“She knew her mother was out when she met me,” he said slowly. “She knew that other fellow was here; but one would have thought—Lovers’ tiff,” he said suddenly and bitterly; “and doing the pleasant to me to make him smart a bit. He’ll be round to-morrow when the mother’s out.”
He went back dejectedly to his ship, and countermanding the tea with which the zealous Henry was about to indulge him, changed his clothes and sat down to smoke.
“You’ve got a bit wet,” said the mate. “Where’d you get the coat?”
“Friend,” said the other. “Had it lent to me. You know that Captain Gething I told you to look out for?”
“I do,” said the other eagerly.
“Let the crew know that the reward is raised to five pounds,” said the skipper, drawing strongly at his pipe.
“If the reward is riz to five pounds the cook’ll be ’ung for murder or som’think,” said Henry. “It’s no use lookin’ to the crew for ’elp, sir—not a bit.”
The skipper deigned no reply, and his message having been conveyed to the foc’sle, a scene of intense animation prevailed there.
“I’m goin’ to have a go now,” said Dick emphatically. “Five pounds is worth picking up.”
“I only ’ope as you won’t ’ave the treat I ’ad,” said the cook feelingly.