The Second Dandy Chater

rch for a desirable circus which might happen to be for disposal, and which might possess the additional advantage of h

as to voice, and inflamed as to countenance-who appeared, at first, to possess the ver

yard; that the horses (if there had ever been any) were long since dead, or engaged in agricultural pursuits; that the clowns had long since left off being funny, and

f placid cheerfulness; and, having imbibed somewhat freely of his favourite beverage, and being then on the outskirts of those narrow and straggling little streets beyond the actual town of Woolwic

in his hands, and who was gazing in a melancholy fashion at the water. The Captain, having saved both himself and the little man, by clasping him affectionately round the neck, broke into profuse apologies. And, indeed, they were necessary; for the little man-who was very shabby, and ha

all them naughty words; w'erever did yer learn 'em, mess-mate? It wasn't my fault, Mister; the steps was a slide-an' these 'ere stones is all bu

he Captain, as though apprehensive of his indulging in some other gymnastic performance. The Captain, for his part, being of a peaceful nature, b

that gentleman turned his attention to the boats, several of which were moored near at hand, with a man si

got 'ere," said the

p and down-"the boats is all right." By which

'ire a boat-eh?" was th

ids to look at-or to pervide me with amoosement i

hought was in his mind, carried his enquiry a little fur

asked the man

?" shouted

placidly smoking. The Captain, when he had recov

nductor," he said. "Bring round one of them bo

ushed it from where it was moored until it bumped against the causeway. The Captain, in his delight at the prospect of being once

a blow." He clutched the little man by the arm, in a jocu

ng, however, that he was in the grip of a stronger man, he suddenly flung himself fiercely upon the Captain, driving that gentleman backwards towards the boat. The Captain, for his part, in an endeavour to protect him

t to settle whatever differences they might have in their own fashion, immediately shoved the boat off; so that, by the time t

e back of his head. "However, I asked you to come fer a blow-and you've come a

d airy badinage with the man in charge of that craft as it passed him. The little man, who had been so unceremoniously taken for an airing, appeared

aptain pleasantly, as he pulled sturdily. "Ai

bering effects of the breeze and the exercise, smiled upon him benignly, and pulled harder. After a long paus

thin piping voice. "Now I'm sure of it. It was on

. "Why-so it was!" he exclaimed. "You was a sittin' at

l about him, indeed, as though contemplating making a sudden exit fr

tain, staring at him. "Thought you might like a

of me. I'm only a poor old man, who's been unfortunate, and has fallen on evil days. If

he little man's terror appeared so strong

man, wagging his head. "You're a split-a

at again-and I'll knock you out of the boat!" he shouted. "I'd 'ave yer know that

so," replied the lit

n, sitting down again. "W'y, if I'd wanted to run yer in, I reckon I could 'ave picked

er at once, peered over the side; dipped an oar deep, and swung the boat's head round with a sturdy pull; leaned over, and caught at something bobbing nea

'Ere-ketch this oar; that's it-kee

e little man; he became all attention, in a moment

ain, in a low voice. "'E's dead-bin dead day

he boat's head for the shore, and pulled hard. The little man in the stern was so interested in that grisly passenger, that he must needs go to the very en

ere the bank was low and flat, and where it was easy to run the boat ashore. This the Cap

y crawling up over the dank mud, the Captain and the little man bent forward together, to look at it; and st

that the mother, at whose knee he had lisped his childish supplications to Heaven, was dead, before this thing fronted the world, and grinned back at it so horribly!

nd Philip Crowdy-was confronted by the startled eyes of the little man with the faded whiskers. For a long

that he was-had a very sincere regard for his friend; and, believing that he had, in a moment of indiscretion, got mixed up with some queer people, was glad to feel that he could bury the knowledge of it in his own breast, as surely as the dead man would be buried in his grave. Sorrowing for him

his mental vision, he saw, in this tragedy, the vengeance of some member or members of the gang-a vengeance prompted by fear that Dandy Chater had betrayed them. Being himself remarkably closely connected with that gang,

ious man, looked attentively at the other, and said slowl

the devil should I?" stammered C

ter a long pause, he asked-"Wo

whose bare feet had brought him silently over the muddy bank-was obtruded between them, and stared down into the face of the dead man. Before

liceman 'ere, in no time." Then, a sudden thought striking him, he looked at

ehend the situation, the Captain took him by the sh

st, an' asked awkward questions. Nobody ain't seen us-'cept that young limb-an' I doubt if

oat, and made for Woolwich. Going, without further mishap, up the stream, they landed at the causeway from which they

carelessly, as he stepped on to the cau

eting the money which the Captain

wouldn't be a bad idea to give a man a chance of settin' down fust. It ain't wot you'd call a 'ealthy style of rowin', w'en you starts on the

Crowdy, he began to see some dreadful tragedy-some foul play, which had caused the death of his friend. Yet, being but a simple seafaring man, and having a great dread

wilight of the streets-"it's bin in the water a day or two-in fact, it might 'ave bin longer, if I didn't kno

ce of that awful staring thing he had left on the muddy bank of the Tha

e pavement, with an occasional lurch, as though a heavy gale of wind had struck him-had clean forgotten all about unpleasant bodies, or the chances a

me, that night, to Woolwich; merely wandering aimlessly, with no settled plan as to the future, or, indeed, as to the next hour. And it happened, too, that, walking s

to a shriek, and Peter Quist, beating off the supposed apparition with both hands, backed away from it unsteadily; and then, recovering power of def