Part 33 (2/2)
”What?” the terrified clerk exclaimed ”Who's what, man? Where--where?
What you talkin' about?”
The skipper pointed to the patch of sunlight on the hills ”That!” he gasped
”'Tis a roaned
The rat-like little clerk bared his teeth
Bill o' Burnt Bay and the boys of the _Spot Cash_ had seen what the lifting fog disclosed--the _Black Eagle_But they had not fathomed the mystery A mystery it was, however, and a deep one To solve it they came down the hill towards the schooner in a body and were presently face to face with skipper and clerk on the deck The creent on with the unloading; there was never a hint of hesitation or embarrassment And the skipper of the _Spot Cash_ was serenely made welcome Whatever rat-like impulse to bite may have been in the heart of the little clerk, when Bill o' Burnt Bay came over the crest of the hill, it had now vanished in discreet politeness There was no occasion for biting
Had there been--had the crew of the _Black Eagle_ been caught in the very act of scuttling the shi+p--Tommy Bull would no doubt have driven his teeth in deep Even aonists These were aood-hearted in the main; but they were not yet by any means at bay
”Jus' a little leak, Skipper Bill,” Skipper George explained, when Bill o' Burnt Bay had accounted for his presence in Little Pony
”Sprung it in the gale”
”Did you, now?” said Skipper Bill, suspiciously; ”'tis lucky we happened along I'm a bit of a carpenter, e protested, with a large wave of the hand
”_Not_ at all!”
”'Twould be no trouble----”
”Not at all!” Skipper George repeated ”Here's To it in short order”
Skipper Bill could ill conceal his suspicion
”You're in trouble yourself with the _Spot Cash_, says you,” said Skipper George ”We'll lend you a spar an' a couple o' hands t' set it”
”We'll buy the spar,” Archie put in
Skipper George laughed heartily ”Well, well,” said he ”Have it your oay You make your repairs, an' I'll make mine; an' then we'll see who's back t' the Shore ports first”
Archie bethought hi Archie on the back, ”that you'll not find a fish in the harbours where the _Black Eagle_ goes”
”You're ordered hoe frorah loaded, anyhow”
Archie wondered afterwards why Skipper George had caught his breath and lost some of his colour
Presently the crew of the _Spot Cash_, with two stout hands frole_, went over the hills with the spare spar Skipper George and Tommy Bull made haste to the cabin
”Ordered hoe on the counter
”Forthwith,” Tommy Bull added