, sir, " he panted unceremoniously. "Who?" inquired the skipper coldly. "Bill, sir, Bill Smith, " replied Ned. "_Who?_" inquired the skipper more coldly than before. "The ghost o' Bill Smith, " growled Ned, correcting himself savagely, "has took our dinner away, an' him an' the ghost o' Tommy Brown is asitting down and boltin' of it as fast as they can bolt. " "Well, I don't see what I can do, " said the skipper lazily. "What 'd youlet 'em for?" "You know what Bill is, sir, " said Ned. "I'm an old man, cook's no good, and unless Simpson has a bit o' raw beef for his eyes, he won't be ableto see for a week. " "Rubbish!" said the skipper jocularly. "Don't tell me, three men allafraid o' one ghost. I shan't interfere. Don't you know what to do?" "No, sir, " said Ned eagerly. "Go up and read the Prayer-book to him, and he'll vanish in a cloud ofsmoke, " said the skipper. Ned gazed at him for a moment speechlessly, and then going up on deckleaned over the side and swore himself faint. The cook and Simpson cameup and listened respectfully, contenting themselves with an occasionalsuggestion when the old man's memory momentarily failed him. For the rest of the voyage the two culprits suffered all theinconvenience peculiar to a loss of citizenship. The skipper blandlyignored them, and on two or three occasions gave great offence byattempting to walk through Bill as he stood on the deck. Speculation wasrife in the forecastle as to what would happen when they got ashore, andit was not until Northsea was sighted that the skipper showed hishand. Then he appeared on deck with their effects done up neatly in twobundles, and pitched them on the hatches. The crew stood and eyed himexpectantly. "Ned, " said the skipper sharply. "Sir, " said the old man. "As soon as we're made fast, " said the other, "I want you to go ashorefor me and fetch an undertaker and a policeman. I can't quite make up mymind which we want. " "Ay, ay, sir, " murmured the old man. The skipper turned away, and seizing the helm from the mate took hisship in. He was so intent upon this business that he appeared not tonotice the movements of Bill and Tommy as they edged nervously towardstheir bundles, and waited impatiently for the schooner to get alongsidethe quay. Then he turned to the mate and burst into a loud laugh as thecouple, bending suddenly, snatched up their bundles, and, clambering upthe side ashore and took to their heels. The mate too, and a faint butmirthless echo came from the other end of the schooner. A DISCIPLINARIAN. "There's no doubt about it, " said the night watchman, "but whatdissipline's a very good thing, but it don't always act well. Forinstance, I ain't allowed to smoke on this wharf, so when I want a pipeI either 'ave to go over to the 'Queen's 'ed, ' or sit in a lighter. IfI'm in the 'Queen's 'ed' I can't look arter the wharf, an' once when Iwas sitting in a lighter smoking the chap come aboard an' cast off aforeI knew what he was doing, an' took me all the way to Greenwich. He saidhe'd often played that trick on watchmen. "The worst man for dissipline I ever shipped with was Cap'n Tasker, ofthe _Lapwing_. He'd got it on the brain bad. He was a prim, clean-shavedman except for a little side-whisker, an' always used to try an' look asmuch like a naval officer as possible. "I never 'ad no sort of idea what he was like when I jined the ship, an' he was quite quiet and peaceable until we was out in the open water. Then the cloven hoof showed itself, an' he kicked one o' the men forcoming on deck with a dirty face, an' though the man told him he neverdid wash becos his skin was so delikit, he sent the bos'en to turn thehose on him. "The bos'en seemed to take a hand in everything. We used to doeverything by his whistle, it was never out of his mouth scarcely, andI've known that man to dream of it o' nights, and sit up in his sleepan' try an' blow his thumb. He whistled us to swab decks, whistled us togrub, whistled us to every blessed thing. "Though we didn't belong to any reg'ler line, we'd got a lot o'passengers aboard, going to the Cape, an' they thought a deal o' theskipper. There was one young leftenant aboard who said he reminded himo' Nelson, an' him an' the skipper was as thick as two thieves. Nicelarky young chap he was, an' more than one o' the crew tried to dropthings on him from aloft when he wasn't looking. "Every morning at ten we was inspected by the skipper, but that wasn'tenough for the leftenant, and he persuaded the old man to drill us. Hesaid it would do us good an' amuse the passengers, an' we 'ad to do allsorts of silly things with our arms an' legs, an' twice he walked theskipper to the other end of the ship, leaving twenty-three sailor-menbending over touching their toes, an' wondering whether they'd everstand straight again. "The very worst thing o' the lot was the boat-drill. A chap might besitting comfortable at his grub, or having a pipe in his bunk, when thebos'en's whistle would scream out to him that the ship was sinking, an'the passengers drownding, and he was to come an' git the boats out an'save 'em. Nice sort o' game it was too. We had to run like mad with kegso' water an' bags o' biscuit, an' then run the boats out an' launch 'em. All the men were told off to certain boats, an' the passengers too. Theonly difference was, if a passenger didn't care about taking a hand inthe game he didn't, but we had to. "One o' the passengers who didn't play was Major Miggens. He was verymuch agin it, an' called it tomfoolery; he never would go to his boat, but used to sit and sneer all the time. "'It's only teaching the men to cut an' run, ' he said to the skipper oneday; 'if there ever was any need they'd run to the boats an' leave ushere. Don't tell me. ' "'That's not the way I should ha' expected to hear you speak of Britishsailors, major, ' ses the skipper rather huffy. "'British _swearers_, ' ses the major, sniffing. 'You don't hear theirremarks when that whistle is blown. It's enough to bring a judgment onthe ship. ' "'If you can point 'em out to me I'll punish 'em, ' says the skipper verywarm. "'I'm not going to point 'em out, ' ses the major. 'I symperthise with'em too much. They don't get any of their beauty sleep, pore chaps, an'they want it, every one of 'em. ' "I thought that was a very kind remark o' the major to make, but o'course some of the wimmin larfed. I s'pose they think men don't wantbeauty sleep, as it's called. "I heard the leftenant symperthising with the skipper arter that. He said the major was simply jealous because the men drilled sobeautifully, an' then they walked aft, the leftenant talking veryearnest an' the skipper shaking his head at something he was saying. "It was just two nights arter this. I'd gone below an' turned in when Ibegan to dream that the major had borrowed the bos'en's whistle an' waspractising on it. I remember thinking in my sleep what a comfort it wasit was only the major, when one of the chaps give me a dig in the backan' woke me. "'Tumble up, ' ses he, 'the ship's afire. ' "I rushed up on deck, an' there was no mistake about who was blowing thewhistle. The bell was jangling horrible, smoke was rolling up from thehatches, an' some o' the men was dragging out the hose an' tripping upthe passengers with it as they came running up on deck. The noise andconfusion was fearful. "'Out with the boats, ' ses Tom Hall to me, 'don't you hear the whistle?' "'What, ain't we going to try an' put the fire out?' I ses. "'Obey orders, ' ses Tom, 'that's what we've got to do, an' the soonerwe're away the better. You know what's in her. ' "We ran to the boats then, an', I must say, we got 'em out well, and thevery fust person to git into mine was the major in his piejammers; arterall the others was in we 'ad 'im out agin. He didn't belong to our boat, an' dissipline is dissipline any day. "Afore we could git clear o' the ship, however, he came yelling to theside an' said _his_ boat had gone, an' though we prodded him with ouroars he lowered himself over the side and dropped in. "Fortunately for us it was a lovely clear night; there was no moon, butthe stars were very bright. The engines had stopped, an' the old shipsat on the water scarcely moving. Another boat was bumping up againstours, and two more came creeping round the bows from the port side an'jined us. "'Who's in command?' calls out the major. "'I am, ' ses the first mate very sharp-like from one of the boats. "'Where's the cap'n then?' called out an old lady from my boat, 'o' thename o' Prendergast. ' "'He's standing by the ship, ' ses the mate. "'Doing _what?_' ses Mrs. Prendergast, looking at the water as thoughshe expected to see the skipper standing there. "'He's going down with the ship, ' ses one o' the chaps. "Then Mrs. Prendergast asked somebody to be kind enough to lend hera handkerchief, becos she had left her pocket behind aboard ship, andbegan to sob very bitter. "'Just a simple British sailor, ' ses she, snivelling, 'going down withhis ship. There he is. Look! On the bridge. ' "We all looked, an' then some o' the other wimmin wanted to borrerhandkerchiefs. I lent one of 'em a little cotton waste, but she wasso unpleasant about its being a trifle oily that she forgot all aboutcrying, and said she'd tell the mate about me as soon as ever we gotashore. "'I'll remember him in my prayers, ' ses one o' the wimmin who was cryingcomfortable in a big red bandana belonging to one o' the men. "'All England shall ring with his deed, ' ses another. "'Sympathy's cheap, ' ses one of the men passengers solemnly. 'If we everreach land we must all band together to keep his widow an' orphans. ' "'Hear, hear, ' cries everybody. "'And we'll put up a granite tombstone to his memory, ' ses Mrs. Prendergast. "'S'pose we pull back to the ship an' take him off, ' ses a gentlemanfrom another boat. 'I'm thinking it 'ud come cheaper, an' perhaps thepuir mon would really like it better himself. ' "'Shame, ' ses most of 'em; an' I reely b'leeve they'd worked theirselvesup to that pitch they'd ha' felt disapponted if the skipper had beensaved. "We pulled along slowly, the mate's boat leading, looking back every nowand then at the old ship, and wondering when she would go off, for she'dgot that sort o' stuff in her hold which 'ud send her up with a bang assoon as the fire got to it; an' we was all waiting for the shock. "'Do you know where we're going, Mr. Bunce?' calls out the major. "'Yes, ' ses the mate. "'What's the nearest land?' asks the major. "'Bout a thousand miles, ' ses the mate. "Then the major went into figgers, an' worked out that it 'ud take usabout ten days to reach land and three to reach the bottom o' the waterkegs. He shouted that out to the mate; an' the young leftenant what wasin the mate's boat smoking a big cigar said there'd be quite a run ongranite tombstones. He said it was a blessed thing he had disinheritedhis children for marrying agin his wishes, so there wouldn't be anyorphans left to mourn for him. "Some o' the wimmin smiled a little at this, an' old Mrs. Prendergastshook so that she made the boat rock. We got quite cheerful somehow, and one of the other men spoke up and said that owing to his only havingreckoned two pints to the gallon, the major's figgers wasn't to berelied upon. "We got more cheerful then, and we was beginning to look on it as just apicnic, when I'm blest if the mate's boat didn't put about and head forthe ship agin. "There was a commotion then if you like, everybody talking andlaughing at once; and Mrs. Prendergast said that such a thing as onesingle-handed cap'n staying behind to go down with his ship, and thenputting the fire out all by himself after his men had fled, had neverbeen heard of before, an' she believed it never would be again. She saidhe must be terribly burnt, and he'd have to be put to bed and wrapped upin oily rags. "It didn't take us long to get aboard agin, and the ladies fairly mobbedthe skipper. Tom Hall swore as 'ow Mrs. Prendergast tried to kiss him, an' the fuss they made of him was ridiculous. I heard the clang ofthe telegraph in the engine-room soon as the boats was hoisted up, theengines started, and off we went again. "'Speech, ' yells out somebody. 'Speech. ' "'Bravo!' ses the others. 'Bravo!" "Then the skipper stood up an' made 'em a nice little speech. First ofall he thanked 'em for their partiality and kindness shown to him, andthe orderly way in which they had left the ship. He said it reflectedcredit on all concerned, crew and passengers, an' no doubt they'd besurprised when he told them that there hadn't been any fire at all, butthat it was just a test to make sure that the boat drill was properlyunderstood. "He was quite right about them being surprised. Noisy, too, they was, an' the things they said about the man they'd just been wanting to givegranite tombstones to was simply astonishing. It would have taken awhole cemetery o' tombstones to put down all they said about him, andthen they'd ha' had to cut the letters small. "I vote we have an indignation meeting in the saloon to record ourdisgust at the cap'n's behaviour, ' ses the major fiercely. 'I beg topropose that Mr. Macpherson take the chair. ' "'I second that, ' ses another, fierce-like. "'I beg to propose the major instead, ' ses somebody else in a heasyoff-hand sort o' way; 'Mr. Macpherson's boat not having come back yet. ' "At first everybody thought he was joking, but when they found he wasreally speaking the truth the excitement was awful. Fortunately, as Mrs. Prendergast remarked, there was no ladies in the boat, but there wasseveral men passengers. We were doing a good thirteen knots an hour, butwe brought up at once, an' then we 'ad the most lovely firework displayI ever see aboard ship in my life. Blue lights and rockets and gunsgoing all night, while we cruised slowly about, and the passengerssat on deck arguing as to whether the skipper would be hung or onlyimprisoned for life. "It was daybreak afore we sighted them, just a little speck near thesky-line, an' we bore down on them for all we was worth. Half an hourlater they was alongside, an' of all the chilly, miserable-looking men Iever see they was the worst. "They had to be helped up the side a'most, and they was so grateful itwas quite affecting, until the true state o' things was explained tothem. It seemed to change 'em wonderful, an' after Mr. Macpherson hadhad three cups o' hot coffee an' four glasses o' brandy he took thechair at the indignation meeting, an' went straight off to sleep init. They woke him up three times, but he was so cross about it that theladies had to go away an' the meeting was adjourned. "I don't think it ever came to much after all, nobody being really hurt, an' the skipper being so much upset they felt sort o' sorry for 'im. "The rest of the passage was very quiet an' comfortable, but o' courseit all came out at the other end, an' the mate brought the ship home. Some o' the chaps said the skipper was a bit wrong in the 'ed, and, while I'm not gainsaying that, it's my firm opinion that he waspersuaded to do what he did by that young leftenant. As I said afore, hewas a larky young chap, an' very fond of a joke if he didn't have to payfor it. " BROTHER HUTCHINS. "I've got a friend coming down with us this trip, George, " said themaster of the _Wave_, as they sat on deck after tea watching the river. "One of our new members, Brother Hutchins. " "From the Mission, I s'pose?" said the mate coldly. "From the Mission, " confirmed the skipper. "You'll like him, George;he's been one o' the greatest rascals that ever breathed. " "Well, I don't know what you mean, " said the mate, looking upindignantly. "He's 'ad a most interestin' life, " said the skipper; "he's been in halfthe jails of England. To hear 'im talk is as good as reading a book. And'e's as merry as they make 'em. " "Oh, and is 'e goin' to give us prayers afore breakfast like thatfat-necked, white-faced old rascal what came down with us last summerand stole my boots?" demanded the mate. "He never stole 'em, George, " said the skipper. "If you'd 'eard that man cry when I mentioned to 'im your unjustsuspicions, you'd never have forgiven yourself. He told 'em at themeetin', an' they had prayers for you. " "You an' your Mission are a pack o' fools, " said the mate scornfully. "You're always being done. A man comes to you an' ses 'e's found grace, and you find 'im a nice, easy, comfortable living. 'E sports a bit ofblue ribbon and a red nose at the same time. Don't tell me. You ask mewhy I don't join you, and I tell you it's because I don't want to losemy commonsense. " "You'll know better one o' these days, George, " said the skipper, rising. "I earnestly hope you'll 'ave some great sorrow or affliction, something almost too great for you to bear. It's the only thing that'llsave you. " "I expect that fat chap what stole my boots would like to see it too, "said the mate. "He would, " said the skipper solemnly. "He said so. " The mate got up, fuming and knocking his pipe out with great violenceagainst the side of the schooner, stamped up and down the deck two orthree times, and then, despairing of regaining his accustomed calm onboard, went ashore. It was late when he returned. A light burnt in the cabin, and theskipper with his spectacles on was reading aloud from an old number ofthe _Evangelical Magazine_ to a thin, white-faced man dressed in black. "That's my mate, " said the skipper, looking up from his book. "Is he one of our band?" inquired the stranger. The skipper shook his head despondently. "Not yet, " said the stranger encouragingly. "Seen too many of 'em, " said the mate bluntly. "The more I see of 'em, the less I like 'em. It makes me feel wicked to look at 'em. " "Ah, that ain't you speaking now, it's the Evil One, " said Mr. Hutchinsconfidently. "I s'pose you know 'im pretty well, " said the mate simply. "I lived with him thirty years, " said Mr. Hutchins solemnly, "then I gottired of him. " "I should think he got a bit sick too, " said the mate. "Thirty days 'udha' been too long for me. " He went to his berth, to give Mr. Hutchins time to frame a suitablereply, and returned with a full bottle of whisky and a tumbler, andhaving drawn the cork with a refreshing pop, mixed himself a stiff glassand lit his pipe. Mr. Hutchins with a deep groan gazed reproachfully atthe skipper and shook his head at the bottle. "You know I don't like you to bring that filthy stuff in the cabin, George, " said the skipper. "It's not for me, " said the mate flippantly. "It's for the Evil One. Heses the sight of his old pal 'Utchins 'as turned his stomach. " He glanced at the stranger and saw to his astonishment that he appearedto be struggling with a strong desire to laugh. His lips tightened andhis shifty little eyes watered, but he conquered himself in a moment, and rising to his feet delivered a striking address in favour ofteetotalism. He condemned whisky as not only wicked, but unnecessary, declaring with a side glance at the mate that two acidulated dropsdissolved in water were an excellent substitute. The sight of the whisky appeared to madden him, and the skipper satspell-bound at his eloquence, until at length, after apostrophising thebottle in a sentence which left him breathless, he snatched it up anddashed it to pieces on the floor. For a moment the mate was struck dumb with fury, then with a roar heleaped up and rushed for the lecturer, but the table was between them, and before he could get over it the skipper sprang up and seizing him bythe arm, pushed his friend into the state-room. "Lea' go, " foamed the mate. "Let me get at him. " "George, " said the skipper, still striving with him, "I'm ashamed ofyou. " "Ashamed be damned, " yelled the mate, struggling. "What did he chuck mywhisky away for?" "He's a saint, " said the skipper, relaxing his hold as he heard Mr. Hutchins lock himself in. "He's a saint, George. Seein' 'is beautifulwords 'ad no effect on you, he 'ad recourse to strong measures. " "Wait till I get hold of 'im, " said the mate menacingly. "Only wait, I'll saint 'im. " "Is he better, dear friend?" came the voice of Mr. Hutchins from beyondthe door; "because I forgot the tumbler. " "Come out, " roared the mate, "come out and upset it. " Mr. Hutchins declined the invitation, but from behind the door pleadedtearfully with the mate to lead a better life, and even rebuked theskipper for allowing the bottle of sin to be produced in the cabin. Theskipper took the rebuke humbly; and after requesting Mr. Hutchins tosleep in the state-room that night in order to frustrate the evidentdesigns of the mate, went on deck for a final look round and then camebelow and turned in himself. The crew of the schooner were early astir next morning getting underway, but Mr. Hutchins kept his bed, although the mate slipped down tothe cabin several times and tapped at his door. When he did come up themate was at the wheel and the men down below getting breakfast. "Sleep well?" inquired Mr. Hutchins softly, as he took a seat on thehatches, a little distance from him. "I'll let you know when I haven't got this wheel, " said the mate sourly. "Do, " said Mr. Hutchins genially. "We shall see you at our meetingto-night?" he asked blandly. The mate disdained to reply, but his wrath when at Mr. Hutchins' requestthe cabin was invaded by the crew that evening, cannot be put intowords. For three nights they had what Mr. Hutchins described as love-feasts, and the mate as blamed bear-gardens. The crew were not particularlypartial to hymns, considered as such, but hymns shouted out with thefull force of their lungs while sharing the skipper's hymn-book appealedto them strongly. Besides, it maddened the mate, and to know that theywere defying their superior, and at the same time doing good to theirown souls, was very sweet The boy, whose voice was just breaking, gotoff some surprising effects, and seemed to compass about five octaveswithout distress. When they were exhausted with singing Mr. Hutchins would give thema short address, generally choosing as his subject a strong, violent-tempered man given to drink and coarse language. The speakerproved conclusively that a man who drank would do other things insecret, and he pictured this man going home and beating his wife becauseshe reproached him for breaking open the children's money-box to spendthe savings on Irish whisky. At every point he made, he groaned, andthe crew, as soon as they found they might groan too, did so withextraordinary gusto, the boy's groans being weird beyond conception. They reached Plymouth, where they had to put out a few cases of goods, just in time to save the mate's reason, for the whole ship, owing toMr. Hutchins' zeal, was topsy-turvy. The ship's cat sat up all one nightcursing him and a blue ribbon he had tied round her neck, and even thebattered old tea-pot came down to meals bedizened with bows of the sameproselytising hue. By the time they had got to their moorings it was too late to take thehatches off, and the crew sat gazing longingly at the lights ashore. Their delight when the visitor obtained permission for them to goashore with him for a little stroll was unbounded, and they set off likeschoolboys. "They couldn't be with a better man, " said the skipper, as the partymoved off; "when I think of the good that man's done in under four daysit makes me ashamed of myself. " "You'd better ship 'im as mate, " said George. "There'd be a pair of youthen. " "There's greater work for 'im to do, " said the skipper solemnly. He saw the mate's face in the waning light, and moved off with a sigh. The mate, for his part, leaned against the side smoking, and as theskipper declined to talk on any subject but Mr. Hutchins, relapsed intoa moody silence until the return of the crew some two hours later. "Mr. Hutchins is coming on after, sir, " said the boy. "He told us to sayhe was paying a visit to a friend. " "What's the name of the pub?" asked the mate quietly. "If you can't speak without showing your nasty temper, George, you'dbetter hold your tongue, " said the skipper severely. "What's youropinion about Mr. Hutchins, my lads!" "A more open 'arted man never breathed, " said Dan, the oldest of thecrew, warmly. "Best feller I ever met in my life, " said another. "You hear that?" said the skipper. "I hear, " said the mate. "'E's a Christian, " said the boy. "I never knew what a Christian wasbefore I met 'im. What do you think 'e give us?" "Give you?" said the skipper. "A pound cash, " said the boy. "A golden sovring each. Tork aboutChristians! I wish I knew a few more of 'em. " "Well I never!" exclaimed the gratified skipper. "An' the way 'e did it was so nice, " said the oldest seaman. "'E ses, 'That's from me an' the skipper, ' 'e ses. 'Thank the skipper for it asmuch as me, ' 'e ses. " "Well now, don't waste it, " said the skipper. "I should bank it if I wasyou. It'll make a nice little nest-egg. " "I 'ope it was come by honest, that's all, " said the mate. "O' course it was, " cried the skipper. "You've got a 'ard, cruel 'art, George. P'raps if it 'ad been a little softer you'd 'ave 'ad one too. " "Blast 'is sovrings, " said the surly mate. "I'd like to know where hegot 'em from, an' wot e' means by saying it come from you as much as'im. I never knew _you_ to give money away. " "I s'pose, " said the skipper very softly, "he means that I put such-likethoughts into 'is 'art. Well, you'd better turn in, my lads. We startwork at four. " The hands went forward, and the skipper and mate descended to the cabinand prepared for sleep. The skipper set a lamp on the table ready forMr. Hutchins when he should return, and after a short inward strugglebade the mate "good-night, " and in a couple of minutes was fast asleep. At four o'clock the mate woke suddenly to find the skipper standing byhis berth. The lamp still stood burning on the table, fighting feeblyagainst the daylight which was pouring in through the skylight. "Not turned up yet?" said the mate, with a glance at the visitor's emptyberth. The skipper shook his head spiritlessly and pointed to the table. Themate following his finger, saw a small canvas bag, and by the side of itfour-pence halfpenny in coppers and an unknown amount in brace buttons. "There was twenty-three pounds freight money in that bag when we leftLondon, " said the skipper, finding his voice at last. "Well, what do you think's become of it?" inquired the mate, taking upthe lamp and blowing it out. "I can't think, " said the skipper, "my 'ed's all confused. Bro--Mr. Hutchins ain't come back yet. " "I s'pose he was late and didn't like to disturb you, " said the matewithout moving a muscle, "but I've no doubt 'e's all right. Don't youworry about him. " "It's very strange where it's gone, George, " faltered the skipper, "verystrange. " "Well, 'Utchins is a generous sort o' chap, " said the mate, "'e give themen five pounds for nothing, so perhaps he'll give you something--when'e comes back. " "Go an' ask the crew to come down here, " said the skipper, sinking on alocker and gazing at the brazen collection before him. The mate obeyed, and a few minutes afterwards returned with the men, who, swarming into the cabin, listened sympathetically as the skipperrelated his loss. "It's a mystery which nobody can understand, sir, " said old Dan when hehad finished, "and it's no use tryin'. " "One o' them things what won't never be cleared up properly, " said thecook comfortably. "Well, I don't like to say it, " said the skipper, "but I must. The onlyman who could have taken it was Hutchins. " "Wot, sir, " said Dan, "that blessed man! Why, I'd laugh at the idea. " "He couldn't do it, " said the boy, "not if he tried he couldn't. He wastoo good. " "He's taken that twenty-three poun', " said the skipper deliberately;"eighteen, we'll call it, because I'm goin' to have five of it back. " "You're labourin' under a great mistake, sir, " said Dan ambiguously. "Are you going to give me that money?" said the skipper loudly. "Beggin' your pardon, sir, no, " said the cook, speaking for the rest, ashe put his foot on the companion-ladder. "Brother 'Utchins gave us thatmoney for singing them 'ims so well. 'E said so, and we ain't 'ad nocall to think as it warn't honestly come by. Nothing could ever make usthink that, would it, mates?" "Nothing, " said the others with exemplary firmness. "It couldn't bedone. " They followed the cook up on deck, and leaning over the side, gazed ina yearning fashion toward the place where they had last seen theirbenefactor. Then with a sorrowful presentiment that they would neverlook upon his like again, they turned away and prepared for the laboursof the day. THE DISBURSEMENT SHEET. The old man was dead, and his son Edward reigned in his stead. The oldman had risen from a humble position in life; his rule was easy, andhis manner of conducting business eminently approved of by the roughold seamen who sailed his small craft round the coast, and by that sharpclerk Simmons, on whose discovery the old man was wont, at times, to hughimself in secret. The proceedings, when one of his skippers came homefrom a voyage, were severely simple. The skipper would produce a bag, and, emptying it upon the table, give an account of his voyage; wheneverhe came to an expenditure, raking the sum out of the heap, until, atlength, the cash was divided into two portions, one of which went to theowner, the other to the skipper. But other men other manners. The books of the inimitable Simmons beingoverhauled, revealed the startling fact that they were kept by singleentry; in addition to which, a series of dots and dashes appearedagainst the figures forming a code, the only key to which was locked upsomewhere in Simmons's interior. "It's a wonder the firm hasn't gone bankrupt long ago, " said the newgovernor, after the clerk had explained the meaning of various signs andwonders. "What does this starfish against the entry mean?" "It isn't a starfish, sir, " said Simmons; "it means that one bag ofsugar got wetted a little; then, if the consignees notice it, we shallknow we have got to allow for it. " "A pretty way of doing business, upon my word. It'll all have to bealtered, " said the other. "I must have new offices too; this dingylittle hole is enough to frighten people away. " The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Captain Fazackerly, of the schooner _Sarah Ann_, who, having just brought up in the river, had hastened to the office to report. "Mornin', sir, " said the captain respectfully; "I'm glad to see youhere, sir, but the office don't seem real-like without your fathersitting in it. He was a good master, and we're all sorry to lose him. " "You're very good, " said the new master somewhat awkwardly. "I expect it'll take some time for you to get into the way of it, " saidthe captain, with a view to giving the conversation a more cheerfulturn. "I expect it will, " said the new master, thinking of the starfish. "It's a mercy Simmons wasn't took too, " said the captain, shakinghis head. "As it is, he's spared; he'll be able to teach you. Thereain't"--he lowered his voice, not wishing to make Simmons undulyproud--"there ain't a smarter clerk in all Liverpool than wot he is. " "I'm glad to hear it, " said the new master, regarding the old man withraised eyebrows, as he extricated a plethoric-looking canvas bag fromhis jacket pocket and dropped it with a musical crash on the chippedoffice table. His eyebrows went still higher, as the old man unfastenedthe string, and emptying the contents on to the table, knitted hisbrows into reflective wrinkles, and began to debit the firm with all theliabilities of a slow but tenacious memory. "Oh, come, " said the owner sharply, as the old man lovingly hooked outthe sum of five-and sixpence as a first instalment, "this won't do, cap'n. " "Wot won't do, Mas'r Edward?" inquired the old man in surprise. "Why, this way of doing business, " said the other. "It's notbusinesslike at all, you know. " "Well, it's the way me an' your pore old father has done it this lastthirty year, " said the skipper, "an' I'm sure I've never knowinglycheated him out of a ha'penny; and a better man o' business than yourfather never breathed. " "Yes; well, I'm going to do things a bit differently, " said the newmaster. "You must give me a proper disbursement sheet, cap'n, if youplease. " "And what may that be?" inquired Captain Fazackerly, as with greatslowness he gathered up the money and replaced it in the bag; "I neverheard of it afore. " "Well, I haven't got time to teach you bookkeeping, " said the other, somewhat nettled at the old man's manner. "Can't you get some of yourbrother captains to show you? Some deep-sea man would be sure to know. " "I'll see what I can do, sir, " said the skipper slowly, as he turnedtowards the door. "My word was always good enough for your father. " In a moody, indignant frame of mind he stuck his hands furiously in histrousers' pockets, and passed heavily through the swing-doors. At othertimes he had been wont to take a genial, if heavy interest in passingevents; but, in this instance, he plodded on, dwelling darkly uponhis grievance, until he reached, by the mere force of habit, a certainfavourite tavern. He pulled up sharply, and, as a mere matter of dutyand custom, and not because he wanted it, went in and ordered a glass ofgin. He drank three, and was so hazy in his replies to the young lady behindthe bar, usually a prime favourite, that she took offence, and availingherself, for private reasons, of a public weapon, coldly declined toserve him with a fourth. "Wot?" said the astounded Fazackerly, coming out of his haze. "You've had enough!" said the girl firmly. "You get aboard again, _andmind how you do so. _" The skipper gazed at her for a moment in open-mouthed horror, and thenjamming his hat firmly over his brows, stumbled out of the door and intothe street, where he ran full into the arms of another mariner who wasjust entering. "Why, Zacky, my boy, " cried the latter, clapping him lustily on theback, "how goes it?" In broken, indignant accents the other told him. "You come in with me, " said the new-comer. "I'll never enter that pub again, " said the skipper. "You come in with me, " said the master-mind firmly. Captain Fazackerly hesitated a moment, and then, feeling that he wassafe in the hands of the master of a foreign-going barque, followed himinto the bar, and from behind his back glared defiantly at his fair foe. "Two glasses o' gin, my dear, " said Captain Tweedie with the slightestpossible emphasis. The girl, who knew her customer, served him without a murmur, deftlyavoiding the gaze of ungenerous triumph with which the injured captainfavoured her as he raised the cooling beverage to his lips. The glassemptied, he placed it on the counter and sighed despondently. "There's something up with you, Zacky, " said Tweedie, eyeing him closelyas he bit the end off a cigar; "you've got something on your mind. " "I've been crool hurt, " said his friend in a hard, cold voice. "Myword ain't good enough for the new guv'nor; he wants what he calls adisbursement sheet. " "Well, give him one, " said Tweedie. "You know what it is, don't you?" Captain Fazackerly shook his head, and pushing the glasses along thecounter nodded for them to be refilled. "You come aboard with me, " said Tweedie after they had emptied them. Captain Fazackerly, who had a doglike faith in his friend, followed himinto the street and on to his barque. In a general way he experienceda social rise when he entered the commodious cabin of that noble craft, and his face grew in importance as his host, after motioning him to aseat, placed a select array of writing materials before him. "I s'pose I've got to do it, " he said slowly. "Of course you have, " said Tweedie, rolling his cigar between his thinlips; "you've got orders to do so, haven't you? We must all obey thoseabove us. What would you do if one of your men refused to obey an orderof yours?" "Hit him in the face, " said Captain Fazackerly with simple directness. "Just so, " said Tweedie, who was always ready to impart moral teaching. "And when your governor asks for a disbursement sheet you've got to givehim one. Now, then, head that paper--Voyage of the _Sarah Ann_, 180 tonsregister, Garston Docks to Limerick. " The captain squared his elbows, and, for a few seconds, nothing washeard but his stertorous breathing and the scratching of the pen; thena muttered execration, and Captain Fazackerly put down his pen with awoebegone air. "What's the matter?" said Tweedie. "I've spelt register without the 'd, '" said the other; "that's whatcomes o' being worried. " "It don't matter, " said Tweedie hastily. "Now what about stores? Wait abit, though; of course ye repaired your side-lamps before starting?" "Lor', no!" said Captain Fazackerly, staring; "what for? They were allright. " "Ye lie, " said Tweedie sternly, "you did! To repairs to side-lamps, tenshillings. Now then, did you paint her this trip?" "I did, " said the other, looking at the last entry in a fascinatedfashion. "Let's see, " said Tweedie meditatively--"we'll say five gallons of blackvarnish at one shilling and threepence a gallon--" "No, no, " said the scribe; "I used gas tar at threepence a gallon. " "Five gallons black varnish, one shilling and threepence a gallon, six-and-threepence, " said Tweedie, raising his voice a little; "have yougot that down?" After a prolonged struggle with his feelings the other said he had. "Twenty-eight pounds black paint at twopence a pound, " continuedTweedie. "Nay, nay, " said the skipper; "I allus saves the soot out of the galleyfor that. " The other captain took his cigar from his lips and gazed severely at hisguest. "Am I dealing with a chimney-sweep or a ship's captain?" he inquiredplaintively; "it would simplify matters a bit if I knew. " "Go on, Captain Tweedie, " said the other, turning a fine purple colour;"how much did you say it was?" "Twenty-eight twos equals fifty-six; that's four-and-ninepence, "continued Tweedie, his face relaxing to receive the cigar again;"and twenty-eight pounds white lead at twenty-eight shillings ahundredweight--" "Three penn'orth o' whiting's good enough for me, matey, " said CaptainFazackerly, making a stand. "See here, " said Tweedie, "who's making out this disbursement sheet, youor me?" "You are, " said the other. "Very good then, " said his friend; "now don't you interrupt. Idon't mind telling you, you must never use rubbish o' that sort in adisbursement sheet. It looks bad for the firm. If any other owners sawthat in your old man's sheet he'd never hear the end of it, and he'dnever forgive you. That'll be--what did I say? Seven shillings. And nowwe come to the voyage. Ye had a tug to give ye a pluck out to the bar?" "No; we went out with a fair wind, " said Captain Fazackerly, toying withhis pen. "Ye lie; ye had a tug out to the bar, " repeated Tweedie wearily. "Did yeshare the towing?" "Why, no, I tell 'e--" "That'll be three pounds then, " said Tweedie. "If ye'd shared it itwould have been two pound ten. You should always study your owner inthese matters, cap'n. Now, what about bad weather? Any repairs to thesails?" "Ay, we had a lot o' damage, " said Fazackerly, laying down his pen;"it took us days to repair 'em. Cost us four pounds. We had to put intoHolyhead for shelter. " "Four pounds!" said Tweedie, his voice rising almost to a scream. "Ay, all that, " said Fazackerly very solemnly. "Look here, " said Tweedie in a choked voice. "Blown away fore lowertopsail, fore-staysail, and carried away lifts to staysail. To sailmakerfor above, eleven pounds eighteen shillings and ten-pence. Then ye sayye put into Holyhead for shelter. Well, here in entering harbour we'llsay loss of port anchor and thirty fathoms of chain cable--" "Man alive, " said the overwrought skipper, hitting the table heavilywith his fist, "the old anchor's there for him to see. " "To divers for recovering same, and placing on deck, two pound ten, "continued Tweedie, raising his voice. "Did you do any damage going intodock at Limerick?" "More than we've done for years, " said Fazackerly, and shaking his head, entered into voluminous details; "total, seven pounds. " "Seven pounds!" said the exasperated Tweedie. "Seven pounds for allthat, and your insurance don't begin till twenty-five pounds. Why, damme, you ain't fit to be trusted out with a ship. I firmly b'lieveif you lost her you'd send in a bill for a suit of clothes, and call itsquare. Now take this down, and larn a business way o' doing things. In entering dock, carried away starboard cathead and started starboardchain plates; held survey of damage done: decided to take off channelbends, renew through bolts, straighten plates and replace same; also torenew cathead and caulk ship's side in wake of plate, six seams, &c. &c. There, now, that looks better. Twenty-seven pounds eighteen andseven-pence halfpenny, and I think, for all that damage, it's a veryreasonable bill. Can you remember anything else?" "You've got a better memory than I have, " said his admiring friend. "Wait a bit, though; yes, I had my poor old dog washed overboard. " "Dog!" said the deep-sea man; "we can't put dogs in a disbursementsheet. 'Tain't business. " "My old master would have given me another one, though, " grumbledFazackerly. "I wouldn't ha' parted with that dog for anything. He knewas much as you or me, that dog did. I never knew him to bite an officer, but I don't think there was ever a man came on the ship but what he'dhave a bit out of, sooner or later. " "Them sort of dogs do get washed overboard, " said Tweedie impatiently. "Boys he couldn't abear, " pursued the other, in tones of tenderreminiscence; "the mere sight of a boarding-school of 'em out for a walkwould give him hydrophoby almost. " "Just so, " said Tweedie. "Ah! there's cork fenders; ye may pick themup floating down the river, or they may come aboard in the night froma craft alongside; they're changeable sort o' things, but in thedisbursement sheet they must go, and best quality too, four-and-sixpenceeach. Anything else?" "There's the dog, " said Fazackerly persistently. "Copper nails, tenpence, " said Tweedie the dictator. "Haven't bought any for months, " said the other, but slowly entering it. "Well, it ain't exactly right, " said Tweedie, shrugging his shoulders, "but you're so set on him going in. " "Him? Who?" asked Captain Fazackerly, staring. "The dog, " said Tweedie; "if he goes in as copper nails, he won't benoticed. " "If he goes in as tenpence, I'm a Dutchman, " said the bereaved owner, scoring out the copper nails. "You never knew that dog properly, Tweedie. " "Well, never mind about the dog, " said Tweedie; "let's cast the sheet. What do you think it comes to?" "'Bout thirty pun', " hazarded the other. "Thirty fiddlesticks, " retorted Tweedie; "there you are in black andwhite--sixty-three pounds eighteen shillings and tenpence ha'penny. " "And is that what Mas'r Edward wants?" inquired Captain Fazackerly, gasping. "Yes; that's a properly drawn up disbursement sheet, " said Tweedie insatisfied tones. "You see how it simplifies matters. The governor cansee at a glance how things stand, while, if you trusted to your memory, you might forget something, or else claim something you didn't have. " "I ought to have had them things afore, " said Captain Fazackerly, shaking his head solemnly. "I'd ha' been riding in my carriage by now. " "Never ye dream of having another v'y'ge without one, " said Tweedie. "Idoubt whether it's lawful to render an account without one. " He folded the paper, and handed it to his friend, who, after inspectingit with considerable pride, tucked it carefully away in his breastpocket. "Take it up in the morning, " said Tweedie. "We'll have a bit o' tea downhere, and then we'll go round a bit afterwards. " Captain Fazackerly having no objection, they had tea first, and then, accompanied by the first mate, went out to christen the disbursementsheet. The ceremony, which was of great length, was solemnly impressivetowards the finish. Captain Tweedie, who possessed a very sensitive, highly-strung nature, finding it necessary to put a licensed victuallerout of his own house before it could be completed to his satisfaction. The one thing which Captain Fazackerly remembered clearly the nextmorning when he awoke was the disbursement sheet. He propped it againstthe coffee-pot during breakfast, and read selections to his admiringmate, and after a refreshing toilet, proceeded to the office. Simmonswas already there, and before the skipper could get to the purpose ofhis visit, the head of the firm arrived. "I've just brought the disbursement sheet you asked for, sir, " said theskipper, drawing it from his pocket. "Ah! you've got it, then, " said the new governor, with a gracious smile;"you see it wasn't so much trouble after all. " "I don't mind the trouble, sir, " interrupted Captain Fazackerly. "You see it puts things on a better footing, " said the other. "I cansee at a glance now how things stand, and Simmons can enter the itemsstraight away into the books of the firm. It's more satisfactory to bothof us. Sit down, cap'n. " The captain sat down, his face glowing with this satisfactoryrecognition of his work. "I met Cap'n Hargreaves as I was a-coming up, " he said; "and I explainedto him your ideas on the subject, an' he went straight back, as straightas he could go, to make out _his_ disbursement sheet. " "Ah! we shall soon have things on a better footing now, " said thegovernor, unfolding the paper, while the skipper gazed abstractedlythrough the small, dirty panes of the office window at the bustle on thequay below. For a short space there was silence in the office, broken only by thehalf-audible interjections of the reader. Then he spoke. "Simmons!" he said sharply. The old clerk slipped from his stool, and obeying the motions of hisemployer inspected, in great astonishment, the first disbursement sheetwhich had ever entered the office. He read through every item in anastonished whisper, and, having finished, followed the governor'sexample and gazed at the heavy figure by the window. "Captain Fazackerly, " said his employer, at length, breaking a painfulsilence. "Sir, " said the captain, turning his head a little. "I've been talking with Simmons about these disbursement sheets, " saidthe owner, somewhat awkwardly; "Simmons is afraid they'll give him a lotof extra trouble. " The captain turned his head a little more, and gazed stolidly at theastonished Simmons. "A man oughtn't to mind a little extra trouble if the firm wishes it, "he said somewhat severely. "He's afraid it would throw his books out a bit, " continued the owner, deftly avoiding the gaze of the injured clerk. "You see, Simmons'book-keeping is of the old-fashioned kind, cap'n, star-fishes and allthat kind of thing, " he continued, incoherently, as the gaze of Simmons, refusing to be longer avoided, broke the thread of his discourse. "So Ithink we'll put the paper on the fire, cap'n, and do business in the oldway. Have you got the money with you?" "I have, sir, " said Fazackerly, feeling in his pocket, as he mournfullywatched his last night's work blazing up the chimney. "Fire away, then, " said the owner, almost cordially. Captain Fazackerly advanced to the table, and clearing his throat, fixedhis eyes in a reflective stare on the opposite wall and commenced:-- "Blown away fore lower topsail, fore-staysail, and carried away lifts tostaysail. To sailmaker for above, eleven pounds eighteen shillings andten-pence, " he said, with relish. "Tug out to the bar, three pounds. Totwenty-eight pounds black soot, I mean paint--" RULE OF THREE. The long summer day had gone and twilight was just merging into night. A ray of light from the lantern at the end of the quay went tremblingacross the sea, and in the little harbour the dusky shapes of a fewsmall craft lay motionless on the dark water. The master of the schooner _Harebell_ came slowly towards the harbour, accompanied by his mate. Both men had provided ashore for a voyagewhich included no intoxicants, and the dignity of the skipper, always asalient feature, had developed tremendously under the influence of brownstout. He stepped aboard his schooner importantly, and then, turningto the mate, who was about to follow, suddenly held up his hand forsilence. "What did I tell you?" he inquired severely as the mate got quietlyaboard. "About knocking down the two policemen?" guessed the mate, somewhatpuzzled. "No, " said the other shortly. "Listen. " The mate listened. From the foc'sle came low gruff voices of men, brokenby the silvery ring of women's laughter. "Well, I'm a Dutchman, " said the mate the air of one who felt he wasexpected to say something. "After all I said to 'em, " said the skipper with weary dignity. "You'eard what I said to them Jack?" "Nobody could ha' swore louder, " testified the mate. "An' here they are, " said the skipper, "defying of me. After all I saidto 'em. After all the threats I--I employed. " "Employed, " repeated the mate with relish. "They've been and gone and asked them females down the foc'sle again. You know what I said I'd do, Jack, if they did. " "Said you'd eat 'em without salt, " quoted the other helpfully. "I'll do worse than that, Jack, " said the skipper after a moment'sdiscomfiture. "What's to hinder us casting off quietly and taking themalong with us? "If you ask me, " said the mate, "I should think you couldn't please thecrew better. " "Well, we'll see, " said the other, nodding sagaciously, "don't make nonoise, Jack. " He set an example of silence himself, and aided by the mate, cast offthe warps which held his unconscious visitors to their native town, andthe wind being off the shore the little schooner drifted silently awayfrom the quay. The skipper went to the wheel, and the noise of the mate hauling on thejib brought a rough head out of the foc'sle, the owner of which, aftera cry to his mates below, sprang up on deck and looked round inbewilderment. "Stand by, there!" cried the skipper as the others came rushing on deck. "Shake 'em out. " "Beggin' your pardin', sir, " said one of them with more politeness inhis tones than he had ever used before, "but--" "Stand by!" said the skipper. "Now then!" shouted the mate sharply, "lively there! Lively with it!" The men looked at each other helplessly and went to their posts as ascream of dismay arose from the fair beings below who, having just begunto realise their position, were coming on deck to try and improve it. "What!" roared the skipper in pretended astonishment, "what! Gellsaboard after all I said? It can't be; I must be dreaming!" "Take us back!" wailed the damsels, ignoring the sarcasm; "take us back, captain. " "No, I can't go back, " said the skipper. "You see what comes o'disobedience, my gells. Lively there on that mains'l, d'ye hear?" "We won't do it again, " cried the girls, as the schooner came to themouth of the harbour and they smelt the dark sea beyond. "Take us back. " "It can't be done, " said the skipper cheerfully. "It's agin the lor, sir, " said Ephraim Biddle solemnly. "What! Taking my own ship out?" said the skipper in affected surprise. "How was I to know they were there? I'm not going back; 'tain't likely. As they've made their beds, so they must lay on 'em. " "They ain't got no beds, " said George Scott hastily. "It ain't fair topunish the gals for us, sir. " "Hold your tongue, " said the skipper sharply. "It's agin the lor, sir, " said Biddle again. "If so be they'repassengers, this ship ain't licensed to carry passengers. If so be asthey're took out agin their will, it's abduction--I see the other day achap had seven years for abducting one gal, three sevens--three sevensis--three sevens is--well, it's more years than you'd like to be inprison, sir. " "Bosh, " said the skipper, "they're stowaways, an' I shall put 'em ashoreat the first port we touch at--Plymouth. " A heartrending series of screams from the stowaways rounded hissentence, screams which gave way to sustained sobbing, as the schooner, catching the wind, began to move through the water. "You'd better get below, my gals, " said Biddle, who was the eldestmember of the crew, consolingly. "Why don't you make him take us back?" said Jenny Evans, the biggest ofthe three girls, indignantly. "'Cos we can't, my dear, " said Biddle reluctantly; "it's agin the lor. You don't want to see us put into prison, do you?" "I don't mind, " said Miss Evans tearfully, "so long as we get back. George, take us back. " "I can't, " said Scott sullenly. "Well, you can look for somebody else, then, " said Miss Evans withtemper. "You won't marry me. How much would you get if you did make theskipper put back?" "Very likely six months, " said Biddle solemnly. "Six months would soon pass away, " said Miss Evans briskly, as she wipedher eye. "It would be a rest, " said Miss Williams coaxingly. The men not seeing things in quite the same light, they announced theirintention of having nothing more to do with them, and crowding togetherin the bows beneath two or three blankets, condoled tearfully with eachother on their misfortunes. For some time the men stood by offeringclumsy consolations, but, tired at last of repeated rebuffs and insults, went below and turned in, leaving the satisfied skipper at the wheel. The night was clear and the wind light. As the effects of his libationswore off the skipper had some misgivings as to the wisdom of his action, but it was too late to return, and he resolved to carry on. Looking at all the circumstances of the case, he thought it best to keepthe wheel in his own hands for a time, and the dawn came in the earlyhours and found him still at his post. Objects began to stand out clearly in the growing light, and threedispirited girls put their heads out from their blankets and sniffeddisdainfully at the sharp morning air. Then after an animated discussionthey arose, and casting their blankets aside, walked up to the skipperand eyed him thoughtfully. "As easy as easy, " said Jenny Evans confidently, as she drew herself upto her full height, and looked down at the indignant man. "Why, he isn't any bigger than a boy, " said Miss Williams savagely. "Pity we didn't think of it before, " said Miss Davies. "I s'pose thecrew won't help him?" "Not they, " said Miss Evans scornfully. "If they do, we'll serve themthe same. " They went off, leaving the skipper a prey to gathering uneasiness, watching their movements with wrinkled brow. From the forecastle andthe galley they produced two mops and a broom, and he caught his breathsharply as Miss Evans came on deck with a pot of white paint in one handand a pot of tar in the other. "Now, girls, " said Miss Evans. "Put those things down, " said the skipper in a peremptory voice. "Sha'n't, " said Miss Evans bluntly. "You haven't got enough on yours, "she said, turning to Miss Davies. "Don't spoil the skipper for aha'porth of tar. " At this new version of an old saw they laughed joyously, and with mopsdripping tar and paint on the deck, marched in military style up to theskipper, and halted in front of him, smiling wickedly. Then the heart of the skipper waxed sore faint within him, and, with awild yell, he summoned his trusty crew to his side. The crew came on deck slowly, and casting furtive glances at the scene, pushed Ephraim Biddle to the front. "Take those mops away from 'em, " said the skipper haughtily. "Don't you interfere, " said Miss Evans, looking at them over hershoulder. "Else we'll give you some, " said Miss Williams bloodthirstily. "Take those mops away from 'em!" bawled the skipper, instinctivelydrawing back as Miss Evans made a pass at him. "I don't see as 'ow we can interfere, sir, " said Biddle with deeprespect. "_What!_" said the astonished skipper. "It would be agin the lor for us to interfere with people, " said Biddle, turning to his mates, "dead agin the lor. " "Don't you talk rubbish, " said the skipper anxiously. "Take 'em awayfrom 'em. It's my tar and my paint, and--" "You shall have it, " said Miss Evans reassuringly. "If we touched 'em, " said Biddle impressively, "it'd be an assault atlor. 'Sides which, they'd probably muss us up with 'em. All we can do, sir, is to stand by and see fair play. " "Fair play!" cried the skipper dancing with rage, and turning hastily tothe mate, who had just come on the scene. "Take those things away from'em, Jack. " "Well, if it's all the same to you, " said the mate, "I'd rather not bedrawn into it. " "But I'd rather you were, " said the skipper sharply. "Take 'em away. " "How?" inquired the mate pertinently. "I order you to take 'em away, " said the skipper. "How, is your affair. " "I'm not goin' to raise my hand against a woman for anybody, " said themate with decision. "It's no part of my work to get messed up with tarand paint from lady passengers. " "It's part of your work to obey me, though, " said the skipper, raisinghis voice; "all of you. There's five of you, with the mate, and onlythree gells. What are you afraid of?" "Are you going to take us back?" demanded Jenny Evans. "Run away, " said the skipper with dignity. "Run away. " "I shall ask you three times, " said Miss Evans sternly. "One--are yougoing back? Two--are you going back? Three------" In the midst of a breathless silence she drew within striking distance, while her allies, taking up a position on either flank of the enemy, listened attentively to the instructions of their leader. "Be careful he doesn't catch hold of the mops, " said Miss Evans; "but ifhe does, the others are to hit him over the head with the handles. Nevermind about hurting him. " "Take this wheel a minnit, Jack, " said the skipper, pale but determined. The mate came forward and took it unwillingly, and the skipper, tryinghard to conceal his trepidation, walked towards Miss Evans and triedto quell her with his eye. The power of the human eye is notorious, andMiss Evans showed her sense of the danger she ran by making an energeticattempt to close the skipper's with her mop, causing him to duck withamazing nimbleness. At the same moment another mop loaded with whitepaint was pushed into the back of his neck. He turned with a cry ofrage, and then realising the odds against him flung his dignity to thewinds and dodged with the agility of a schoolboy. Through the galleyand round the masts he went with the avenging mops in mad pursuit, untilbreathless and exhausted he suddenly sprang on to the side and climbedfrantically into the rigging. "Coward!" said Miss Evans, shaking her weapon at him. "Come down, " cried Miss Williams. "Come down like a man. " "It's no good wasting time over _him_, " said Miss Evans, after anothervain appeal to the skipper's manhood. "He's escaped. Get some more stuffon your mops. " The mate, who had been laughing boisterously, checked himself suddenly, and assumed a gravity of demeanour more in accordance with his position. The mops were dipped in solemn silence, and Miss Evans approachingregarded him significantly. "Now, my dears, " said the mate, waving his hand with a deprecatorygesture, "don't be silly. " "Don't be _what?_" inquired the sensitive Miss Evans, raising her mop. "You know what I mean, " said the mate hastily. "I can't help myself. " "Well, we're going to help you, " said Miss Evans. "Turn the ship round. " "You obey orders, Jack, " cried the skipper from aloft. "It's all very well for you sitting up there in peace and comfort, " saidthe mate indignantly. "I'm not going to be tarred to please you. Comedown and take charge of your ship. " "Do your duty, Jack, " said the skipper, who was polishing his face witha handkerchief. "They won't touch you. They daren't. They're afraid to. " "You're egging 'em on, " cried the mate wrathfully. "I won't steer; comeand take it yourself. " He darted behind the wheel as Miss Evans, who was getting impatient, made a thrust at him, and then, springing out, gained the side andrushed up the rigging after his captain. Biddle, who was standing closeby, gazed earnestly at them and took the wheel. "You won't hurt old Biddle, I know, " he said, trying to speakconfidently. "Of course not, " said Miss Evans emphatically. "Tar don't hurt, " explained Miss Williams. "It's good for you, " said the third lady positively. "One--two------" "It's no good, " said the mate as Ephraim came suddenly into the rigging;"you'll have to give in. " "I'm damned if I will, " said the infuriated skipper. Then an ideaoccurred to him, and puckering his face shrewdly he began to descend. "All right, " he said shortly, as Miss Evans advanced to receive him. "I'll go back. " He took the wheel; the schooner came round before the wind, and thewilling crew, letting the sheets go, hauled them in again on the portside. "And now, my lads, " said the skipper with a benevolent smile, "justclear that mess up off the decks, and you may as well pitch them mopsoverboard. They'll never be any good again. " He spoke carelessly, albeit his voice trembled a little, but his heartsank within him as Miss Evans, with a horrible contortion of her prettyface, intended for a wink, waved them back. "You stay where you are, " she said imperiously; "we'll throw themoverboard--when we've done with them. What did you say, captain?" The skipper was about to repeat it with great readiness when Miss Evansraised her trusty mop. The words died away on his lips, and after ahopeless glance from his mate to the crew and from the crew to therigging, he accepted his defeat, and in grim silence took them homeagain. PICKLED HERRING. There was a sudden uproar on deck, and angry shouts, accompanied by anincessant barking; the master of the brig _Arethusa_ stopped with hisknife midway to his mouth, and exchanging glances with the mate, put itdown and rose to his feet. "They're chevying that poor animal again, " he said hotly. "It'sscandalous. " "Rupert can take care of himself, " said the mate calmly, continuinghis meal. "I expect, if the truth's known, it's him 's been doin' thechevying. " "You're as bad as the rest of 'em, " said the skipper angrily, as a largebrown retriever came bounding into the cabin. "Poor old Rupe! what havethey been doin' to you?" The dog, with a satisfied air, sat down panting by his chair, listeningquietly to the subdued hubbub which sounded from the companion. "Well, what is it?" roared the skipper, patting his favourite's head. "It's that blasted dawg, sir, " cried an angry voice from above. "Go downand show 'im your leg, Joe. " "An' 'ave another lump took out of it, I s'pose, " said another voicesourly. "Not me. " "I don't want to look at no legs while I'm at dinner, " cried theskipper. "O' course the dog 'll bite you if you've been teasing him. " "There's nobody been teasing 'im, " said the angry voice again. "That'sthe second one 'e's bit, and now Joe's goin' to have 'im killed--ain'tyou, Joe?" Joe's reply was not audible, although the infuriated skipper wasstraining his ears to catch it. "Who's going to have the dog killed?" he demanded, going up ondeck, while Rupert, who evidently thought he had an interest in theproceedings, followed unobtrusively behind. "I am, sir, " said Joe Bates, who was sitting on the hatch while the cookbathed an ugly wound in his leg. "A dog's only allowed one bite, andhe's 'ad two this week. " "He bit me on Monday, " said the seaman who had spoken before. "Now he'sdone for hisself. " "Hold your tongue!" said the skipper angrily. "You think you know a lotabout the law, Sam Clark; let me tell you a dog's entitled to have asmany bites as ever he likes, so as he don't bite the same person twice. " "That ain't the way I've 'eard it put afore, " said Clark, somewhat takenback. "He's the cutest dog breathing, " said the skipper fondly, "and he knowsall about it. He won't bite either of you again. " "And wot about them as 'asn't been bit yet, sir?" inquired the cook. "Don't halloo before you're hurt, " advised the skipper. "If you don'ttease him he won't bite you. " He went down to his dinner, followed by the sagacious Rupert, leavingthe hands to go forward again, and to mutinously discuss a situationwhich was fast becoming unbearable. "It can't go on no longer, Joe, " said Clark firmly; "this settles it. " "Where is the stuff?" inquired the cook in a whisper. "In my chest, " said Clark softly. "I bought it the night he bit me. " "It's a risky thing to do, " said Bates. "'Ow risky?" asked Sam scornfully. "The dog eats the stuff and dies. Who's going to say what he died of? As for suspicions, let the old mansuspect as much as he likes. It ain't proof. " The stronger mind had its way, as usual, and the next day the skipper, coming quietly on deck, was just in time to see Joe Bates throw downa fine fat bloater in front of the now amiable Rupert. He covered thedistance between himself and the dog in three bounds, and seizing it bythe neck, tore the fish from its eager jaws and held it aloft. "I just caught 'im in the act!" he cried, as the mate came ondeck. "What did you give that to my dog for?" he inquired of theconscience-stricken Bates. "I wanted to make friends with him, " stammered the other. "It's poisoned, you rascal, and you know it, " said the skippervehemently. "Wish I may die, sir, " began Joe. "That'll do, " said the skipper harshly. "You've tried to poison my dog. " "I ain't, " said Joe firmly. "You ain't been trying to kill 'im with a poisoned bloater?" demandedthe skipper. "Certainly not, sir, " said Joe. "I wouldn't do such a thing. I couldn'tif I tried. " "Very good then, " said the skipper; "if it's all right you eat it, andI'll beg your pardon. " "I ain't goin' to eat after a dog, " said Joe, shuffling. "The dog's as clean as you are, " said the skipper. "I'd sooner eat afterhim than you. " "Well, you eat it then, sir, " said Bates desperately. "If it's poisonedyou'll die, and I'll be 'ung for it. I can't say no fairer than that, can I?" There was a slight murmur from the men, who stood by watching theskipper with an air of unholy expectancy. "Well, the boy shall eat it then, " said the skipper. "Eat that bloater, boy, and I'll give you sixpence. " The boy came forward slowly, and looking from the men to the skipper, and from the skipper back to the men, began to whimper. "If you think it's poisoned, " interrupted the mate, "you oughtn't tomake the boy eat it. I don't like boys, but you must draw the linesomewhere. " "It's poisoned, " said the skipper, shaking it at Bates, "and theyknow it. Well, I'll keep it till we get to port, and then I'll haveit analysed. And it'll be a sorry day for you, Bates, when I hear it'spoisoned. A month's hard labour is what you'll get. " He turned away and went below with as much dignity as could be expectedof a man carrying a mangled herring, and placing it on a clean plate, solemnly locked it up in his state-room. For two days the crew heard no more about it, though the skipper's eyesgleamed dangerously each time that they fell upon the shrinking Bates. The weather was almost tropical, with not an air stirring, and the_Arethusa_, bearing its dread secret still locked in its state-room, rose and fell upon a sea of glassy smoothness without making anyprogress worth recording. "I wish you'd keep that thing in your berth, George, " said the skipper, as they sat at tea the second evening; "it puts me in a passion everytime I look at it. " "I couldn't think of it, cap'n, " replied the mate firmly; "it makes meangry enough as it is. Every time I think of 'em trying to poison thatpoor dumb creature I sort o' choke. I try to forget it. " The skipper, eyeing him furtively, helped himself to another cup of tea. "You haven't got a tin box with a lid to it, I s'pose?" he remarkedsomewhat shamefacedly. The mate shook his head. "I looked for one this morning, " he said. "There ain't so much as a bottle aboard we could shove it into, and itwants shoving into something--bad, it does. " "I don't like to be beat, " said the skipper, shaking his head. "All themgrinning monkeys for'ard 'ud think it a rare good joke. I'd throw itoverboard if it wasn't for that. We can't keep it this weather. " "Well, look 'ere; 'ere's a way out of it, " said the mate. "Call Joedown, and make him keep it in the foc'sle and take care of it. That'llpunish 'em all too. " "Why, you idiot, he'd lose it!" rapped out the other impatiently. "O' course he would, " said the mate; "but that's the most digernifiedway out of it for you. You can call 'im all sorts o' things, andabuse 'im for the rest of his life. They'll prove themselves guilty bychucking it away, won't they?" It really seemed the only thing to be done. The skipper finished his teain silence, and then going on deck called the crew aft and apprisedthem of his intentions, threatening them with all sorts of pains andpenalties if the treasure about to be confided to their keeping shouldbe lost The cook was sent below for it, and, at the skipper's bidding, handed it to the grinning Joe. "And mind, " said the skipper as he turned away, "I leave it in yourkeepin', and if it's missing I shall understand that you've made awaywith it, and I shall take it as a sign of guilt, and act according. " The end came sooner even than he expected. They were at breakfastnext morning when Joe, looking somewhat pale, came down to the cabin, followed by Clark, bearing before him an empty plate. "Well?" said the skipper fiercely. "It's about the 'erring, sir, " said Joe, twisting his cap between hishands. "Well?" roared the skipper again. "It's gone, sir, " said Joe, in bereaved accents. "You mean you've thrown it away, you infernal rascal!" bellowed theskipper. "No, sir, " said Joe. "Ah! I s'pose it walked up on deck and jumped overboard, " said the mate. "No, sir, " said Joe softly. "The dog ate it, sir. " The skipper swung round in his seat and regarded him open-mouthed. "The--dog--ate--it?" he repeated. "Yes, sir; Clark saw 'im do it--didn't you, Clark?" "I did, " said Clark promptly. He had made his position doubly sure bythrowing it overboard himself. "It comes to the same thing, sir, " said Joe sanctimoniously; "myinnercence is proved just the same. You'll find the dog won't take no'urt through it, sir. You watch 'im. " The skipper breathed hard, but made no reply. "If you don't believe me, sir, p'raps you'd like to see the plate where'e licked it?" said Joe. "Give me the plate, Sam. " He turned to take it, but in place of handing it to him that usefulwitness dropped it and made hurriedly for the companion-ladder, and bystrenuous efforts reached the deck before Joe, although that veraciousgentleman, assisted from below by strong and willing arms, made a goodsecond. TWO OF A TRADE. "'E's a nero, that's wot 'e is, sir, " said the cook, as he emptied aboiler of dirty water overboard. "A what?" said the skipper. "A nero, " said the cook, speaking very slowly and distinctly. "A neroin real life, a chap wot, speaking for all for'ard, we're proud to haveaboard along with us. " "I didn't know he was much of a swimmer, " said the skipper, glancingcuriously at a clumsily-built man of middle age, who sat on the hatchglancing despondently at the side. "No more 'e ain't, " said the cook, "an' that's what makes 'im more'eroish still in my own opinion. " "Did he take his clothes off?" inquired the mate. "Not a bit of it, " said the delighted cook; "not a pair of trowsis, noreven 'is 'at, which was sunk. " "You're a liar, cook, " said the hero, looking up for a moment. "You didn't take your trowsis off, George?" said the cook anxiously. "I chucked my 'at on the pavement, " growled George, without looking up. "Well, anyway, you went over the Embankment after that pore girl like aBriton, didn't you?" said the other. There was no reply. "Didn't you?" said the cook appealingly. "Did you expect me to go over like a Dutchman, or wot?" demanded Georgefiercely. "That's 'is modesty, " said the cook, turning to the others with the airof a showman. "'E can't bear us to talk about it Nearly drownded 'e was. All but, and a barge came along and shoved a boat-hook right through theseat of his trowsis an' saved 'im. Stand up an' show 'em your trowsis, George. " "If I do stand up, " said George, in a voice broken with rage, "it'll bea bad day for you, my lad. " "_Ain't_ he modest?" said the cook. "Don't it do you good to 'ear 'im?He was just like that when they got him ashore and the crowd startedpatting him. " "Didn't like it?" queried the mate. "Well, they overdid it a little, p'raps, " admitted the cook; "one oldchap wot couldn't get near patted 'is 'ead with 'is stick, but it wasall meant in the way of kindness. " "I'm proud of you, George, " said the skipper heartily. "We all are, " said the mate. George grunted. "I'll write for the medal for him, " said the skipper. "Were there anywitnesses, cook?" "Heaps of 'em, " said the other, "but I gave 'em 'is name and address. 'Schooner _John Henry_, of Limehouse, is 'is home, ' I ses, 'and GeorgeCooper 'is name. '" "You talked a damned sight too much, " said the hero, "you lean, lop-sided son of a tinker. " "There's 'is modesty ag'in, " said the cook, with a knowing smile. "'E'sbusting with modesty, is George. You should ha' seen 'im when a chaptook 'is fortygraph. " "Took his what?" said the skipper, becoming interested. "His fortygraph, " said the cook. "'E was a young chap what was takingviews for a noose-paper. 'E took George drippin' wet just as 'e come outof the water, 'e took him arter 'e 'ad 'is face wiped, an' 'e took 'imwhen 'e was sitting up swearing at a man wot asked 'im whether 'e wasvery wet. " "An' you told 'im where I lived, and what I was, " said George, turningon him and shaking his fist. "You did. " "I did, " said the cook simply. "You'll live to thank me for it, George. " The other gave a dreadful howl, and rising from the deck walked forwardand went below, giving a brother seaman who patted his shoulder ashe passed a blow in the ribs, which nearly broke them. Those on deckexchanged glances. "Well, I don't know, " said the mate, shrugging his shoulders; "seems tome if I'd saved a fellow-critter's life I shouldn't mind hearing aboutit. " "That's what you think, " said the skipper, drawing himself up a little. "If ever you do do anything of the kind perhaps you'll feel differentabout it. " "Well, I don't see how you should know any more than me, " said theother. The skipper cleared his throat. "There have been one or two little things in my life which I'm notexactly ashamed of, " he said modestly. "That ain't much to boast of, " said the mate, wilfully misunderstandinghim. "I mean, " said the skipper sharply, "one or two things which some peoplemight have been proud of. But I'm proud to say that there isn't a livingsoul knows of 'em. " "I can quite believe that, " assented the mate, and walked off with anirritating smile. The skipper was about to follow him, to complain of the needlessambiguity of his remarks, when he was arrested by a disturbance from thefoc'sle. In response to the cordial invitation of the cook, the mate andone of the hands from the brig _Endeavour_, moored alongside, had comeaboard and gone below to look at George. The manner in which they werereceived was a slur upon the hospitality of the _John Henry_; and theycame up hurriedly, declaring that they never wanted to see him again aslong as they lived, and shouting offensive remarks behind them as theygot over the side of their own vessel. The skipper walked slowly to the focs'le and put his head down. "George, " he shouted. "Sir, " said the hero gruffly. "Come down into the cabin, " said the other, turning away. "I want tohave a little talk with you. " George rose, and, first uttering some terrible threats against thecook, who bore them with noble fortitude, went on deck and followed theskipper to the cabin. At his superior's request he took a seat on the locker, awkwardlyenough, but smiled faintly as the skipper produced a bottle and a coupleof glasses. "Your health, George, " said the skipper, as he pushed a glass towardshim and raised his own. "My bes' respec's, sir, " said George, allowing the liquor to roll slowlyround his mouth before swallowing it. He sighed heavily, and, puttinghis empty glass on the table, allowed his huge head to roll on hischest. "Saving life don't seem to agree with you, George, " said the skipper. "Ilike modesty, but you seem to me to carry it a trifle too far. " "It ain't modesty, sir, " said George; "it's that fortygraph. When Ithink o' that I go 'ot all over. " "I shouldn't let that worry me if I was you, George, " said the otherkindly. "Looks ain't everything. " "I didn't mean it that way, " said George very sourly. "My looks is goodenough for me. In fact, it is partly owing to my looks, so to speak, that I'm in a mess. " "A little more rum, George?" said the skipper, whose curiosity wasroused. "I don't want to know your business, far from it. But in myposition as cap'n, if any of my crew gets in a mess I consider it's myduty to lend them a hand out of it, if I can. " "The world 'ud be a better place if there was more like you, " saidGeorge, waxing sentimental as he sniffed delicately at the fragrantbeverage. "If that noosepaper, with them pictures, gets into a certainparty's 'ands, I'm ruined. " "Not if I can help it, George, " said the other with great firmness. "Howdo you mean ruined?" The seaman set his glass down on the little table, and, leaning over, formed a word with his lips, and then drew back slowly and watched theeffect. "What?" said the skipper. The other repeated the performance, but beyond seeing that some word ofthree syllables was indicated the skipper obtained no information. "You can speak a little louder, " he said somewhat crustily. "Bigamy!" said George, breathing the word solemnly. "You?" said the skipper. George nodded. "And if my first only gets hold of that paper, and seesmy phiz and reads my name, I'm done for. There's my reward for saving afellow-critter's life. Seven years. " "I'm surprised at you, George, " said the skipper sternly. "Such a goodwife as you've got too. " "I ain't saying nothing agin number two, " grumbled George. "It's numberone that didn't suit. I left her eight years ago. She was a bad 'un. Itook a v'y'ge to Australia furst, just to put her out o' my mind a bit, an' I never seed her since. Where am I if she sees all about me in thepaper?" "Is she what you'd call a vindictive woman?" inquired the other. "Nasty-tempered, I mean. " "Nasty-tempered, " echoed the husband of two. "If that woman could onlyhave me put in gaol she'd stand on 'er 'ead for joy. " "Well, I'll do what I can for you if the worst comes to the worst, " saidthe skipper. "You'd better not say anything about this to anybody else. " "Not me, " said George fervently, as he rose, "an' o' course you--" "You can rely on me, " said the skipper in his most stately fashion. He thought of the seaman's confidence several times during theevening, and, being somewhat uncertain of the law as to bigamy, soughtinformation from the master of the _Endeavour_ as they sat in thetetter's cabin at a quiet game of cribbage. By virtue of severalappearances in the law courts with regard to collisions and spoiltcargoes this gentleman had obtained a knowledge of law which made him arecognised authority from London Bridge to the Nore. It was a delicate matter for the master of the _John Henry_ tobroach, and, with the laudable desire of keeping the hero's secret, he approached it by a most circuitous route. He began with a burglary, followed with an attempted murder, and finally got on the subject ofbigamy, _via_ the "Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. " "What sort o' bigamy?" inquired the master of the brig. "Oh, two wives, " said Captain Thomsett. "Yes, yes, " said the other, "but are there any mitigating circumstancesin the case, so that you could throw yourself on the mercy o' the court, I mean?" "_My_ case!" said Thomsett, glaring. "It ain't for me. " "Oh, no, o' course not, " said Captain Stubbs. "What do you mean by 'o' course not'?" demanded the indignant master ofthe _John Henry_. "Your deal, " said Captain Stubbs, pushing the cards over to him. "You haven't answered my question, " said Captain Thomsett, regarding himoffensively. "There's some questions, " said Stubbs slowly, "as is best leftunanswered. When you've seen as much law as I have, my lad, you'll knowthat one of the first principles of English law is, that nobody is boundto commit themselves. " "Do you mean to say you think it _is_ me?" bellowed Captain Thomsett. "I mean to say nothing, " said Captain Stubbs, putting his huge hands onthe table. "But when a man comes into my cabin and begins to hum an'haw an' hint at things, and then begins to ask my advice about bigamy, I can't help thinking. This is a free country, and there's no law ag'inthinking. Make a clean breast of it, cap'n, an' I'll do what I can foryou. " "You're a blanked fool, " said Captain Thomsett wrathfully. Captain Stubbs shook his head gently, and smiled with infinite patience. "P'raps so, " he said modestly. "P'raps so; but there's one thing I cando, and that is, I can read people. " "You can read me, I s'pose?" said Thomsett sneeringly. "Easy, my lad, " said the other, still preserving, though by an obviouseffort, his appearance of judicial calm. "I've seen your sort before. One in pertikler I call to mind. He's doing fourteen years now, porechap. But you needn't be alarmed, cap'n. Your secret is safe enough withme. " Captain Thomsett got up and pranced up and down the cabin, but CaptainStubbs remained calm. He had seen _that_ sort before. It was interestingto the student of human nature, and he regarded his visitor with an airof compassionate interest. Then Captain Thomsett resumed his seat, and, to preserve his own fair fame, betrayed that of George. "I knew it was either you or somebody your kind 'art was interested in, "said the discomfited Stubbs, as they resumed the interrupted game. "You can't help your face, cap'n. When you was thinking about that porechap's danger it was working with emotion. It misled me, I own it, butit ain't often I meet such a feeling 'art as yours. " Captain Thomsett, his eyes glowing affectionately, gripped his friend'shand, and in the course of the game listened to an exposition of the lawrelating to bigamy of a most masterly and complicated nature, seasonedwith anecdotes calculated to make the hardiest of men pause on the brinkof matrimony and think seriously of their position. "Suppose this woman comes aboard after pore George, " said Thomsett. "What's the best thing to be done?" "The first thing, " said Captain Stubbs, "is to gain time. Put her off. " "Off the ship, d'ye mean?" inquired the other. "No, no, " said the jurist "Pretend he's ill and can't see anybody. Bygum, I've got it. " He slapped the table with his open hand, and regarded the othertriumphantly. "Let him turn into his bunk and pretend to be dead, " he continued, in avoice trembling with pride at his strategy. "It's pretty dark down yourfoc'sle, I know. Don't have no light down there, and tell him to keepquiet. " Captain Thomsett's eyes shone, but with a qualified admiration. "Ain't it somewhat sudden?" he demurred. Captain Stubbs regarded him with a look of supreme artfulness, andslowly closed one eye. "He got a chill going in the water, " he said quietly. "Well, you're a masterpiece, " said Thomsett ungrudgingly. "I will saythis of you, you're a masterpiece. Mind this is all to be kept quitesecret. " "Make your mind easy, " said the eminent jurist. "If I told all I knowthere's a good many men in this river as 'ud be doing time at thepresent moment. " Captain Thomsett expressed his pleasure at this information, and, havingtried in vain to obtain a few of their names, even going so far as tosuggest some, looked at the clock, and, shaking hands, departed to hisown ship. Captain Stubbs, left to himself, finished his pipe and retiredto rest; and his mate, who had been lying in the adjoining bunk duringthe consultation, vainly trying to get to sleep, scratched his head, andtried to think of a little strategy himself. He had glimmerings of itbefore he fell asleep, but when he awoke next morning it flashed beforehim in all the fulness of its matured beauty. He went on deck smiling, and, leaning his arms on the side, gazedcontemplatively at George, who was sitting on the deck listening darklyto the cook as that worthy read aloud from a newspaper. "Anything interesting, cook?" demanded the mate. "About George, sir, " said the cook, stopping in his reading. "There'spictures of 'im too. " He crossed to the side, and, handing the paper to the mate, listenedsmilingly to the little ejaculations of surprise and delight of thatdeceitful man as he gazed upon the likenesses. "Wonderful, " he saidemphatically. "Wonderful. I never saw such a good likeness in my life, George. That'll be copied in every newspaper in London, and here's thename in full too--'George Cooper, schooner _John Henry_, now lying offLimehouse. '" He handed the paper back to the cook and turned away grinning as George, unable to control himself any longer, got up with an oath and went belowto nurse his wrath in silence. A little later the mate of the brig, after a very confidential chat with his own crew, lit his pipe and, witha jaunty air, went ashore. For the next hour or two George alternated between the foc'sle and thedeck, from whence he cast harassed glances at the busy wharves ashore. The skipper, giving it as his own suggestion, acquainted him with thearrangements made in case of the worst, and George, though he seemedsomewhat dubious about them, went below and put his bed in order. "It's very unlikely she'll see that particular newspaper though, " saidthe skipper encouragingly. "People are sure to see what you don't want 'em to, " growled George. "Somebody what knows us is sure to see it, an' show 'er. " "There's a lady stepping into a waterman's skiff now, " said the skipper, glancing at the stairs. "That wouldn't be her, I s'pose?" He turned to the seaman as he spoke, but the words had hardly left hislips before George was going below and undressing for his part. "If anybody asks for me, " he said, turning to the cook, who wasregarding his feverish movements in much astonishment, "I'm dead. " "You're wot?" inquired the other. "Dead, " said George. "Dead. Died at ten o'clock this morning. D'yeunderstand, fat-head?" "I can't say as 'ow I do, " said the cook somewhat acrimoniously. "Pass the word round that I'm dead, " repeated George hurriedly. "Lay meout, cookie. I'll do as much for you one day. " Instead of complying the horrified cook rushed up on deck to tell theskipper that George's brain had gone; but, finding him in the midst of ahurried explanation to the men, stopped with greedy ears to listen. The skiff was making straight for the schooner, propelled by an elderlywaterman in his shirt-sleeves, the sole passenger being a lady of ampleproportions, who was watching the life of the river through a blackveil. In another minute the skiff bumped alongside, and the waterman standingin the boat passed the painter aboard. The skipper gazed at the fareand, shivering inwardly, hoped that George was a good actor. "I want to see Mr. Cooper, " said the lady grimly, as she clamberedaboard, assisted by the waterman. "I'm very sorry, but you can't see him, mum, " said the skipper politely. "Ho! carn't I?" said the lady, raising her voice a little. "You go an'tell him that his lawful wedded wife, what he deserted, is aboard. " "It 'ud be no good, mum, " said the skipper, who felt the full dramaticforce of the situation. "I'm afraid he wouldn't listen to you. " "Ho! I think I can persuade 'im a bit, " said the lady, drawing in herlips. "Where is 'e?" "Up aloft, " said the skipper, removing his hat. "Don't you give me none of your lies, " said the lady, as she scannedboth masts closely. "He's dead, " said the skipper solemnly. His visitor threw up her arms and staggered back. The cook was nearest, and, throwing his arms round her waist, he caught her as she swayed. Themate, who was of a sympathetic nature, rushed below for whisky, as shesank back on the hatchway, taking the reluctant cook with her. "Poor thing, " said the skipper. "Don't 'old 'er so tight, cook, " said one of the men. "There's nonecessity to squeeze 'er. " "Pat 'er 'ands, " said another. "Pat 'em yourself, " said the cook brusquely, as he looked up and sawthe delight of the crew of the _Endeavour_, who were leaning over theirvessel's side regarding the proceedings with much interest. "Don't leave go of me, " said the newly-made widow, as she swallowed thewhisky, and rose to her feet. "Stand by her, cook, " said the skipper authoritatively. "Ay, ay, sir, " said the cook. They formed a procession below, the skipper and mate leading; the cookwith his fair burden, choking her sobs with a handkerchief, and the crewfollowing. "What did he die of?" she asked in a whisper broken with sobs. "Chill from the water, " whispered the skipper in response. "I can't see 'im, " she whispered. "It's so dark here. Has anybody got amatch? Oh! here's some. " Before anybody could interfere she took a box from a locker, and, striking one, bent over the motionless George, and gazed at histightly-closed eyes and open mouth in silence. "You'll set the bed alight, " said the mate in a low voice, as the end ofthe match dropped off. "It won't hurt 'im, " whispered the widow tearfully. The mate, who had distinctly seen the corpse shift a bit, thoughtdifferently. "Nothing 'll 'urt 'im _now_" whispered the widow, sniffing as she struckanother match. "Oh! if he could only sit up 'and speak to me. " For a moment the mate, who knew George's temper, thought it highlyprobable that he would, as the top of the second match fell between hisshirt and his neck. "Don't look any more, " said the skipper anxiously; "you can't do him anygood. " His visitor handed him the matches, and, for a short time, sobbed insilence. "We've done all we could for him, " said the skipper at length. "It 'udbe best for you to go home and lay down a bit. " "You're all very good, I'm sure, " whispered the widow, turning away. "I'll send for him this evening. " They all started, especially the corpse. "Eh?" said the skipper. "He was a bad 'usband to me, " she continued, still in the same sobbingwhisper, "but I'll 'ave 'im put away decent. " "You'd better let us bury him, " said the skipper. "We can do it cheaperthan you can, perhaps?" "No. I'll send for him this evening, " said the lady. "Are they 'isclothes?" "The last he ever wore, " said the skipper pathetically, pointing to theheap of clothing. "There's his chest, pore chap, just as he left it. " The bereaved widow bent down, and, raising the lid, shook her headtearfully as she regarded the contents. Then she gathered up the clothesunder her left arm, and, still sobbing, took his watch, his knife, andsome small change from his chest, while the crew in dumb show inquiredof the deceased, who was regarding her over the edge of the bunk, whatwas to be done. "I suppose there was some money due to him?" she inquired, turning tothe skipper. "Matter of a few shillings, " he stammered. "I'll take them, " she said, holding out her hand. The skipper put his hand in his pocket and, in his turn, lookedinquiringly at the late lamented for guidance; but George had closedhis eyes again to the world, and, after a moment's hesitation, he slowlycounted the money into her hand. She dropped the coins into her pocket, and, with a parting glance at themotionless figure in the bunk, turned away. The procession made its wayon deck again, but not in the same order, the cook carefully bringing upthe rear. "If there's any other little things, " she said, pausing at the side toget a firmer grip of the clothes under her arm. "You shall have them, " said the skipper, who had been making mentalarrangements to have George buried before her return. Apparently much comforted by this assurance, she allowed herself to belowered into the boat, which was waiting. The excitement of the crew ofthe brig, who had been watching her movements with eager interest, gotbeyond the bounds of all decency as they saw her being pulled ashorewith the clothes in her lap. "You can come up now, " said the skipper, as he caught sight of George'sface at the scuttle. "Has she gone?" inquired the seaman anxiously. The skipper nodded, and a wild cheer rose from the crew of the brig asGeorge came on deck in his scanty garments, and from behind the otherspeered cautiously over the side. "Where is she?" he demanded. The skipper pointed to the boat. "That?" said George, starting. "That? That ain't my wife. " "Not your wife?" said the skipper, staring. "Whose is she then?" "How the devil should I know?" said George, throwing discipline to thewinds in his agitation. "It ain't my wife. " "P'raps it's one you've forgotten, " suggested the skipper in a low voice. George looked at him and choked. "I've never seen her before, " hereplied, "s'elp me. Call her back. Stop her. " The mate rushed aft and began to haul in the ship's boat, but Georgecaught him suddenly by the arm. "Never mind, " he said bitterly; "better let her go. She seems to knowtoo much for me. _Somebody's_ been talking to her. " It was the same thought that was troubling the skipper, and he lookedsearchingly from one to the other for an explanation. He fancied thathe saw it when he met the eye of the mate of the brig, and he pausedirresolutely as the skiff reached the stairs, and the woman, springingashore, waved the clothes triumphantly in the direction of the schoonerand disappeared. AN INTERVENTION. There was bad blood between the captain and mate who comprised theofficers and crew of the sailing-barge "_Swallow_"; and the outset oftheir voyage from London to Littleport was conducted in glum silence. Asfar as the Nore they had scarcely spoken, and what little did pass wasmainly in the shape of threats and abuse. Evening, chill and overcast, was drawing in; distant craft disappeared somewhere between the wasteof waters and the sky, and the side-lights of neighbouring vessels werebeginning to shine over the water. The wind, with a little rain in it, was unfavourable to much progress, and the trough of the sea got deeperas the waves ran higher and splashed by the barge's side. "Get the side-lights out, and quick, you, " growled the skipper, who wasat the helm. The mate, a black-haired, fierce-eyed fellow of about twenty-five, setabout the task with much deliberation. "And look lively, you lump, " continued the skipper. "I don't want none of your lip, " said the mate furiously; "so don't yougive me none. " The skipper yawned, and stretching his mighty frame laugheddisagreeably. "You'll take what I give you, my lad, " said he, "whetherit's lip or fist. " "Lay a finger on me and I'll knife you, " said the mate. "I ain't afraidof you, for all your size. " He put out the side-lights, casting occasional looks of violent hatredat the skipper, who, being a man of tremendous physique and roughtongue, had goaded his subordinate almost to madness. "If you've done skulking, " he cried, as he knocked the ashes out of hispipe, "come and take the helm. " The mate came aft and relieved him; and he stood for a few secondstaking a look round before going below. He dropped his pipe, and stoopedto recover it; and in that moment the mate, with a sudden impulse, snatched up a handspike and dealt him a crashing blow on the head. Half-blinded and stunned by the blow, the man fell on his knees, andshielding his face with his hands, strove to rise. Before he could doso the mate struck wildly at him again, and with a great cry he fellbackwards and rolled heavily overboard. The mate, with a sob in hisbreath, gazed wildly astern, and waited for him to rise. He waited:minutes seemed to pass, and still the body of the skipper did not emergefrom the depths. He reeled back in a stupor; then he gave a faint cry ashis eye fell on the boat, which was dragging a yard or two astern, anda figure which clung desperately to the side of it Before he had quiterealised what had happened, he saw the skipper haul himself on to thestern of the boat and then roll heavily into it. Panic-stricken at the sight, he drew his knife to cut the boat adrift, but paused as he reflected that she and her freight would probably bepicked up by some passing vessel. As the thought struck him he saw thedim form of the skipper come towards the bow of the boat and, seizingthe rope, begin to haul in towards the barge. "Stop!" shouted the mate hoarsely; "stop! or I'll cut you loose. " The skipper let the rope go, and the boat pulled up with a jerk. "I'm independent of you, " the skipper shouted, picking up one of theloose boards from the bottom of the boat and brandishing it. "If there'sany sea on I can keep her head to it with this. Cut away. " "If I let you come aboard, " said the mate, "will you swear to letbygones be bygones?" "No!" thundered the other. "Whether I come aboard or not don't make muchdifference. It'll be about twenty years for you, you murdering hound, when I get ashore. " The mate made no reply, but sat silently steering, keeping, however, a wary eye on the boat towing behind. He turned sick and faint as hethought of the consequences of his action, and vainly cast about in hismind for some means of escape. "Are you going to let me come aboard?" presently demanded the skipper, who was shivering in his wet clothes. "You can come aboard on my terms, " repeated the mate doggedly. "I'll make no terms with you, " cried the other. "I hand you over to thepolice directly I get ashore, you mutinous dog. I've got a good witnessin my head. " After this there was silence--silence unbroken through the long hoursof the night as they slowly passed. Then the dawn came. The side-lightsshowed fainter and fainter in the water; the light on the mast shed norays on the deck, but twinkled uselessly behind its glass. Then the mateturned his gaze from the wet, cheerless deck and heaving seas to thefigure in the boat dragging behind. The skipper, who returned his gazewith a fierce scowl, was holding his wet handkerchief to his temple. He removed it as the mate looked, and showed a ghastly wound. Still, neither of them spoke. The mate averted his gaze, and sickened with fearas he thought of his position; and in that instant the skipper clutchedthe painter, and, with a mighty heave, sent the boat leaping towards thestern of the barge, and sprang on deck. The mate rose to his feet; butthe other pushed him fiercely aside, and picking up the handspike, whichlay on the raised top of the cabin, went below. Half an hour laterhe came on deck with a fresh suit of clothes on, and his head roughlybandaged, and standing in front of the mate, favoured him with a balefulstare. "Gimme that helm, " he cried. The mate relinquished it. "You dog!" snarled the other, "to try and kill a man when he wasn'tlooking, and then keep him in his wet clothes in the boat all night. Make the most o' your time. It'll be many a day before you see the seaagain. " The mate groaned in spirit, but made no reply. "I've wrote everything down with the time it happened, " continued theother in a voice of savage satisfaction; "an' I've locked that handspikeup in my locker. It's got blood on it. " "That's enough about it, " said the mate, turning at last and speakingthickly. "What I've done I must put up with. " He walked forward to end the discussion; but the skipper shouted outchoice bits from time to time as they occurred to him, and sat steeringand gibing, a gruesome picture of vengeance. Suddenly he sprang to his feet with a sharp cry. "There's somebody inthe water, " he roared; "stand by to pick him up. " As he spoke he pointed with his left hand, and with his right steeredfor something which rose and fell lazily on the water a short distancefrom them. The mate, following his outstretched arm, saw it too, and picking up aboat-hook stood ready, until they were soon close enough to distinguishthe body of a man supported by a life-belt. "Don't miss him, " shouted the skipper. The mate grasped the rigging with one hand, and leaning forward as faras possible stood with the hook poised. At first it seemed as though theobject would escape them, but a touch of the helm in the nick of timejust enabled the mate to reach. The hook caught in the jacket, and withgreat care he gradually shortened it, and drew the body close to theside. "He's dead, " said the skipper, as he fastened the helm and stood lookingdown into the wet face of the man. Then he stooped, and taking him bythe collar of his coat dragged the streaming figure on to the deck. "Take the helm, " he said. "Ay, ay, " said the other; and the skipper disappeared below with hisburden. A moment later he came on deck again. "We'll take in sail and anchor. Sharp there!" he cried. The mate went to his assistance. There was but little wind, and the taskwas soon accomplished, and both men, after a hasty glance round, ranbelow. The wet body of the sailor lay on a locker, and a pool of waterwas on the cabin floor. The mate hastily swabbed up the water, and then lit the fire and put onthe kettle; while the skipper stripped the sailor of his clothes, andflinging some blankets in front of the fire placed him upon them. For a long time they toiled in silence, in the faint hope that lifestill remained in the apparently dead body. "Poor devil!" said the skipper at length, and fell to rubbing again. "I don't believe he's gone, " said the mate, panting with his exertions. "He don't feel like a dead man. " Ten minutes later the figure stirred slightly, and the men talked inexcited whispers as they worked. A faint sigh came from the lips of thesailor, and his eyes partly opened. "It's all right, matey, " said the skipper; "you lie still; we'll do therest. Jem, get some coffee ready. " By the time it was prepared the partly drowned man was conscious that hewas alive, and stared in a dazed fashion at the man who was using himso roughly. Conscious that his patient was improving rapidly, the latterlifted him in his arms and placed him in his own bunk, and profferedhim some steaming hot coffee. He sipped a little, then lapsed intounconsciousness again. The two men looked at each other blankly. "Some of 'em goes like that. " said the skipper. "I've seen it afore. Just as you think they're pulling round they slip their cable. " "We must keep him warm, " said the mate. "I don't see as we can do anymore. " "We'll get under way again, " said the other; and pausing to heap somemore clothes over the sailor he went on deck, followed by the mate; andin a short time the _Swallow_ was once more moving through the water. Then the skipper, leaving the mate at the helm, went below. Half an hour passed. "Go and see what you can make of him, " said the skipper as here-appeared and took the helm. "He keeps coming round a bit, and thenjust drifts back. Seems like as if he can't hook on to life. Don't seemto take no interest in it. " The mate obeyed in silence; and for the remainder of the day the two menrelieved each other at the bedside of the sailor. Towards evening, as they were entering the river which runs up to Littleport, he madedecided progress under the skipper's ministrations; and the latterthrust his huge head up the hatchway and grinned in excusable triumph atthe mate as he imparted the news. Then he suddenly remembered himself, and the smile faded. The light, too, faded from the mate's face. "'Bout that mutiny and attempted murder, " said the skipper, and pausedas though waiting for the mate to contradict or qualify the terms; buthe made no reply. "I give you in charge as soon as we get to port, " continued the other. "Soon as the ship's berthed, you go below. " "Ay, ay, " said the mate, but without looking at him. "Nice thing it'll be for your wife, " said the skipper sternly. "You'llget no mercy from me. " "I don't expect none, " said the mate huskily, "What I've done I'll standto. " The reply on the skipper's lips merged into a grunt, and he went below. The sailor was asleep, and breathing gently and regularly; and afterregarding him for some time the watcher returned to the deck and busiedhimself with certain small duties preparatory to landing. Slowly the light faded out of the sky, and the banks of the river grewindistinct; and one by one the lights of Littleport came into view asthey rounded the last bend of the river, and saw the little town lyingbehind its veil of masts and rigging. The skipper came aft and took thehelm from the mate, and looked at him out of the corner of his eye, ashe stood silently waiting with his hands by his side. "Take in sail, " said the skipper shortly; and leaving the helm a bit, ran to assist him. Five minutes later the Swallow was alongside of thewharf, and then, everything made fast and snug, the two men turned andfaced each other. "Go below, " said the skipper sternly. The mate walked off. "And takecare of that chap. I'm going ashore. If anybody asks you about thesescratches, I got 'em in a row down Wapping--D'ye hear?" The mate heard, but there was a thickness in his throat which preventedhim from replying promptly. By the time he had recovered his voice theother had disappeared over the edge of the wharf, and the sound ofhis retreating footsteps rang over the cobblestone quay. The mate in abewildered fashion stood for a short time motionless; then he turned, and drawing a deep breath, went below. THE GREY PARROT. The Chief Engineer and the Third sat at tea on the s. S. _Curlew_ in theEast India Docks. The small and not over-clean steward having placedeverything he could think of upon the table, and then added everythingthe Chief could think of, had assiduously poured out two cups of teaand withdrawn by request. The two men ate steadily, conversing betweenbites, and interrupted occasionally by a hoarse and sepulchral voice, the owner of which, being much exercised by the sight of the food, asked for it, prettily at first, and afterwards in a way which at leastcompelled attention. "That's pretty good for a parrot, " said the Third critically. "Seems toknow what he's saying too. No, don't give it anything. It'll stop if youdo. " "There's no pleasure to _me_ in listening to coarse language, " said theChief with dignity. He absently dipped a piece of bread and butter in the Third's tea, and losing it chased it round and round the bottom of the cap with hisfinger, the Third regarding the operation with an interest and emotionwhich he was at first unable to understand. "You'd better pour yourself out another cup, " he said thoughtfully as hecaught the Third's eye. "I'm going to, " said the other dryly. "The man I bought it off, " said the Chief, giving the bird the sop, "saidthat it was a perfectly respectable parrot and wouldn't know a bad wordif it heard it I hardly like to give it to my wife now. " "It's no good being too particular, " said the Third, regarding himwith an ill-concealed grin; "that's the worst of all you young marriedfellows. Seem to think your wife has got to be wrapped up in brownpaper. Ten chances to one she'll be amused. " The Chief shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. "I bought the bird to becompany for her, " he said slowly; "she'll be very lonesome without me, Rogers. " "How do you know?" inquired the other. "She said so, " was the reply. "When you've been married as long as I have, " said the Third, who havingbeen married some fifteen years felt that their usual positions weresomewhat reversed, "you'll know that generally speaking they're glad toget rid of you. " "What for?" demanded the Chief in a voice that Othello might haveenvied. "Well, you get in the way a bit, " said Rogers with secret enjoyment;"you see you upset the arrangements. House-cleaning and all that sort ofthing gets interrupted. They're glad to see you back at first, and thenglad to see the back of you. " "There's wives and wives, " said the bridegroom tenderly. "And mine's a good one, " said the Third, "registered A1 at Lloyd's, butshe don't worry about me going away. Your wife's thirty years youngerthan you, isn't she?" "Twenty-five, " corrected the other shortly. "You see what I'm afraid ofis, that she'll get too much attention. " "Well, women like that, " remarked the Third. "But I don't, damn it, " cried the Chief hotly. "When I think of it I gethot all over. Boiling hot. " "That won't last, " said the other reassuringly; "you won't care twopencethis time next year. " "We're not all alike, " growled the Chief; "some of us have got finerfeelings than others have. I saw the chap next door looking at her as wepassed him this morning. " "Lor', " said the Third. "I don't want any of your damned impudence, " said the Chief sharply. "Heput his hat on straighter when he passed us. What do you think of that?" "Can't say, " replied the other with commendable gravity; "it might meananything. " "If he has any of his nonsense while I'm away I'll break his neck, " saidthe Chief passionately. "I shall know of it. " The other raised his eyebrows. "I've asked the landlady to keep her eyes open a bit, " said the Chief. "My wife was brought up in the country, and she's very young and simple, so that it is quite right and proper for her to have a motherly old bodyto look after her. " "Told your wife?" queried Rogers. "No, " said the other. "Fact is, I've got an idea about that parrot. I'mgoing to tell her it's a magic bird, and will tell me everything shedoes while I'm away. Anything the landlady tells me I shall tell herI got from the parrot. For one thing, I don't want her to go out afterseven of an evening, and she's promised me she won't. If she does Ishall know, and pretend that I know through the parrot What do you thinkof it?" "Think of it?" said the Third, staring at him. "Think of it? Fancy a mantelling a grown-up woman a yarn like that!" "She believes in warnings and death-watches, and all that sort ofthing, " said the Chief, "so why shouldn't she?" "Well, you'll know whether she believes in it or not when you comeback, " said Rogers, "and it'll be a great pity, because it's a beautifultalker. " "What do you mean?" said the other. "I mean it'll get its little neck wrung, " said the Third. "Well, we'll see, " said Gannett. "I shall know what to think if it doesdie. " "I shall never see that bird again, " said Rogers, shaking his head asthe Chief took up the cage and handed it to the steward, who was toaccompany him home with it. The couple left the ship and proceeded down the East India Dock Roadside by side, the only incident being a hot argument between a constableand the engineer as to whether he could or could not be held responsiblefor the language in which the parrot saw fit to indulge when the stewardhappened to drop it. The engineer took the cage at his door, and, not without somemisgivings, took it upstairs into the parlour and set it on the table. Mrs. Gannett, a simple-looking woman, with sleepy brown eyes and adocile manner, clapped her hands with joy. "Isn't it a beauty?" said Mr. Gannett, looking at it; "I bought it to becompany for you while I'm away. " "You're too good to me, Jem, " said his wife. She walked all round thecage admiring it, the parrot, which was of a highly suspicious andnervous disposition, having had boys at its last place, turning withher. After she had walked round him five times he got sick of it, and ina simple sailorly fashion said so. "Oh, Jem, " said his wife. "It's a beautiful talker, " said Gannett hastily, "and it's so cleverthat it picks up everything it hears, but it'll soon forget it. " "It looks as though it knows what you are saying, " said his wife. "Justlook at it, the artful thing. " The opportunity was too good to be missed, and in a few straightforwardlies the engineer acquainted Mrs. Gannett of the miraculous powers withwhich he had chosen to endow it. "But you don't believe it?" said his wife, staring at him open-mouthed. "I do, " said the engineer firmly. "But how can it know what I'm doing when I'm away?" persisted Mrs. Gannett. "Ah, that's its secret, " said the engineer; "a good many people wouldlike to know that, but nobody has found out yet. It's a magic bird, andwhen you've said that you've said all there is to say about it. " Mrs. Gannett, wrinkling her forehead, eyed the marvellous birdcuriously. "You'll find it's quite true, " said Gannett; "when I come back thatbird'll be able to tell me how you've been and all about you. Everythingyou've done during my absence. " "Good gracious!" said the astonished Mrs. Gannett. "If you stay out after seven of an evening, or do anything else thatI shouldn't like, that bird'll tell me, " continued the engineerimpressively. "It'll tell me who comes to see you, and in fact it willtell me everything you do while I'm away. " "Well, it won't have anything bad to tell of me, " said Mrs. Gannettcomposedly, "unless it tells lies. " "It can't tell lies, " said her husband confidently, "and now, if you goand put your bonnet on, we'll drop in at the theatre for half an hour. " It was a prophetic utterance, for he made such a fuss over the mannext to his wife offering her his opera-glasses, that they left, at theurgent request of the management, in almost exactly that space of time. "You'd better carry me about in a bandbox, " said Mrs. Gannett wearilyas the outraged engineer stalked home beside her. "What harm was the mandoing?" "You must have given him some encouragement, " said Mr. Gannettfiercely--"made eyes at him or something. A man wouldn't offer to lend alady his opera-glasses without. " Mrs. Gannett tossed her head--and that so decidedly, that a passingstranger turned his head and looked at her. Mr. Gannett accelerated hispace, and taking his wife's arm, led her swiftly home with a passion toogreat for words. By the morning his anger had evaporated, but his misgivings remained. He left after breakfast for the _Curlew_, which was to sail in theafternoon, leaving behind him copious instructions, by following whichhis wife would be enabled to come down and see him off with the minimumexposure of her fatal charms. Left to herself Mrs. Gannett dusted the room, until, coming to theparrot's cage, she put down the duster and eyed its eerie occupantcuriously. She fancied that she saw an evil glitter in the creature'seye, and the knowing way in which it drew the film over it was as nearan approach to a wink as a bird could get. She was still looking at it when there was a knock at the door, and abright little woman--rather smartly dressed--bustled into the room, andgreeted her effusively. "I just came to see you, my dear, because I thought a little outingwould do me good, " she said briskly; "and if you've no objection I'llcome down to the docks with you to see the boat off. " Mrs. Gannett assented readily. It would ease the engineer's mind, shethought, if he saw her with a chaperon. "Nice bird, " said Mrs. Cluffins, mechanically bringing her parasol tothe charge. "Don't do that, " said her friend hastily. "Why not?" said the other. "Language!" said Mrs. Gannett solemnly. "Well, I must do something to it, " said Mrs. Cluffins restlessly. She held the parasol near the cage and suddenly opened it. It was aflaming scarlet, and for the moment the shock took the parrot's breathaway. "He don't mind that, " said Mrs. Gannett. The parrot, hopping to the farthest corner of the bottom of his cage, said something feebly. Finding that nothing dreadful happened, herepeated his remark somewhat more boldly, and, being convinced afterall that the apparition was quite harmless and that he had displayed hiscraven spirit for nothing, hopped back on his perch and raved wickedly. "If that was my bird, " said Mrs. Cluffins, almost as scarlet as herparasol, "I should wring its neck. " "No, you wouldn't, " said Mrs. Gannett solemnly. And having quieted thebird by throwing a cloth over its cage, she explained its properties. "What!" said Mrs. Cluffins, unable to sit still in her chair. "You meanto tell me your husband said that!" Mrs. Gannett nodded. "He's awfully jealous of me, " she said with a slight simper. "I wish he was my husband, " said Mrs. Cluffins in a thin, hard voice. "I wish C. Would talk to _me_ like that I wish somebody would try andpersuade C. To talk to me like that. " "It shows he's fond of me, " said Mrs. Gannett, looking down. Mrs. Cluffins jumped up, and snatching the cover off the cage, endeavoured, but in vain, to get the parasol through the bars. "And you believe that rubbish!" she said scathingly. "Boo, you wretch!" "I don't believe it, " said her friend, taking her gently away andcovering the cage hastily just as the bird was recovering, "but I lethim think I do. " "I call it an outrage, " said Mrs. Cluffins, waving the parasol wildly. "I never heard of such a thing; I'd like to give Mr. Gannett a pieceof my mind. Just about half an hour of it. He wouldn't be the same manafterwards--I'd parrot him. " Mrs. Gannett, soothing her agitated friend as well as she was able, ledher gently to a chair and removed her bonnet, and finding that completerecovery was impossible while the parrot remained in the room, took thatwonder-working bird outside. By the time they had reached the docks and boarded the _Curlew_ Mrs. Cluffins had quite recovered her spirits. She roamed about the steamerasking questions, which savoured more of idle curiosity than a genuinethirst for knowledge, and was at no pains to conceal her opinion ofthose who were unable to furnish her with satisfactory replies. "I shall think of you every day, Jem, " said Mrs. Gannett tenderly. "I shall think of you every minute, " said the engineer reproachfully. He sighed gently and gazed in a scandalised fashion at Mrs. Cluffins, who was carrying on a desperate flirtation with one of the apprentices. "She's very light-hearted, " said his wife, following the direction ofhis eyes. "She is, " said Mr. Gannett curtly, as the unconscious Mrs. Cluffins shuther parasol and rapped the apprentice playfully with the handle. "Sheseems to be on very good terms with Jenkins, laughing and carrying on. Idon't suppose she's ever seen him before. " "Poor young things, " said Mrs. Cluffins solemnly, as she came up tothem. "Don't you worry, Mr. Gannett; I'll look after her and keep herfrom moping. " "You're very kind, " said the engineer slowly. "We'll have a jolly time, " said Mrs. Cluffins. "I often wish my husbandwas a seafaring man. A wife does have more freedom, doesn't she?" "More what?" inquired Mr. Gannett huskily. "More freedom, " said Mrs. Cluffins gravely. "I always envy sailors'wives. They can do as they like. No husband to look after them for nineor ten months in the year. " Before the unhappy engineer could put his indignant thoughts into wordsthere was a warning cry from the gangway, and with a hasty farewell hehurried below. The visitors went ashore, the gangway was shipped, and inresponse to the clang of the telegraph the _Curlew_ drifted slowly awayfrom the quay and headed for the swing-bridge slowly opening in front ofher. The two ladies hurried to the pier-head and watched the steamer down theriver until a bend hid it from view. Then Mrs. Gannett, with a sensationof having lost something, due, so her friend assured her, to the want ofa cup of tea, went slowly back to her lonely home. In the period of grass-widowhood which ensued, Mrs. Cluffins's visitsformed almost the sole relief to the bare monotony of existence. Asa companion the parrot was an utter failure, its language being soirredeemably bad that it spent most of its time in the spare room witha cloth over its cage, wondering when the days were going to lengthena bit. Mrs. Cluffins suggested selling it, but her friend repelled thesuggestion with horror, and refused to entertain it at any price, eventhat of the publican at the corner, who, having heard of the bird'scommand of language, was bent upon buying it. "I wonder what that beauty will have to tell your husband, " said Mrs. Cluffins, as they sat together one day some three months after the_Curlew's_ departure. "I should hope that he has forgotten that nonsense, " said Mrs. Gannett, reddening; "he never alludes to it in his letters. " "Sell it, " said Mrs. Cluffins peremptorily. "It's no good to you, andHobson would give anything for it almost. " Mrs. Gannett shook her head. "The house wouldn't hold my husband if Idid, " she remarked with a shiver. "Oh, yes, it would, " said Mrs. Cluffins; "you do as I tell you, and amuch smaller house than this would hold him. I told C. To tell Hobson heshould have it for five pounds. " "But he mustn't, " said her friend in alarm. "Leave yourself right in my hands, " said Mrs. Cluffins, spreading outtwo small palms and regarding them complacently. "It'll be all right, Ipromise you. " She put her arm round her friend's waist and led her to the window, talking earnestly. In five minutes Mrs. Gannett was wavering, in ten shehad given way, and in fifteen the energetic Mrs. Cluffins was _en route_for Hobson's, swinging the cage so violently in her excitement that theparrot was reduced to holding on to its perch with claws and bill. Mrs. Gannett watched the progress from the window, and with a queer look onher face sat down to think out the points of attack and defence in theapproaching fray. A week later a four-wheeler drove up to the door, and the engineer, darting upstairs three steps at a time, dropped an armful of parcelson the floor, and caught his wife in an embrace which would have donecredit to a bear. Mrs. Gannett, for reasons of which lack of muscle wasonly one, responded less ardently. "Ha, it's good to be home again, " said Gannett, sinking into aneasy-chair and pulling his wife on his knee. "And how have you been?Lonely?" "I got used to it, " said Mrs. Gannett softly. The engineer coughed. "You had the parrot, " he remarked. "Yes, I had the magic parrot, " said Mrs. Gannett. "How's it getting on?" said her husband, looking round. "Where is it?" "Part of it is on the mantelpiece, " said Mrs. Gannett, trying to speakcalmly, "part of it is in a bonnet-box upstairs, some of it's in mypocket, and here is the remainder. " She fumbled in her pocket and placed in his hand a cheap two-bladedclasp knife. "On the mantelpiece!" repeated the engineer staring at the knife; "in abonnet-box!" "Those blue vases, " said his wife. Mr. Gannett put his handto his head. If he had heard aright one parrot had changed into a pairof vases, a bonnet, and a knife. A magic bird with a vengeance. "I sold it, " said Mrs. Gannett suddenly. The engineer's knee stiffened inhospitably, and his arm dropped from hiswife's waist She rose quietly and took a chair opposite. "Sold it!" said Mr. Gannett in awful tones. "Sold my parrot!" "I didn't like it, Jem, " said his wife. "I didn't want that birdwatching me, and I did want the vases, and the bonnet, and the littlepresent for you. " Mr. Gannett pitched the little present to the other end of the room. "You see it mightn't have told the truth, Jem, " continued Mrs. Gannett. "It might have told all sorts of lies about me, and made no end ofmischief. " "It couldn't lie, " shouted the engineer passionately, rising from hischair and pacing the room. "It's your guilty conscience that's made acoward of you. How dare you sell my parrot?" "Because it wasn't truthful, Jem, " said his wife, who was somewhat pale. "If you were half as truthful you'd do, " vociferated the engineer, standing over her. "You, you deceitful woman. " Mrs. Gannett fumbled in her pocket again, and producing a smallhandkerchief applied it delicately to her eyes. "I--I got rid of it for your sake, " she stammered. "It used to tell suchlies about you. I couldn't bear to listen to it. " "About _me!_" said Mr. Gannett, sinking into his seat and staring at hiswife with very natural amazement. "Tell lies about _me_! Nonsense! Howcould it?" "I suppose it could tell me about you as easily as it could tell youabout me?" said Mrs. Gannett. "There was more magic in that bird thanyou thought, Jem. It used to say shocking things about you. I couldn'tbear it. " "Do you think you're talking to a child or a fool?" demanded theengineer. Mrs. Gannett shook her head feebly. She still kept the handkerchief toher eyes, but allowed a portion to drop over her mouth. "I should like to hear some of the stories it told about me--if you canremember them, " said the engineer with bitter sarcasm. "The first lie, " said Mrs. Gannett in a feeble but ready voice, "wasabout the time you were at Genoa. The parrot said you were at someconcert gardens at the upper end of the town. " One moist eye coming mildly from behind the handkerchief saw theengineer stiffen suddenly in his chair. "I don't suppose there even is such a place, " she continued. "I--b'leve--there--is, " said her husband jerkily. "I've heard--ourchaps--talk of it. " "But you haven't been there?" said his wife anxiously. "_Never!_" said the engineer with extraordinary vehemence. "That wicked bird said that you got intoxicated there, " said Mrs. Gannett in solemn accents, "that you smashed a little marble-toppedtable and knocked down two waiters, and that if it hadn't been for thecaptain of the _Pursuit_, who was in there and who got you away, you'dhave been locked up. Wasn't it a wicked bird?" "Horrible!" said the engineer huskily. "I don't suppose there ever was a ship called the _Pursuit_, " continuedMrs. Gannett. "Doesn't sound like a ship's name, " murmured Mr. Gannett. "Well, then, a few days later it said the _Curlew_ was at Naples. " "I never went ashore all the time we were at Naples, " remarked theengineer casually. "The parrot said you did, " said Mrs. Gannett. "I suppose you'll believe your own lawful husband before that damnedbird?" shouted Gannett, starting up. "Of course I didn't believe it, Jem, " said his wife. "I'm trying toprove to you that the bird was not truthful, but you're so hard topersuade. " Mr. Gannett took a pipe from his pocket, and with a small knife dug withmuch severity and determination a hardened plug from the bowl, and blewnoisily through the stem. "There was a girl kept a fruit-stall just by the harbour, " saidMrs. Gannett, "and on this evening, on the strength of having boughtthree-pennyworth of green figs, you put your arm round her waist andtried to kiss her, and her sweetheart, who was standing close by, triedto stab you. The parrot said that you were in such a state of terrorthat you jumped into the harbour and were nearly drowned. " Mr. Gannett having loaded his pipe lit it slowly and carefully, and withtidy precision got up and deposited the match in the fireplace. "It used to frighten me so with its stories that I hardly knew what todo with myself, " continued Mrs. Gannett "When you were at Suez--" The engineer waved his hand imperiously. "That's enough, " he said stiffly. "I'm sure I don't want to have to repeat what it told me about Suez, "said his wife. "I thought you'd like to hear it, that's all. " "Not at all, " said the engineer, puffing at his pipe. "Not at all. " "But you see why I got rid of the bird, don't you?" said Mrs. Gannett. "If it had told you untruths about me, _you_ would have believed them, wouldn't you?" Mr. Gannett took his pipe from his mouth and took his wife in hisextended arms. "No, my dear, " he said brokenly, "no more than youbelieve all this stuff about me. " "And I did quite right to sell it, didn't I, Jem?" "Quite right, " said Mr. Gannett with a great assumption of heartiness. "Best thing to do with it. " "You haven't heard the worst yet, " said Mrs. Gannett. "When you were atSuez--" Mr. Gannett consigned Suez to its only rival, and thumping the tablewith his clenched fist, forbade his wife to mention the word again, anddesired her to prepare supper. Not until he heard his wife moving about in the kitchen below did herelax the severity of his countenance. Then his expression changed toone of extreme anxiety, and he restlessly paced the room seeking forlight. It came suddenly. "Jenkins, " he gasped, "Jenkins and Mrs. Cluffins, and I was going totell Cluffins about him writing to his wife. I expect he knows theletter by heart. " MONEY CHANGERS. "Tain't no use waiting any longer, " said Harry Pilchard, looking overthe side of the brig towards the Tower stairs. "'E's either waiting forthe money or else 'e's a-spending of it. Who's coming ashore?" "Give 'im another five minutes, Harry, " said another seamanpersuasively; "it 'ud be uncommon 'ard on 'im if 'e come aboard and then'ad to go an' get another ship's crew to 'elp 'im celebrate it. " "'Ard on us too, " said the cook honestly. "There he is!" The other glanced up at a figure waving to them from the stairs. "'Ewants the boat, " he said, moving aft. "No 'e don't, Steve, " piped the boy. "'E's waving you not to. He'scoming in the waterman's skiff. " "Ha! same old tale, " said the seaman wisely. "Chap comes in for a bito' money and begins to waste it directly. There's threepence gone; cleanchucked away. Look at 'im. Just look at him!" "'E's got the money all right, " said the cook, "there's no doubt aboutthat. Why, 'e looks 'arf as large again as 'e did this morning. " The crew bent over the side as the skiff approached, and the fare, whohad been leaning back in the stern with a severely important air, roseslowly and felt in his trousers-pocket. "There's sixpence for you, my lad, " he said pompously. "Never mind aboutthe change. " "All right, old slack-breeches, " said the waterman with effusivegood-fellowship: "up you get. " Three pairs of hands assisted the offended fare on board, and the boyhovering round him slapped his legs vigorously. "Wot are you up to?" demanded Mr. Samuel Dodds, A. B. , turning on him. "Only dusting you down, Sam, " said the boy humbly. "You got the money all right, I s'pose, Sammy?" said Steve Martin. Mr. Dodds nodded and slapped his breastpocket. "Right as ninepence, " he replied genially. "I've been with my lawyer allthe arternoon, pretty near. 'E's a nice feller. " "'Ow much is it, Sam?" inquired Pilchard eagerly. "One 'undred and seventy-three pun seventeen shillings an' ten_pence_, " said the heir, noticing with much pleasure the effect of hisannouncement. "Say it agin, Sam, " said Pilchard in awed tones. Mr. Dodds, with a happy laugh, obliged him. "If you'll all come downthe foc'sle, " he continued, "I've got a bundle o' cigars an' a drop o'something short in my pocket. " "Let's 'ave a look at the money, Sam, " said Pilchard when the cigarswere alight. "Ah, let's 'ave a look at it, " said Steve. Mr. Dodds laughed again, and, producing a small canvas bag from hispocket, dusted the table with his big palm, and spread out a roll ofbanknotes and a little pile of gold and silver. It was an impressivesight, and the cook breathed so hard that one note fluttered off thetable. Three men dived to recover it, while Sam, alive for the firsttime to the responsibilities of wealth, anxiously watched the remainderof his capital. "There's something for you to buy sweets with, my lad, " he said, restored to good-humour as the note was replaced. He passed over a small coin, and regarded with tolerant good-humourthe extravagant manifestation of joy on the part of the youth whichfollowed. He capered joyously for a minute or two, and than taking it tothe foot of the steps, where the light was better, bit it ecstatically. "How much is it?" inquired the wondering Steve. "You do chuck your moneyabout, Sam. " "On'y sixpence, " said Sam, laughing. "I expect if it 'ad been a shillin'it 'ud ha' turned his brain. " "It ain't a sixpence, " said the boy indignantly. "It's 'arf a suvrin'. " "'Arf a wot?" exclaimed Mr. Dodds with a sudden change of manner. "'Arf a suvrin', " repeated the boy with nervous rapidity; "and thank-youvery much, Sam, for your generosity. If everybody was like you we shouldall be the better for it The world 'ud be a different place to live in, "concluded the youthful philosopher. Mr. Dodd's face under these fulsome praises was a study in conflictingemotions. "Well, don't waste it, " he said at length, and hastilygathering up the remainder stowed it in the bag. "What are you going to do with it all, Sam?" inquired Harry. "I ain't made up my mind yet, " said Mr. Dodds deliberately. "I 'avethought of 'ouse property. " "I don't mean that, " said the other. "I mean, wot are you going to dowith it now, to take care of it?" "Why, keep it in my pocket, " said Sam, staring. "Well, if I was you, " said Harry impressively, "I should ask the skipperto take care of it for me. You know wot you are when you're a bit on, Sam. " "Wot d' yer mean?" demanded Mr. Dodds hotly. "I mean, " said Harry hastily, "that you've got sich a generous naturethat when you've 'ad a glass or two you're just as likely as not to giveit away to somebody. " "I know what I'm about, " said Mr. Dodds with conviction. "I'm not goin'to get on while I've got this about me. I'm just goin' round to the'Bull's Head, ' but I shan't drink anything to speak of myself. Anybodythat likes to come t'ave anything at my expense is welcome. " A flattering murmur, which was music to Mr. Dodds' ear, arose from hisshipmates as they went on deck and hauled the boat alongside. The boywas first in her, and pulling out his pocket-handkerchief ostentatiouslywiped down a seat for Mr. Dodds. "Understand, " said that gentleman, with whom the affair of thehalf-sovereign still rankled, "_your_ drink is shandygaff. " * * * * * They returned to the brig at eleven o'clock, Mr. Dodds slumberingpeacefully in the stern of the boat, propped up on either side by Steveand the boy. His sleep was so profound that he declined to be aroused, and washoisted over the side with infinite difficulty and no little risk by hisshipmates. "Look at 'im, " said Harry, as they lowered him down the forecastle. "What 'ud ha' become of 'im if we hadn't been with 'im? Where would 'ismoney ha' been?" "He'll lose it as sure as eggs is heggs, " said Steve, regarding himintently. "Bear a hand to lift 'im in his bunk, Harry. " Harry complied, their task being rendered somewhat difficult by a slightreturn of consciousness in Mr. Dodds' lower limbs, which, spreadingthemselves out fan wise, defied all attempts to pack them in the bunk. "Let 'em hang out then, " said Harry savagely, wiping a little mud fromhis face. "Fancy _that_ coming in for a fortin. " "'E won't 'ave it long, " said the cook, shaking his head. "Wot 'e wants is a shock, " said Harry. "'Ow'd it be when he wakes up totell 'im he's lost all 'is money?" "Wot's the good o' telling 'im, " demanded the cook, "when 'e's got it inhis pocket?" "Well, let's take it out, " said Pilchard. "I'll hide it under my piller, and let him think he's 'ad his pocket picked. " "I won't 'ave nothing to do with it, " said Steve peremptorily. "I don'tbelieve in sich games. " "Wot do you think, cook?" inquired Harry. "I don't see no 'arm in it, " said the cook slowly; "the fright might do'im good, p'raps. " "It might be the saving of 'im, " said Harry. He leaned over the sleepingseaman, and, gently inserting his fingers in his breast-pocket, drew outthe canvas bag. "There it is, chaps, " he said gaily; "an' I'll give 'imsich a fright in the morning as he won't forget in a 'urry. " He retired to his bunk, and placing the bag under his pillow, was soonfast asleep. The other men followed his example, and Steve extinguishingthe lamp, the forecastle surrendered itself to sleep. At five o'clock they were awakened by the voice of Mr. Dodds. It wasa broken, disconnected sort of voice at first, like to that of a mantalking in his sleep; but as Mr. Dodds' head cleared his ideas clearedwith it, and in strong, forcible language straight from the heart heconsigned the eyes and limbs of some person or persons unknown to everyvariety of torment; after which, in a voice broken with emotion, headdressed himself in terms of heartbreaking sympathy. "Shut up, Sam, " said Harry in a sleepy voice. "Why can't you go tosleep?" "Sleep be 'anged, " said Mr. Dodds tearfully. "I've lorst all my money. " "You're dreamin', " said Harry lightly; "pinch yourself. " Mr. Dodds, who had a little breath left and a few words stillcomparatively fresh, bestowed them upon him. "I tell you you haven't lorst it, " said Harry. "Don't you remembergiving it to that red-'aired woman with a baby?" "Wot?" said the astounded Mr. Dodds. "You give it to 'er an' told 'er to buy the baby a bun with it, "continued the veracious Mr. Pilchard. "Told 'er to buy the baby a bun with it?" repeated Mr. Dodds in a dazedvoice. "Told 'er to---- Wot did you let me do it for? Wot was all youchaps standin' by an' doin' to let me go an' do it for?" "We did _arsk_ you not to, " said Steve, joining in the conversation. Mr. Dodds finding language utterly useless to express his burningthoughts, sat down and madly smashed at the table with his fists. "Wot was _you_ a-doin' to let me do it?" he demanded at length of theboy. "You ungrateful little toad. You can give me that 'arf-suvrin back, d'ye hear?" "I can't, " said the boy. "I followed your example, and give it to thered-'aired woman to buy the baby another bun with. " There was a buzzing noise in Mr. Dodds' head, and the bunks and theirgrinning occupants went round and round. "'Ere, 'old up, Sam, " said Pilchard, shaking him in alarm. "It's allright; don't be a fool. I've got the money. " Sam stared at him blankly. "I've got the money, " repeated the seaman. Mr. Dodds' colour came back. "How'd you get it?" he inquired. "I took it out of your pocket last night just to give you a lesson, "said Harry severely. "Don't you never be so silly agin, Sam. " "Gimme my money, " said Mr. Dodds, glaring at him. "You might ha' lorst it, you see, Sam, " continued his benefactor; "if Icould take it, anybody else could. Let this be a lesson to you. " "If you don't grimme my money----" began Sam violently. "It's no good trying to do 'im a kindness, " said Harry to the others ashe turned to his bunk. "He can go an' lose it for all I care. " He put his hand in his bunk, and then with a sudden exclamation searchedsomewhat hastily amongst the bedding. Mr. Dodds, watching him with ascowl, saw him take every article separately out of his bunk, and thensink down appalled on the locker. "You've took it, Sam--ain't--you?" he gasped. "Look 'ere, " said Mr. Dodds, with ominous quietness, "when you've doneyour little game. " "It's gone, " said Harry in a scared voice; "somebody's taken it. " "Look 'ere, 'Arry, give 'im his money, " said Steve impatiently; "ajoke's a joke, but we don't want too much of it. " "I ain't got it, " said Harry, trembling. "Sure as I stand 'ere it'sgone. I took it out of your pocket, and put it under my piller. You sawme, didn't you, Steve?" "Yes, and I told you not to, " said Steve. "Let this be a warning to younot to try and teach lessons to people wot don't want 'em. " "I'm going to the police-station to give 'im in charge, " said Mr. Doddsfiercely; "that's wot I'm goin' to do. " "For the Lord's sake don't do that, Sam, " said Pilchard, clutching himby the coat. "'Arry ain't made away with it, Sam, " said Steve. "I saw somebody takeit out of his bunk while he was asleep. " "Why didn't you stop him?" cried Harry, starting up. "I didn't like to interfere, " said Steve simply; "but I saw where hewent to. " "Where?" demanded Mr. Dodds wildly. "Where?" "He went straight up on deck, " said Steve slowly, "walked aft, and thendown into the cabin. The skipper woke up, and I heard 'im say somethingto him. " "Say something to 'im?" repeated the bewildered Dodds. "Wot was it?" "Well, I 'ardly like to repeat it, " said Steve, hesitating. "Wot was it?" roared the overwrought Mr. Dodds. "Well, I 'eard this chap say something, " said Steve slowly, "and thenI heard the skipper's voice. But I don't like to repeat wot 'e said, Ireely don't. " "Wot was it?" roared Mr. Dodds, approaching him with clenched fist. "Well, if you will have it, " said Steve, with a little cough, "the oldman said to me, 'Well done, Steve, ' he ses, 'you're the only sensibleman of the whole bilin' lot. Sam's a fool, ' 'e ses, 'and 'Arrys worse, an' if it wasn't for men like you, Steve, life wouldn't be worthliving. ' The skipper's got it now, Sam, and 'e's goin' to give it toyour wife to take care of as soon as we get home. " THE LOST SHIP. On a fine spring morning in the early part of the present century, Tetby, a small port on the east coast, was keeping high holiday. Tradesmen left their shops, and labourers their work, and flocked downto join the maritime element collected on the quay. In the usual way Tetby was a quiet, dull little place, clustering in atiny heap of town on one side of the river, and perching in scatteredred-tiled cottages on the cliffs of the other. Now, however, people were grouped upon the stone quay, with its litterof fish-baskets and coils of rope, waiting expectantly, for to-day thelargest ship ever built in Tetby, by Tetby hands, was to start upon herfirst voyage. As they waited, discussing past Tetby ships, their builders, theirvoyages, and their fate, a small piece of white sail showed on thenoble barque from her moorings up the river. The groups on the quay grewanimated as more sail was set, and in a slow and stately fashion thenew ship drew near. As the light breeze took her sails she came faster, sitting the water like a duck, her lofty masts tapering away to the skyas they broke through the white clouds of canvas. She passed withinten fathoms of the quay, and the men cheered and the women held theirchildren up to wave farewell, for she was manned from captain to cabinboy by Tetby men, and bound for the distant southern seas. Outside the harbour she altered her course somewhat and bent, like athing of life, to the wind blowing outside. The crew sprang into therigging and waved their caps, and kissed their grimy hands to recedingTetby. They were answered by rousing cheers from the shore, hoarse andmasculine, to drown the lachrymose attempts of the women. They watched her until their eyes were dim, and she was a mere whitetriangular speck on the horizon. Then, like a melting snowflake, shevanished into air, and the Tetby folk, some envying the bold mariners, and others thankful that their lives were cast upon the safe andpleasant shore, slowly dispersed to their homes. Months passed, and the quiet routine of Tetby went on undisturbed. Other craft came into port and, discharging and loading in an easy, comfortable fashion, sailed again. The keel of another ship was beinglaid in the shipyard, and slowly the time came round when the return of_Tetby's Pride_, for so she was named, might be reasonably looked for. It was feared that she might arrive in the night--the cold and cheerlessnight, when wife and child were abed, and even if roused to go down onto the quay would see no more of her than her side-lights staining thewater, and her dark form stealing cautiously up the river. They wouldhave her come by day. To see her first on that horizon, into which shehad dipped and vanished. To see her come closer and closer, the goodstout ship seasoned by southern seas and southern suns, with the crewcrowding the sides to gaze at Tetby, and see how the children had grown. But she came not. Day after day the watchers waited for her in vain. Itwas whispered at length that she was overdue, and later on, but only bythose who had neither kith nor kin aboard of her, that she was missing. Long after all hope had gone wives and mothers, after the manner oftheir kind, watched and waited on the cheerless quay. One by one theystayed away, and forgot the dead to attend to the living. Babes grewinto sturdy, ruddy-faced boys and girls, boys and girls into young menand women, but no news of the missing ship, no word from the missingmen. Slowly year succeeded year, and the lost ship became a legend. Theman who had built her was old and grey, and time had smoothed away thesorrows of the bereaved. It was on a dark, blustering September night that an old woman sat byher fire knitting. The fire was low, for it was more for the sake ofcompany than warmth, and it formed an agreeable contrast to the windwhich whistled round the house, bearing on its wings the sound of thewaves as they came crashing ashore. "God help those at sea to-night, " said the old woman devoutly, as astronger gust than usual shook the house. She put her knitting in her lap and clasped her hands, and at thatmoment the cottage door opened. The lamp flared and smoked up thechimney with the draught, and then went out. As the old woman rose fromher seat the door closed. "Who's there?" she cried nervously. Her eyes were dim and the darkness sudden, but she fancied shesaw something standing by the door, and snatching a spill from themantelpiece she thrust it into the fire, and relit the lamp. A man stood on the threshold, a man of middle age, with white drawn faceand scrubby beard. His clothes were in rags, his hair unkempt, and hislight grey eyes sunken and tired. The old woman looked at him, and waited for him to speak. When he did sohe took a step towards her, and said-- "Mother!" With a great cry she threw herself upon his neck and strained him toher withered bosom, and kissed him. She could not believe her eyes, her senses, but clasped him convulsively, and bade him speak again, andwept, and thanked God, and laughed all in a breath. Then she remembered herself, and led him tottering to the old Windsorchair, thrust him in it, and quivering with excitement took food anddrink from the cupboard and placed them before him. He ate hungrily, the old woman watching him, and standing by his side to keep his glassfilled with the home-brewed beer. At times he would have spoken, but shemotioned him to silence and bade him eat, the tears coursing down heraged cheeks as she looked at his white famished face. At length he laid down his knife and fork, and drinking off the ale, intimated that he had finished. "My boy, my boy, " said the old woman in a broken voice, "I thought youhad gone down with _Tetby's Pride_ long years ago. " He shook his head heavily. "The captain and crew, and the good ship, " asked his mother. "Where arethey?" "Captain--and--crew, " said the son, in a strange hesitating fashion; "itis a long story--the ale has made me heavy. They are--" He left off abruptly and closed his eyes. "Where are they?" asked his mother. "What happened?" He opened his eyes slowly. "I--am--tired--dead tired. I have not--slept. I'll tell--you--morning. " He nodded again, and the old woman shook him gently. "Go to bed then. Your old bed, Jem. It's as you left it, and it's madeand the sheets aired. It's been ready for you ever since. " He rose to his feet, and stood swaying to and fro. His mother opened adoor in the wall, and taking the lamp lighted him up the steep woodenstaircase to the room he knew so well. Then he took her in his arms in afeeble hug, and kissing her on the forehead sat down wearily on the bed. The old woman returned to her kitchen, and falling upon her kneesremained for some time in a state of grateful, pious ecstasy. When shearose she thought of those other women, and, snatching a shawl from itspeg behind the door, ran up the deserted street with her tidings. In a very short time the town was astir. Like a breath of hope thewhisper flew from house to house. Doors closed for the night were thrownopen, and wondering children questioned their weeping mothers. Blurredimages of husbands and fathers long since given over for dead stood outclear and distinct, smiling with bright faces upon their dear ones. At the cottage door two or three people had already collected, andothers were coming up the street in an unwonted bustle. They found their way barred by an old woman, --a resolute old woman, herface still working with the great joy which had come into her old life, but who refused them admittance until her son had slept. Their thirstfor news was uncontrollable, but with a swelling in her throat sherealised that her share in _Tetby's Pride_ was safe. Women who had waited, and got patient at last after years of waiting, could not endure these additional few hours. Despair was endurable, butsuspense! "Ah, God! Was their man alive? What did he look like? Had heaged much?" "He was so fatigued he could scarce speak, " said she. She had questionedhim, but he was unable to reply. Give him but till the dawn, and theyshould know all. So they waited, for to go home and sleep was impossible. Occasionallythey moved a little way up the street, but never very far, and gatheringin small knots excitedly discussed the great event It came tobe understood that the rest of the crew had been cast away on anuninhabited island, it could be nothing else, and would doubtlessly soonbe with them; all except one or two perhaps, who were old men when theship sailed, and had probably died in the meantime. One said this in thehearing of an old woman whose husband, if alive, would be in extreme oldage, but she smiled peacefully, albeit her lip trembled, and said sheonly expected to hear of him, that was all. The suspense became almost unendurable. "Would this man never awake?Would it never be dawn?" The children were chilled with the wind, buttheir elders would scarcely have felt an Arctic frost With growingimpatience they waited, glancing at times at two women who heldthemselves somewhat aloof from the others; two women who had marriedagain, and whose second husbands waited, awkwardly enough, with them. Slowly the weary windy night wore away, the old woman, deaf to theirappeals, still keeping her door fast. The dawn was not yet, though theoft-consulted watches announced it near at hand. It was very close now, and the watchers collected by the door. It was undeniable that thingswere seen a little more distinctly. One could see better the grey, eagerfaces of his neighbours. They knocked upon the door, and the old woman's eyes filled as sheopened it and saw those faces. Unasked and unchid they invaded thecottage and crowded round the door. "I will go up and fetch him, " said the old woman. If each could have heard the beating of the others' hearts, the noisewould have been deafening, but as it was there was complete silence, except for some overwrought woman's sob. The old woman opened the door leading to the room above, and with theslow, deliberate steps of age ascended the stairs, and those below heardher calling softly to her son. Two or three minutes passed and she was heard descending the stairsagain--alone. The smile, the pity, had left her face, and she seemeddazed and strange. "I cannot wake him, " she said piteously. "He sleeps so sound. He isfatigued. I have shaken him, but he still sleeps. " As she stopped, and looked appealingly round, the other old woman tookher hand, and pressing it led her to a chair. Two of the men sprangquickly up the stairs. They were absent but a short while, and then theycame down like men bewildered and distraught. No need to speak. A lowwail of utter misery rose from the women, and was caught up and repeatedby the crowd outside, for the only man who could have set their heartsat rest had escaped the perils of the deep, and died quietly in his bed. THE END. January 1899.