“So there’s a jewellery store, too!” cried Johnny.
“And a good one,” supplemented the captain. “Come along; I’ll take you to it.”
It was a good one, and carried a large stock of rings, chains, pins, clocks, watches, and speaking trumpets. The latter two items were the most prominent, for there were hundreds of watches, and apparently thousands of speaking trumpets. They stood in rows on the shelves, and depended in ranks from hooks and nails. Most of them were of silver or of silver gilt; and they were plain, chased, engraved, hammered, or repousséd, with always an ample space for inscription. After Johnny had concluded a satisfactory arrangement for his diamond, I remarked on the preponderance of speaking trumpets. The man grinned rather maliciously at our captain.
“They are a very favourite article for presentation 398 by grateful passengers after a successful sea trip,” he said smoothly.
At this our captain exploded.
“Are they?” he boomed. “I should think they were! I’ve got a dozen of the confounded things; and as I’ve just got in from a trip, I’m expecting another any minute. Good Lord!” he cried as a group of men turned in at the door. “Here come some of my passengers now. Come along, let’s get out of this!”
He dragged us out a back door into a very muddy back alley, whence we floundered to dry land with some difficulty.
“That was a narrow escape!” he cried, wiping his brow. “Let’s go get a drink. I know the best place.”
He led us to a very ornate saloon whose chief attraction was the fact that its ceiling was supported on glass pillars! We duly admired this marvel; and then wandered over to the polished mahogany bar, where we were joined by the half dozen loafers who had been lounging around the place. These men did not exactly join us, but they stood expectantly near. Nor were they disappointed.
“Come, let’s all take a drink, boys!” cried the captain heartily.