Part 34 (1/2)
”There's more here than appears,” the anxious skipper went on
”To back o' this”
The clerk beat a devil's tattoo in perturbation
”There's more suspected than these words tell,” the skipper declared
”'Tis by sheer good luck, Skipper George,” said the clerk, ”that we've a vessel t' take ho with suspicion and rage, ”I don't trust Tom Tulk He'd sell his mother for a slave for a thousand dollars”
”Toe exclaimed ”By thunder!” he roared, ”Tom Tulk has blowed!”
For the second tile_ bared his teeth--noith a little snarl
”They've no proof,” said the skipper
”True,” the clerk agreed; ”but they's as many as two lost jobs aboard this vessel They'll be two able-bodied seale_ makes St John's”
”Well, To, ”'tis the clerk that makes prices aboard a tradin' schooner; and 'twill be the clerk that will explain in this particular case”
”Huh!” Tole_, with her fish again aboard, put to sea and sped off on a straight course for St John's Notwithstanding the difficulties in store, clerk and skipper were in good humour with all the world (except Toht-hearted since the voyage began But as the day drew along--and as day by day passed--and as the home port and Sir Archibald's level eyes carew troubled Why should the _Black Eagle_ have been ordered home? Why had Sir Archibald used that mysterious and unusual word ”forthwith” with such emphasis? What lay behind the brusque order? Had Tom Tulk played false? Would there be a constable on the wharf? With ould Sir Archibald charge the skipper?
Altogether, the skipper of the _Black Eagle_ had never sailed a le_ slipped through the narrows to St John's harbour he was like a dog co
[6] As related in ”The Adventures of Billy Topsail”
CHAPTER xxxI
_In Which the ”Spot Cash” is Picked up by Blow-Me-Down Rock In Jolly Harbour, Wreckers Threaten Extinction and the Honour of the Fir of Billy Topsail_
The _Spot Cash_ made for the French Shore with all the speed her heels could coust! How near it was to the first of Septe, Grimm & Company, with the skipper and cook, shi+vered to think of it Tendays! Not another hour could they afford if the _Spot Cash_ would surely make St John's harbour on the specified day And she would--she must--Archie declared His honour was involved--the honour of the, Grimm & Company Had not Sir Archibald said so?
So in the harbours of the Shore Bill o' Burnt Bay once s flew, and the phonograph ground out inviting music, and Bobby North shook the hornpipe out of his active toes, and Bagg double-shuffled, and the torches flared, and ”Kandy for Kids” and ”Don't be Foolish and Fully Fooled” persuaded the populace, and Signor Fakerino created mystification, and Billy Topsail employed his sweet little pipe most wistfully in the old ballad of the coast:
”Sure, the chain 'e parted, An' the schooner drove ashore, An' the wives of the 'ands Never saw un any more, No ood purpose Trade was even brisker than in White Bay
Out went the merchandise and in came the fish Nor did the _Spot Cash_ once leave harbour without a hearty, even wistful, invitation to return Within seven days, so fast did the fish come aboard, the hold had an appearance of plethora Ji protested that not another quintal of fish could be stoay It was fairly ti in the cabin: so to turn into fish And it was Archie who proposed the scheain sale,” said he ”The very thing”
”An' Jolly Harbour's the place,” said the skipper
”Then homeward bound!” shouted Archie