Theres something wrong here, said Mrs. Gibbs as she retraced her steps. Ted, what are you making that face for?
Its my own face, said the mate, evasively.
Mrs. Gibbs conceded the point, and added bitterly that it couldnt be helped. All the same she wanted to know what he meant by it.
Ask John, said the vindictive mate.
Mrs. Gibbs asked. Her husband said he didnt know, and added that Ted had been like it before, but he had not told her for fear of frightening her. Then he tried to induce her to go with him to the chemists to get something for it.
Mrs. Gibbs shook her head firmly, and boarding the barge, took a seat on the hatch and proceeded to catechise her brother as to his symptoms. He denied that there was anything the matter with him, while his eyes openly sought those of Captain Gibbs as though asking for instruction.
You come home, Ted, she said at length.
I cant, said the mate. I cant leave the ship.
Why not? demanded his sister.
Ask John, said the mate again.
At this Mrs. Gibbss temper, which had been rising, gave way altogether, and she stamped fiercely upon the deck. A stamp of the foot has been for all time a rough-and-ready means of signalling; the fore-scuttle was drawn back, and the face of a young and pretty girl appeared framed in the opening. The mate raised his eyebrows with a helpless gesture, and as for the unfortunate skipper, any jury would have found him guilty without leaving the box. The wife of his bosom, with a flaming visage, turned and regarded him.
You villain! she said, in a choking voice.
Captain Gibbs caught his breath and looked appealingly at the mate.
Its a little surprise for you, my dear, he faltered, its Teds young lady.
Nothing of the kind, said the mate, sharply.
Its not? How dare you say such a thing? demanded Miss Harris, stepping on to the deck.
Well, you brought her aboard, Ted, you know you did, pleaded the unhappy skipper.
The mate did not deny it, but his face was so full of grief and surprise that the others heart sank within him.
All right, said the mate at last; have it your own way.
Hold your tongue, Ted, shouted Mrs. Gibbs; youre trying to shield him.
I tell you Ted brought her aboard, and they had a lovers quarrel, said her unhappy spouse. Its nothing to do with me at all.
And thats why you told me Ted had got the toothache, and tried to get me off to the chemists, I spose, retorted his wife, with virulence. Do you think Im a fool? How dare you ask a young woman on this barge? How dare you?
I didnt ask her, said her husband.
I spose she came without being asked, sneered his wife, turning her regards to the passenger; she looks the sort that might. You brazen-faced girl!
Here, go easy, Loo, interrupted the mate, flushing as he saw the girls pale face.
Mind your own business, said his sister, violently.
It is my business, said the repentant mate. I brought her aboard, and then we quarrelled.
Ive no doubt, said his sister, bitterly; its very pretty, but it wont do.
I swear its the truth, said the mate.
Why did John keep it so quiet and hide her for, then? demanded his sister.
I came down for the trip, said Miss Harris; that is all about it. There is nothing to make a fuss about. How much is it, Captain Gibbs?
She produced a little purse from her pocket, but before the embarrassed skipper could reply, his infuriated wife struck it out of her hand. The mate sprang instinctively forward, but too late, and the purse fell with a splash into the water. The girl gave a faint cry and clasped her hands.
How am I to get back? she gasped.
Ill see to that, Lucy, said the mate. Im very sorryIve been a brute.
You? said the indignant girl. I would sooner drown myself than be beholden to you.
Im very sorry, repeated the mate, humbly.
Theres enough of this play-acting, interposed Mrs. Gibbs. Get off this barge.
You stay where you are, said the mate, authoritatively.
Send that girl off this barge, screamed Mrs. Gibbs to her husband.
Captain Gibbs smiled in a silly fashion and scratched his head. Where is she to go? he asked feebly.
What does it matter to you where she goes? cried his wife, fiercely. Send her off.
The girl eyed her haughtily, and repulsing the mate as he strove to detain her, stepped to the side. Then she paused as he suddenly threw off his coat, and sitting down on the hatch, hastily removed his boots. The skipper, divining his intentions, seized him by the arm.
Dont be a fool, Ted, he gasped; youll get under the barge.
The mate shook him off, and went in with a splash which half drowned his adviser. Miss Harris, clasping her hands, ran to the side and gazed fearfully at the spot where he had disappeared, while his sister in a terrible voice seized the opportunity to point out to her husband the probably fatal results of his ill-doing. There was an anxious interval, and then the mates head appeared above the water, and after a breathing-space disappeared again. The skipper, watching uneasily, stood by with a lifebelt.
Come out, Ted, screamed his sister as he came up for breath again.
The mate disappeared once more, but coming up for the third time, hung on to the side of the barge to recover a bit. A clothed man in the water savours of disaster and looks alarming. Miss Harris began to cry.
Youll be drowned, she whimpered.
Come out, said Mrs. Gibbs, in a raspy voice. She knelt on the deck and twined her fingers in his hair. The mate addressed her in terms rendered brotherly by pain.
Never mind about the purse, sobbed Miss Harris; it doesnt matter.
Will you make it up if I come out, then, demanded the diver.
No; Ill never speak to you again as long as I live, said the girl, passionately.
The mate disappeared again. This time he was out of sight longer than usual, and when he came up merely tossed his arms weakly and went down again. There was a scream from the women, and a mighty splash as the skipper went overboard with a life-belt. The mates head, black and shining, showed for a moment; the skipper grabbed him by the hair and towed him to the barges side, and in the midst of a considerable hubbub both men were drawn from the water.
The skipper shook himself like a dog, but the mate lay on the deck inert in a puddle of water. Mrs. Gibbs frantically slapped his hands; and Miss Harris, bending over him, rendered first aid by kissing him wildly.
Captain Gibbs pushed her away. He wont come round while youre a-kissing of him, he cried, roughly.
To his indignant surprise the drowned man opened one eye and winked acquiescence. The skipper dropped his arms by his side and stared at him stupidly.
I saw his eyelid twitch, cried Mrs. Gibbs, joyfully.
Hes all right, said her indignant husband; e aint born to be drowned, e aint. Ive spoilt a good suit of clothes for nothing.
To his wifes amazement, he actually walked away from the insensible man, and with a boathook reached for his hat, which was floating by. Mrs. Gibbs, still gazing in blank astonishment, caught a seraphic smile on the face of her brother as Miss Harris continued her ministrations, and in a pardonable fit of temper the overwrought woman gave him a box on the ear, which brought him round at once.
Where am I? he inquired, artlessly.
Mrs. Gibbs told him. She also told him her opinion of him, and without plagiarizing her husbands words, came to the same conclusion as to his ultimate fate.
You come along home with me, she said, turning in a friendly fashion to the bewildered girl. They deserve what theyve gotboth of em. I only hope that theyll both get such awful colds that they wont find their voices for a twelvemonth.
She took the girl by the arm and helped her ashore. They turned their heads once in the direction of the barge, and saw the justly incensed skipper keeping the mates explanations and apologies at bay with a boat-hook. Then they went in to breakfast.
THE MONKEYS PAW
I
Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.
Hark at the wind, said Mr. White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.
Im listening, said the latter, grimly surveying the board as he stretched out his hand. Check.
I should hardly think that hed come to-night, said his father, with his hand poised over the board.
Mate, replied the son.
Thats the worst of living so far out, bawled Mr. White, with sudden and unlooked-for violence; of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Pathways a bog, and the roads a torrent. I dont know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses in the road are let, they think it doesnt matter.
Never mind, dear, said his wife, soothingly; perhaps youll win the next one.
Mr. White looked up sharply, just in time to intercept a knowing glance between mother and son. The words died away on his lips, and he hid a guilty grin in his thin grey beard.
There he is, said Herbert White, as the gate banged to loudly and heavy footsteps came toward the door.
The old man rose with hospitable haste, and opening the door, was heard condoling with the new arrival. The new arrival also condoled with himself, so that Mrs. White said, Tut, tut! and coughed gently as her husband entered the room, followed by a tall, burly man, beady of eye and rubicund of visage.
Sergeant-Major Morris, he said, introducing him.
The sergeant-major shook hands, and taking the proffered seat by the fire, watched contentedly while his host got out whiskey and tumblers and stood a small copper kettle on the fire.
At the third glass his eyes got brighter, and he began to talk, the little family circle regarding with eager interest this visitor from distant parts, as he squared his broad shoulders in the chair and spoke of wild scenes and doughty deeds; of wars and plagues and strange peoples.
Twenty-one years of it, said Mr. White, nodding at his wife and son. When he went away he was a slip of a youth in the warehouse. Now look at him.
He dont look to have taken much harm, said Mrs. White, politely.
Id like to go to India myself, said the old man, just to look round a bit, you know.
Better where you are, said the sergeant-major, shaking his head. He put down the empty glass, and sighing softly, shook it again.
I should like to see those old temples and fakirs and jugglers, said the old man. What was that you started telling me the other day about a monkeys paw or something, Morris?
Nothing, said the soldier, hastily. Leastways nothing worth hearing.
Monkeys paw? said Mrs. White, curiously.
Well, its just a bit of what you might call magic, perhaps, said the sergeant-major, offhandedly.
His three listeners leaned forward eagerly. The visitor absent-mindedly put his empty glass to his lips and then set it down again. His host filled it for him.
To look at, said the sergeant-major, fumbling in his pocket, its just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy.
He took something out of his pocket and proffered it. Mrs. White drew back with a grimace, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously.
And what is there special about it? inquired Mr. White as he took it from his son, and having examined it, placed it upon the table.
It had a spell put on it by an old fakir, said the sergeant-major, a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled peoples lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it.
His manner was so impressive that his hearers were conscious that their light laughter jarred somewhat.
Well, why dont you have three, sir? said Herbert White, cleverly.
The soldier regarded him in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth. I have, he said, quietly, and his blotchy face whitened.
And did you really have the three wishes granted? asked Mrs. White.
I did, said the sergeant-major, and his glass tapped against his strong teeth.
And has anybody else wished? persisted the old lady.
The first man had his three wishes. Yes, was the reply; I dont know what the first two were, but the third was for death. Thats how I got the paw.
His tones were so grave that a hush fell upon the group.
If youve had your three wishes, its no good to you now, then, Morris, said the old man at last. What do you keep it for?
The soldier shook his head. Fancy, I suppose, he said, slowly. I did have some idea of selling it, but I dont think I will. It has caused enough mischief already. Besides, people wont buy. They think its a fairy tale; some of them, and those who do think anything of it want to try it first and pay me afterward.
If you could have another three wishes, said the old man, eyeing him keenly, would you have them?
I dont know, said the other. I dont know.
He took the paw, and dangling it between his forefinger and thumb, suddenly threw it upon the fire. White, with a slight cry, stooped down and snatched it off.
Better let it burn, said the soldier, solemnly.
If you dont want it, Morris, said the other, give it to me.
I wont, said his friend, doggedly. I threw it on the fire. If you keep it, dont blame me for what happens. Pitch it on the fire again like a sensible man.
The other shook his head and examined his new possession closely. How do you do it? he inquired.
Hold it up in your right hand and wish aloud, said the sergeant-major, but I warn you of the consequences.
Sounds like the Arabian Nights, said Mrs. White, as she rose and began to set the supper. Dont you think you might wish for four pairs of hands for me?
Her husband drew the talisman from pocket, and then all three burst into laughter as the sergeant-major, with a look of alarm on his face, caught him by the arm.
If you must wish, he said, gruffly, wish for something sensible.
Mr. White dropped it back in his pocket, and placing chairs, motioned his friend to the table. In the business of supper the talisman was partly forgotten, and afterward the three sat listening in an enthralled fashion to a second instalment of the soldiers adventures in India.