The prospect of speaking to Ticehurst like a father fairly made him purr with joy. A pretty thing, was it not, to have one's honest business broken up by any infernal Englishman! He had a talk with his runner and laid his plans.
'Mebbe he'll give us trouble, but I rely on you, Tom,' said Jim Healy. 'Get 'em away at any price. Load 'em up with the best liquor. And give 'em as much pocket-money as they wants. All I ask is to get 'em.'
And Tom Gilson, who had a name for persuasion which would have made the reputation of a lawyer, stuck his tongue in his cheek.
'When did I fail?' asked Tom.
And when he went down to the wharf, he found to his utter surprise that Ticehurst greeted him quite amicably.
'You're Mr. Healy's runner, aren't you?'
'I am, sir,' said Tom.
'Please go on board my ship,' said the skipper. 'Have a look round. Where are your other friends? Oh, here they come. Now this is nice and kind of them.'
He greeted the runners from the other houses with equal cordiality and invited them on board. It was then almost six. When four bells struck Ticehurst told Williams to knock the men off. As soon as they were in the fo'c'sle Ticehurst went to the starboard door and called to Jacobs.
'Jacobs!'