Part 30 (1/2)

The other repeated the performance, but beyond seeing that some word of three syllables was indicated the skipper obtained no information.

”You can speak a little louder,” he said, somewhat crustily.

”Bigamy!” said George, breathing the word solemnly.

”You?” said the skipper.

George nodded. ”And if my first only gets hold of that paper, and sees my phiz and reads my name, I'm done for. There's my reward for saving a fellow-critter's life. Seven years.”

”I'm surprised at you, George,” said the skipper sternly. ”Such a good wife as you've got too.”

”I ain't saying nothing agin number two,” grumbled George. ”It's number one that didn't suit, I left her eight years ago. She was a bad 'un I took a v'y'ge to Australia furst, just to put her out o' my mind a bit, an' I never seed her since. Where am I if she sees all about me in the paper!”

”Is she what you'd call a vindictive woman?” inquired the other.

”Nasty-tempered, I mean.”

”Nasty-tempered,” echoed the husband of two. ”If that woman could only have me put in jail she'd stand on 'er 'ead for joy.”

”Well, I'll do what I can for you if the worst comes to the worst,” said the skipper. ”You'd better not say anything about this to anybody else.”

”Not me,” said George fervently, as he rose, ”an' o' course you------”

”You can rely on me,” said the skipper in his most stately fas.h.i.+on.

He thought of the seaman's confidence several times during the evening, and, being somewhat uncertain of the law as to bigamy, sought information from the master of the _Endeavour_ as they sat in the latter's cabin at a quiet game of cribbage. By virtue of several appearances in the law courts with regard to collisions and spoilt cargoes this gentleman had obtained a knowledge of law which made him a recognized authority from London Bridge to the Nore.

It was a delicate matter for the master of the _John Henry_ to broach, and, with the laudable desire of keeping the hero's secret, he approached it by a most circuitous route. He began with a burglary, followed with an attempted murder, and finally got on the subject of bigamy, _via_ the ”Deceased Wife's Sister Bill.”

”What sort o' bigamy?” inquired the master of the brig.

”Oh, two wives,” said Captain Thomsett.

”Yes, yes,” said the other, ”but are there any mitigating circ.u.mstances in the case, so that you could throw yourself on the mercy o' the court, I mean?”

”_My_ case!” said Thomsett, glaring. ”It ain't for me.”

”Oh, no, o' course not,” said Captain Stubbs.

”What do you mean by 'o' course not'?” de-manded the indignant master of the _John Henry_.

”Your deal,” said Captain Stubbs, pus.h.i.+ng the cards over to him.

”You haven't answered my question,” said Captain Thomsett, regarding him offensively.

”There's some questions,” said Stubbs slowly, ”as is best left unanswered. When you've seen as much law as I have, my lad, you'll know that one of the first principles of English law is, that n.o.body is bound to commit themselves.”

”Do you mean to say you think it _is_ me?” bellowed Captain Thomsett.

”I mean to say nothing,” said Captain Stubbs, putting his huge hands on the table. ”But when a man comes into my cabin and begins to hum an'

haw an' hint at things, and then begins to ask my advice about bigamy, I can't help thinking. This is a free country, and there's no law ag'in thinking. Make a clean breast of it, cap'n, an I'll do what I can for you.”