The Skipper's Wooing, and The Brown Man's Servant

the mate. Whereupon melancholia became contagious, and Sam's concertina having been impounded by the energetic

nds of revelry, which in some mysterious way reminded the crew of their mission to find Captain Gething, proceeded from the open doors of a small tavern opposite. The most sanguine of t

because, if so, and he, the cook, thought he was sitting on it, perhaps he'd be good enough to say so. The cook having replied in fitting terms, they moved off down the quay to the next tavern. Here they fared no better, Dick declar

was pushed outside the last house of call, and a bol

ship," said Dic

Sam solemnly, as he drew bac

to-night, Sam," said

rding him with glassy eye

for one thing,

ghed sc

ick, catching him

'n-fin' 'im," said Sam. "I'

ed with him through the silent streets of the little town. Dick with difficulty repressing his impatience as the stout seaman bent down at intervals and thoroughly searched doorsteps and oth

outed Dick, throwing

am's neck, and the two men, pan

l!" said Dick, losing his temper;

said Sam,

cker alone, then,"

aid Sam, nodding w

epeated Dick. "You never 'ort to

am, his manner changing sudde

Sam!" said the c

epeated Sam, eyei

the cook appealingly. "Can't you see it's a

le I take it off,"

peel, Dick waited until the garment-a very tight one-was over his head, and then,

ch who you can, Sam," he said c

a jersey, going through contortions of an extraordinary nature to free himself, and indulging in language which, even when filtered by the garment in question, was of a singularly comprehensi

with marked coldness, which did not wear off until they were all busy on deck. Working at cement is a dry job, and, after hardening his heart

, as he looked wistfully at the shore, reverted to Captain Gething and the best means of finding him. It was clear that the photograph was an important factor in the search, and, posse

ously and indulged in comments, mostly unfavorable, but all agreed that there was nobody like it in Brittlesea. He

mate," sa

pipe from his puckered mouth in order to nod,

that?" inquired the cook

the pipe again, and taking the

wadays," he said in a quavering voice; "there w

ovements," admitted

ntinued the old man med

body like that?" demand

you in a minute," said the old man queru

name," said the

ar it," said the old man slowly.

y, and, with a bleared, shinin

ly. "Sometimes I forget things, but they come back. My m

the anxious cook.

said, with a worried look, "I've

the prodigal. "It ain't Gethin

; "don't you be in a h

d the cook r

nd it might be in a month," said the

ands of the now sulky cook and

ame," he cried sud

ive?" inquired t

ld man-"a little place s

same," asked the cook

first about six years ago, an' then he quarrelle

schooner. Work was still proceeding amid a cloud of white d

red figures at work on the schooner, "they must get it for th

ounty, crawled beside him through the little town to put him on the roa

his luck. For three miles he kept on sturdily, until a small signboard, projecting from between a couple of tall elms, attracted

marching slowly up, took a stool whi

shion, entered the house to execute the order,

ff," said the c

ith a nod toward

sty glance into the interior, as the landlord ha

bsiding on to his stool with a little s

untry walk?"

pleasure," he said impor

oney," said the landlord. "I've only draw

ne," said

there?" aske

; "I carn't say as I know 'im. I'm

aid the landlady, who had just joi

his eyes and s

ws who he is or what he is, and he won't tell 'em. When a man's li

he is," said

cook, "'e won

ing about him?"

e," said

er ear readily and dutifully towards him, and the

became general, and it was evident that the wagoners shared the sentiments of the landlord and his wife with regard to Mr. Dunn. T

ance at the wagons; "I want to get in the place qui

andlady. The wagons moved off first, jolting and creaking their way to Holebourne, and the cook

the landlord, as the coupl

said h

mpressively; "just watch him. I knew wha

. He began to think that he had been a trifle foolish in talking so freely. Still, he

tle street, an inn, and a church. At the end of the street, in front of a tidy l

he returned with interest the stares of the

nting to the house where the people w

d the coo

gate, quite a little hum of excitement following him as he

growled a

f in a small sitting-room, the only occupant of which was an old man of fo

ant?" he deman

r. Dunn," said t

," said the o

exception of a beard, Mr. Dunn no mor

man, regarding him ferociously

ied to think, but the old man's gaz

u?" he said

y raising his voice to a roar. "All the village knows it, I t

's a mistake," s

ective you are. I'll bring an action against you.

," said the cook; "

," said the ol

him into a smaller

a seat. "I suppose you know that impersonating a detective is a se

said he

in, "I think you will." Then he went to

bulldog came unobtrusively into the room. It was a perfectly bred animal, with at least a dozen points about i

ld man, taking a hat from a si

itting down a yard or two in front of t

ered the cook. "Don't go away a

u unless you move,

ment. "I'd rather you stayed," he quavered, "I would indeed. I

ounded insolence," said the ot

warning the cook of what would happen if he moved out of the chair, left the room, shutting the door as he went. T

er, moistening his dry lips with his tongue, gave a conciliatory chirrup. Rog

in trembling accents, "poor

nd closely inspected the cook's legs, w

the door as an idea occurred to him

ing limbs had a strange fascination for him,

e struck the dog suddenly in the body, and before it could recover from the suddenness of the attack, withdrew his knife and plunged it in again. The dog gave a ch

e bravery. Then as he realized that, in addition to the offence for which the choleric Mr. Dunn was even now seeking the aid of the law, there was a dead bulldog and a spoiled carpet to answer for, he resolved upon an immedia

t he kept on until he had gained the top, and then he threw himself down panting by the side of the road with his face turned in the direction of

e a vehicle, he broke through the hedge and took to the fields. His legs gave way beneath him, and he stumbl