''Twas a youngster from the office gave 'em me,' replied Geordie, 'and I took a drink first and there was one for me, and it said so, said I was the owner, said it plain.'
And when Brose had read the opened letter he gasped too, and went aft to see the skipper. The rest of the watch gathered round Geordie, and spoke in awestruck whispers.
'Is it true, Geordie?'
'Gospel,' said Geordie, 'it's swore to. They sends me two hundred quid in a paper.'
'Show us,' said the starbowlines, 'show us.'
'It's in the paper the second greaser has,' said Geordie, 'it's wrote "Pay George Potts, Esq., two hundred quid on the nail."'
'I'd never 'ave let Brose 'ave it,' said Braby, 'like as not 'e'll keep it.'
'Then I'll sack him,' said Geordie firmly. 'Let him dare try to keep it, and I'll sack him and not pay him no wages."
'This is a very strange game, this is,' said Braby. 'I never 'eard tell of the likes. Did they put "Esk" on your letter?'
'They done so,' said Geordie. 'I've seen uncle's letters, and they done so to him.'