“WHAT?” cried the astonished Mr. Green.
“I see ’im,” replied Joe. “I was just goin’ on the wharf as I passed to speak to old George, when I see ’im talking to ’im. He didn’t see me, an’ I come off ’ere as fast as my legs could carry me. Now, wot’s to be done? You’ve got the ’ead-piece.”
Mr. Green scratched the article in question and smiled feebly.
“On’y two days, and they would ha’ been married,” said Joe; “bit ’ard, ain’t it? I’m glad as I can be as he’s safe, but he might ha’ waited a day or two longer.”
“Did George seem scared?” enquired his friend.
“Wot’s that got to do with it?” demanded Joe, violently. “Are you goin’ to set that ’ead-piece to work or are you not?”
Mr. Green coughed confusedly, and attempted to think with a brain which was already giddy with responsibility.
“I don’t want to do anything that isn’t straight and gentlemanly,” he remarked.
“Straight?” repeated Joe. “Look ’ere! Cap’n Fraser’s our old man, ain’t he? Very good, it’s our dooty to stand by ’im. But, besides that, it’s for the young lady’s sake: it’s easy to see that she’s as fond of him as she can be, and she’s that sort o’ young lady that if she come up now and told me to jump overboard, I’d do it.”
“You could swim ashore easy,” asserted Mr. Green.