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

rwich, the Seamew picking her way carefully down the river by moonlight, f

ss O'Brien in imagination to a strong man of villainous temper and despotic ideas, while the explanations he made to Miss Harcourt were too ingenious and involved to

to himself at every opportunity, and aspirated his h's until he made his throat ache. His aspirations also extended t

fishy little streets leading from the quay were deserted, except for one lane, down which sleepy passengers were coming in twos and threes to catch the boat, w

nd tight jerseys, came slowly on to the quay and stared meditatively at the water or shouted vehemently at other men, who had got into small boats to bale them out

crew, having replaced the hatches and cleaned up, went ashore together, afte

after enduring for some time the witticisms o

were lounging about on the parade, or venturing carefully along the dreary breakwater to get the full benefit of the sea air. Idly watching

lf and sat for some time, regarding with the lenity of age the erratic sports of the children below. He had sat there for some time when he became idly interested in the movements of an old man walking along the sands to the steps. Arriv

east of the small boy on the seat, the old m

a match-about you?" said Henry, t

e," said the old man, turn

tort to this would have been rude, but the momentous

id with much gravity, "if I

d astonishment, a grim smile lurking a

finger and thumb into his waistcoat pocket and extracted

g?" hazarded He

said the other

hen you started smo

ly; "but I was a much bigger chap than you are. A

an to think that the five p

pe?" he said, proff

hing into sudden weak anger. "When I w

's some I bought cheap, and our chaps said I'd been

, accepted the proffered pouch and smelt the contents critically. T

es, smoked with the enjoyment of an old smoker to whom a pipe is a somewhat rare luxur

" inquired the

said Henry, indicating the distant tow

he old man, and

" said Henry, watching him out of

suggested

nry carelessly, "that

d ever so slightly, and he

e there?" h

know Northfleet very well-Gr

e old man emphat

apping. We've sailed from there a year now. Our skipper is fond of i

l?" asked t

good telling you if you don't know the pla

ere," said the other, speaking slow

said the b

st of the children as they toiled slowly towards home from

e," said the old man

ou," said the we

and along the cliff, the figure in front never halting until it reached a small court at the back of a livery stable; then, heedless of the small shadow, now very close behind, it

the schooner, came behind the cook and thumped him heavily on the back. Before the cook could seize him he h

ing himself free and regarding him

nry jubilantly; "e

said the cook wi

e idea at a time into that 'ead of yours. Where's the skipper? I've

he cook and Sam tog

y; "it's bad for you, Sam, because you're too fat, and it's bad f

panion ladder, burst noisily into the cabin and surveyed the skipper and mate with a smile, which he intended should be

u young rascal?" he as

s he thought of the change in the skipper's m

roared the other angrily. "I've half a mind to give y

Henry, somewhat ta

young rascal!" said the ski

gan Henry, chill

repeated the s

his face hardened; "

skipper, looking from him to the c

said the c

," said the other, "

d the grinning cook.

stances might have been extremely impressive, Henry, after an

cook to Sam and Dick, who were sta

o?" asked S

ok. "'E told me we wos to

" said Henry stiffly;

ouble," sai

ure," said Di

th an assumption of ease he was far from fee

im in his stout arms passed him below to the coo

ng the direction of affairs; "and it's Monday n

made?" inquired t

just proper," said

ed a towel apron-wise round his waist; "it 'ud be

the cook he removed the victim's boots first, and, as Dick said, it was surprising what a difference it made. Then having washed the boy's face with soap an

y, as Henry's arms and legs shot out of the b

aid Sam respectfully. "Would you like t

said the gr

e he had been on the schooner he had been free from punishment of all kinds by the strict order of the skipper-a situation of which he had tak