The knocking ceased suddenly, although the echoes of it were still in the house. He heard the chair drawn back, and the door opened. A cold wind rushed up the staircase, and a long loud wail of disappointment and misery from his wife gave him courage to run down to her side, and then to the gate beyond. The street lamp flickering opposite shone on a quiet and deserted road.
BILLS PAPER CHASE
Sailormen ave their faults, said the night watchman, frankly. Im not denying of it. I used to ave myself when I was at sea, but being close with their money is a fault as can seldom be brought agin em.
I saved some money oncetwo golden sovereigns, owing to a ole in my pocket. Before I got another ship I slept two nights on a doorstep and ad nothing to eat, and I found them two sovereigns in the lining o my coat when I was over two thousand miles away from the nearest pub.
I ony knew one miser all the years I was at sea. Thomas Geary is name was, and we was shipmates aboard the barque Grenada, homeward bound from Sydney to London.
Thomas was a man that was getting into years; sixty, I think e was, and old enough to know better. Ed been saving ard for over forty years, and as near as we could make out e was worth a matter o six undered pounds. He used to be fond o talking about it, and letting us know how much better off e was than any of the rest of us.
We was about a month out from Sydney when old Thomas took sick. Bill Hicks said that it was owing to a hapenny he couldnt account for; but Walter Jones, whose family was always ill, and thought e knew a lot about it, said that e knew wot it was, but e couldnt remember the name of it, and that when we got to London and Thomas saw a doctor, we should see as ow e was right.
Whatever it was the old man got worse and worse. The skipper came down and gave im some physic and looked at is tongue, and then e looked at our tongues to see wot the difference was. Then e left the cook in charge of im and went off.
The next day Thomas was worse, and it was soon clear to everybody but im that e was slipping is cable. He wouldnt believe it at first, though the cook told im, Bill Hicks told him, and Walter Jones ad a grandfather that went off in just the same way.
Im not going to die, says Thomas How can I die and leave all that money?
Itll be good for your relations, Thomas, says Walter Jones.
I aint got any, says the old man.
Well, your friends, then, Thomas, says Walter, soft-like.
Aint got any, says the old man agin.
Yes, you ave, Thomas, says Walter, with a kind smile; I could tell you one youve got.
Thomas shut his eyes at im and began to talk pitiful about is money and the ard work ed ad saving of it. And by-and-by e got worse, and didnt reckernise us, but thought we was a pack o greedy, drunken sailormen. He thought Walter Jones was a shark, and told im so, and, try all e could, Walter couldnt persuade im different.
He died the day arter. In the morning e was whimpering about is money agin, and angry with Bill when e reminded im that e couldnt take it with im, and e made Bill promise that e should be buried just as e was. Bill tucked him up arter that, and when e felt a canvas belt tied round the old mans waist e began to see wot e was driving at.
The weather was dirty that day and there was a bit o sea running, consequently all ands was on deck, and a boy about sixteen wot used to elp the steward down aft was lookin arter Thomas. Me and Bill just run down to give a look at the old man in time.
I am going to take it with me, Bill, says the old man.
Thats right, says Bill.
My mindseasy now, says Thomas. I gave it to Jimmytotothrow overboard for me.
Wot? says Bill, staring.
Thats right, Bill, says the boy. He told me to. It was a little packet o banknotes. He gave me tuppence for doing it.
Old Thomas seemed to be listening. Is eyes was open, and e looked artful at Bill to think what a clever thing ed done.
Nobodys goin-to spend-my money, e says. Nobodys
We drew back from is bunk and stood staring at im. Then Bill turned to the boy.
Go and tell the skipper es gone, e says, and mind, for your own sake, dont tell the skipper or anybody else that youve thrown all that money overboard.
Why not? says Jimmy.
Becos youll be locked up for it, says Bill; youd no business to do it. Youve been and broke the law. It ought to ha been left to somebody.
Jimmy looked scared, and arter e was gone I turned to Bill, and I looks at im and I says Whats the little game, Bill?
Game? said Bill, snorting at me. I dont want the pore boy to get into trouble, do I? Pore little chap. You was young yourself once.
Yes, I says; but Im a bit older now, Bill, and unless you tell me what your little game is, I shall tell the skipper myself, and the chaps too. Pore old Thomas told im to do it, so wheres the boy to blame?
Do you think Jimmy did? says Bill, screwing up his nose at me. That little varmint is walking about worth six undered quid. Now you keep your mouth shut and Ill make it worth your while.
Then I see Bills game. All right, Ill keep quiet for the sake of my half, I says, looking at im.
I thought hed ha choked, and the langwidge e see fit to use was amost as much as I could answer.
Very well, then, e says, at last, halves it is. It aint robbery becos it belongs to nobody, and it aint the boys becos e was told to throw it overboard.
They buried pore old Thomas next morning, and arter it was all over Bill put is and on the boys shoulder as they walked forard and e says, Poor old Thomas as gone to look for is money, he says; wonder whether ell find it! Was it a big bundle, Jimmy?
No, says the boy, shaking is ead. They was six undered pound notes and two sovereigns, and I wrapped the sovereigns up in the notes to make em sink. Fancy throwing money away like that, Bill: seems a sin, dont it?
Bill didnt answer im, and that afternoon the other chaps below being asleep we searched is bunk through and through without any luck, and at last Bill sat down and swore e must ha got it about im.
We waited till night, and when everybody was snoring ard we went over to the boys bunk and went all through is pockets and felt the linings, and then we went back to our side and Bill said wot e thought about Jimmy in whispers.
He must ha got it tied round is waist next to is skin, like Thomas ad, I says.
We stood there in the dark whispering, and then Bill couldnt stand it any longer, and e went over on tiptoe to the bunk agin. He was tremblin with excitement and I wasnt much better, when all of a sudden the cook sat up in is bunk with a dreadful laughing scream and called out that somebody was ticklin im.
I got into my bunk and Bill got into is, and we lay there listening while the cook, who was a terrible ticklish man, leaned out of is bunk and said wot ed do if it appened agin.
Go to sleep, says Walter Jones; youre dreamin. Who dyou think would want to tickle you?
I tell you, says the cook, somebody come over and tickled me with a and the size of a leg o mutton. I feel creepy all over.
Go to sleep, says Walter Jones; youre dreamin. Who dyou think would want to tickle you?
I tell you, says the cook, somebody come over and tickled me with a and the size of a leg o mutton. I feel creepy all over.
Bill gave it up for that night, but the next day e pretended to think Jimmy was gettin fat an e caught old of im and prodded im all over. He thought e felt something round is waist, but e couldnt be sure, and Jimmy made such a noise that the other chaps interfered and told Bill to leave im alone. For a whole week we tried to find that money, and couldnt, and Bill said it was a suspicious thing that Jimmy kept aft a good deal more than e used to, and e got an idea that the boy might ha idden it somewhere there. At the end of that time, owever, owing to our being short-anded, Jimmy was sent forard to work as ordinary seaman, and it began to be quite noticeable the way e avoided Bill.
At last one day we got im alone down the focsle, and Bill put is arm round im and got im on the locker and asked im straight out where the money was.
Why, I chucked it overboard, he says. I told you so afore. What a memory youve got, Bill!
Bill picked im up and laid im on the locker, and we searched im thoroughly. We even took is boots off, and then we ad another look in is bunk while e was putting em on agin.
If youre innercent, says Bill, why dont you call out?eh?
Because you told me not to say anything about it, Bill, says the boy. But I will next time. Loud, I will.
Look ere, says Bill, you tell us where it is, and the three of usll go shares in it. Thatll be two undered pounds each, and well tell you ow to get yours changed without getting caught. Were cleverer than you are, you know.
I know that, Bill, says the boy; but its no good me telling you lies. I chucked it overboard.
Very good, then, says Bill, getting up. Im going to tell the skipper.
Tell im, says Jimmy. I dont care.
Then youll be searched arter youve stepped ashore, says Bill, and you wont be allowed on the ship agin. Youll lose it all by being greedy, whereas if you go shares with us youll ave two undered pounds.
I could see as ow the boy adnt thought o that, and try as e would e couldnt ide is feelins. He called Bill a red-nosed shark, and e called me somethin Ive forgotten now.
Think it over, says Bill; mind, youll be collared as soon as youve left the gangway and searched by the police.
And will they tickle the cook too, I wonder? says Jimmy, savagely.
And if they find it youll go to prison, says Bill, giving im a clump o the side o the ead, and you wont like that, I can tell you.
Why, aint it nice, Bill? says Jimmy, holding is ear.
Bill looked at im and then e steps to the ladder. Im not going to talk to you any more, my lad, e says. Im going to tell the skipper.
He went up slowly, and just as e reached the deck Jimmy started up and called im. Bill pretended not to ear, and the boy ran up on deck and follered im; and arter a little while they both came down again together.
Did you wish to speak to me, my lad? says Bill, olding is ead up.
Yes, says the boy, fiddling with is fingers; if you keep your ugly mouth shut, well go shares.
Ho! says Bill, I thought you throwed it overboard!
I thought so, too, Bill, says Jimmy, very softly, and when I came below agin I found it in my trousers pocket.
Where is it now? says Bill.
Never mind where it is, says the boy; you couldnt get it if I was to tell you. Itll take me all my time to do it myself.
Where is it? says Bill, agin. Im goin to take care of it. I wont trust you.
And I cant trust you, says Jimmy.
If you dont tell me where it is this minute, says Bill, moving to the ladder agin, Im off to tell the skipper. I want it in my ands, or at any rate my share of it. Why not share it out now?
Because I avent got it, says Jimmy, stamping is foot, thats why, and its all your silly fault. Arter you came pawing through my pockets when you thought I was asleep I got frightened and id it.
Where? says Bill.
In the second mates mattress, says Jimmy. I was tidying up down aft and I found a ole in the underneath side of is mattress and I shoved it in there, and poked it in with a bit o stick.
And ow are you going to get it? says Bill, scratching is ead.
Thats wot I dont know, seeing that Im not allowed aft now, says Jimmy. One of usll ave to make a dash for it when we get to London. And mind if theres any ankypanky on your part, Bill, Ill give the show away myself.
The cook came down just then and we ad to leave off talking, and I could see that Bill was so pleased at finding that the money adnt been thrown overboard that e was losing sight o the difficulty o getting at it. In a day or two, owever, e see it as plain as me and Jimmy did, and, as time went by, he got desprit, and frightened us both by anging about aft every chance e got.
The companion-way faced the wheel, and there was about as much chance o getting down there without being seen as there would be o taking a mans false teeth out of is mouth without is knowing it. Jimmy went down one day while Bill was at the wheel to look for is knife, wot e thought ed left down there, and ed ardly got down afore Bill saw im come up agin, olding on to the top of a mop which the steward was using.
We couldnt figure it out nohow, and to think o the second mate, a little man with a large famly, who never ad a penny in is pocket, sleeping every night on a six undered pound mattress, sent us pretty near crazy. We used to talk it over whenever we got a chance, and Bill and Jimmy could scarcely be civil to each other. The boy said it was Bills fault, and e said it was the boys.
The ony thing I can see, says the boy, one day, is for Bill to ave a touch of sunstroke as es leaving the wheel one day, tumble ead-first down the companion-way, and injure isself so severely that e cant be moved. Then theyll put im in a cabin down aft, and praps Ill ave to go and nurse im. Anyway, hell be down there.
Its a very good idea, Bill, I says.
Ho, says Bill, looking at me as if e would eat me. Why dont you do it, then?
Id sooner you did it, Bill, says the boy; still, I dont mind which it is. Why not toss up for it?
Get away, says Bill. Get away afore I do something you wont like, you blood-thirsty little murderer.
Ive got a plan myself, he says, in a low voice, after the boy ad opped off, and if I cant think of nothing better Ill try it, and mind, not a word to the boy.
He didnt think o nothing better, and one night just as we was making the Channel e tried is plan. He was in the second mates watch, and by-and-by e leans over the wheel and says to im in a low voice, This is my last vyge, sir.
Oh, says the second mate, who was a man as didnt mind talking to a man before the mast. Hows that?