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

g to smoke his pipe in peace on board to meeting certain jocular spirits ashore who wanted to buy bootlaces. Conversation with Dick and the b

d the skippers of small craft pop up from their cabins and yell out to know where it's coming to. Even when they see it bound and guided

the evening of their arrival gazing contemplatively at the few scattered lig

of finding 'im anywhe

ing 'im," said Sam viciously, "or t

ice as the person alluded to passed them on his way ashore. "He goes to the police

ism. In this condition he forgave everybody, and feeling very low, made his will by the simple process of giving his knife to Dick and two and sev

a cracked bell from a small brick church in the town, and the appearance of two girls walking al

miles, while the crew sat about the deck watching the cook's preparations for dinner, and occasionally lending him some sli

shops and deserted streets worked upon his feelings, and with his hands in his pockets, he walked back in the direction of the harbor. Here he got into conversation with an elderl

uch like it," said his new fr

asked Dic

other slowly, as he handed the portrait ba

peated Dick

ught to interfere," said the

would-"

as he pocketed it. "He lives at Pi

t that be?" inq

untidy waste ground to a coastguard's path wh

as straight as you

r?" sai

f it, and some a short one," said the ot

would soone

the man smiling indulgentl

nd plunging into the débris be

f looking for Captain Gething, or any nonsense of that kind, had witnessed the interview from a distance. By dint of hurrying t

is it?" i

e figure in front as it slowly ascended the c

sometimes ran along the top of the cliff and sometimes along the side of it, had apparently escaped the attention of the local County Council. No other person

oes," said Sam, treading gingerl

ran along the bea

d it don't seem much good just gettin' t

r an hoppertunit

grun

at once," continued the cook,

hough Sam complained bitterly about th

said the cook suddenly. "Make a spu

the place where Dick had disappeared, flung himself down on the grass a

aid eagerly; "he's g

d over. A little heap of clothing lay just below hi

he cook impatiently;

steal his clothes," said Sam vindic

e to look around this 'ere Piggott's Bay then." He glanced at Sam as he sp

ductively, "only bury 'em under the

e cook struggled gam

first to laugh at it hisself if it was somebody else's clothes." He s

aid the la

am cheerfully;

uneasy glance seaward, scrambled up the cliff again and rejoined his exultant accom

the cook after a time, "and h

wanted it all," sa

tuously. "I took the bearings of the place in case '

llage situated on a tiny bay. Two or three small craft were anchored inside the stone pier, along which

said Sam. "Keep you

, mate?" said Sam expectantly

Quay," said

ar is it to Piggott's B

an, taking his pipe out of

's Bay,"

re looking for Piggott'

" said Sa

, and with his pipe cocked at one side of his m

laughin'," said th

with greater freedom. "They're looking for Piggott's Bay, Joe,

beaming with pleasure.

a blank look. "When you've do

" said the man. "It's just a say

aid the bewilde

said the other, exchangin

aid the cook. "How ca

fisherman, speaking slowly. "He was a wonderful queer old chap, and he g

so," said t

d named it arter hisself, Piggott's Bay. Leastways that's the tale his chaps gave out when they come 'ome. Now wh

turned away and followed in the footsteps of the cook, who had already commenced the ascen

additional mile or two to encountering Dick. Conversation was at a discount, and th

ng Henry, who was in sole charge, with fair words and so

ired Sam casually as

er," said the boy. "I thou

hts of a quiet sprawl. Fatigued with their exertions, neither of them moved until nine o'clock, and then,

safety. Safe and warm in their bunks, it struck both of them that they had been perhaps a little bit selfish. Half an hour later Henry looked up suddenly as something soft leaped on to the deck

cried shril

e flung himself panting on a locke

agged some blankets from the bunks and threw them ove

said Dick wrathfully. "If I hadn't been modest I should have co

clothes?" in

I comeback they'd gone. I've been sittin' on that damned cold shingle since three o'clock this arternoon, a

" said Henry. "I told you you cha

ge!" growled Dick. "There's no call to say a

t?" sai

to," said Dick feroc

nry quietly. "Seems to me S

ilderment when he awoke on Tuesday morning and found the clothes in an untidy brown paper parcel lying on the deck led to its divulgence. He told both Sam and the cook about it, and his opinion of both men went up when he found that they did not treat the matter in the light of a