“He can’t understand. But I say, the gaffer didn’t know how it happened, after all. Thought it was an accident.”
“So it was,” said the other man, with a grim smile, “for old Humpy. Here, Pete, old man, how are you now?”
Pete looked at the speaker in wonder, then nodded, and said quietly:
“Bit stiff and achey about the back of the neck.”
“Mind shaking hands, mate?” said the man in a faint whisper.
“What for?” said Pete sourly.
“’Cause I like what you did, mate. It was acting like a man. But we’re not friends over that other business of splitting on us about the salmon.”
“Better wait a bit, then, my lad,” said Pete. “It aren’t good to shake hands with a man like me.”
“But I say it is,” said the other with emphasis. “The way you went overboard with them heavy irons on, to try and save young master here, sent my heart up in my mouth.”
Nic, who had sat listening moodily to the whispered conversation, suddenly looked up in a quick, eager way.