'Oh, Lord, I've a head,' he told his mates, 'and it seems to me that I had a most extro'r'nary dream.'
'Wot did you dream of, old Cocklywax?' asked Braby, 'did you dream you'd come in for old Tyser's money?'
And Geordie gasped.
'S'elp me,' he murmured, 's'elp me, did I dream?'
He dropped his marlinspike as if it were red-hot, and made a break for the fo'c'sle and his wet coat.
'Now if so be I dreamed,' he said, 'there'll be nought in this pocket. And if I didn't, I'm jiggered.'
He put his hand in and brought out a handful of damp and crushed letters, and came out upon deck staggering. Mr. Brose saw him, and was in his tracks like a fish-hawk on a herring-gull. Geordie saw him coming, and stood open-mouthed.
'Oh, sir,' said Geordie, 'oh, sir——'
'Oh, blazes,' said Brose, 'what's your damned shenanakin' game? Get to work, or I'll have you soused till you're half-dead.'
But Geordie could explain nothing.