He was touched. If Ruth was hard, mercenary, costly, her young and ingenuous companion could at any rate be grateful and sympathetic. Yes, he was touched. He had imagined himself to be dead to all human affections, but it was not so. The package contained chocolate, and his nose at once perceived that it was chocolate impregnated with lemon—the surprising but agreeable compound accidentally invented by Nellie on the previous day at the pier buffet. The little thing must have spent a part of the previous afternoon in preparing it, and she must have put the package in the post at Crewe. Secretive and delightful little thing! After his recent experience beyond the bay he had imagined himself to be incapable of ever eating again, but it was not so. The lemon gave a peculiar astringent, appetising, settling quality to the chocolate. And he ate even with gusto. The result was that, instead of waiting for the nine o'clock boarding-house breakfast, he hurried energetically into the streets and called on a jobbing printer whom he had seen on the previous evening. As Ruth had said on the night of the wreck—there is nothing like chocolate for sustaining you.
III
At ten o'clock two Norwegian sailors, who could only smile in answer to the questions which assailed them, were distributing the following handbill on the Parade:
WRECK OF THE "HJALMAR."
———
HEROISM AT LLANDUDNO.
———
Every hour, at 11, 12, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 o'clock,
THE IDENTICAL (guaranteed) LIFEBOAT
which rescued the crew of the
"HJALMAR"
will leave the beach for the scene of the wreck.
———
Manned by Simeon Edwards, the oldest boatman
in LLANDUDNO, and by members of the rescued
crew, genuine Norwegians (guaranteed).
———
SIMEON EDWARDS, COXSWAIN.
Return fare, with use of cork belt and life lines
if desired, 2s. 6d.
———
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.
———
P.S.—The bravery of the lifeboatmen has been
the theme of the Press throughout the Principality
and neighbouring counties.
E. D. MACHIN.
———
At eleven o'clock there was an eager crowd down on the beach, where, with some planks and a piece of rock, Simeon had arranged an embarkation pier for the lifeboat. One man, in overalls, stood up to his knees in the water and escorted passengers up the planks, while Simeon's confidence-generating beard received them into the broad waist of the boat. The rowers wore sou'westers and were secured to the craft by life-lines, and these conveniences were also offered, with life-belts, to the intrepid excursionists. A paper was pinned in the stern: "Licensed to carry fourteen." (Denry had just paid the fee.) But quite forty people were anxious to make the first voyage.
"No more!" shrilled Simeon solemnly. And the wader scrambled in and the boat slid away.
"Fares please!" shrilled Simeon.
He collected one pound fifteen, and slowly buttoned it up in the right-hand pocket of his blue trousers.
"Now, my lads, with a will!" he gave the orders. And then with deliberate method he lighted his pipe. And the lifeboat shot away.