“Thank you,” answered Ralph; “I’ve no cause to fear them, and am not going where they are likely to be looking for their prey.”
Ralph had proceeded a few paces after landing, when he heard steps behind him and felt a hand placed on his shoulder. Turning round he saw a sailor-like man, who exclaimed, “What, Ralph Michelmore, old chum! Don’t you know me? I am Dick Bracewell. I’m sure I can’t be mistaken in you, for I saw the Amity come in at sunset, and hoped to fall in with you, though I’d no fancy to go on board, do you see.”
“And I’m right glad to meet you, Dick,” said Ralph, grasping the other’s proffered hand. “Where have you been all these years?”
“Knocking about in one craft or another, and seeing something more of the world than you have in your jog-trot old tub, I fancy,” answered Bracewell, with a laugh. “I’ve just come back from a voyage to the West Indies, with my pockets full of shiners, which I’m going to try and get rid of in enjoying myself. Come along, Ralph, and help me. I only stepped on shore for the first time just as you did, so I’ve not begun yet.”
“Thank you, Dick; you mean it kindly, but I’m on my way to see some friends, and have promised to be on board again to-night,” said Ralph, as they walked on together.
“What, not take a glass or two of grog with an old shipmate!” cried Dick in an aggrieved tone. “Come, come, man, just for once be social.”
“Even if I ever took liquor, which I don’t, I haven’t time to stay with you,” said Ralph, firmly; adding, after a moment’s reflection, in the hope of preventing his companion from committing the folly he meditated, “Instead of doing as you propose, come along with me to see an old lady and her granddaughter. They are great friends of mine, and will welcome you for my sake; indeed, I’ll confess that I hope some day to marry the little girl.”
“No, no, my boy; I should be left to do the polite to the old dame, while you make love to the young one,” answered Dick, with a hoarse laugh, which Ralph did not like. “That sort of thing is not to my taste; still, to please you, if you’ll come in here and do as I want you, I’ll think about it.” The door of a public-house stood temptingly open. Dick endeavoured to drag in Ralph, who however resisted manfully, and tore his arm away from his companion’s grasp.
“Once more hear me, Dick,” he said, unwilling to abandon his old friend without another effort to save him. “If you take one glass you’ll take another and another, till you won’t know what you are about, and then ten to one you’ll fall into the hands of crimps who’ll fleece you of every shilling in your pocket, or you’ll get picked up by a press-gang and be carried on board a man-of-war, not to regain your liberty for years to come.”
“Don’t preach to me, Ralph; I know how to take care of myself; so if you go on I’ll follow you, and you shall see that I’m as sober as a judge,” answered Dick, and with a laugh he darted into the public-house.