“Not if I can help it, George,” said the other with great firmness. “How do you mean ruined?”
The seaman set his glass down on the little table, and, leaning over, formed a word with his lips, and then drew back slowly and watched the effect.
“What?” said the skipper.
The other repeated the performance, but beyond seeing that some word of three syllables was indicated the skipper obtained no information.
“You can speak a little louder,” he said somewhat crustily.
“Bigamy!” said George, breathing the word solemnly.
“You?” said the skipper.
George nodded. “And if my first only gets hold of that paper, and sees my phiz and reads my name, I’m done for. There’s my reward for saving a fellow-critter’s life. Seven years.”
“I’m surprised at you, George,” said the skipper sternly. “Such a good wife as you’ve got too.”
“I ain’t saying nothing agin number two,” grumbled George. “It’s number one that didn’t suit. I left her eight years ago. She was a bad ’un. I took a v’y’ge to Australia furst, just to put her out o’ my mind a bit, an’ I never seed her since. Where am I if she sees all about me in the paper?”