Part 12 (2/2)

That startles the deep when the combat's begun,”'

quoted Att.w.a.ter, with a smile, which instantly gave way to an air of funereal solemnity. 'I shall particularly expect Mr Whish,' he continued. 'Mr Whish, I trust you understand the invitation?'

'I believe you, my boy!' replied the genial Huish.

'That is right then; and quite understood, is it not?' said Att.w.a.ter.

'Mr Whish and Captain Brown at six-thirty without fault--and you, Hay, at four sharp.'

And he called his boat.

During all this talk, a load of thought or anxiety had weighed upon the captain. There was no part for which nature had so liberally endowed him as that of the genial s.h.i.+p captain. But today he was silent and abstracted. Those who knew him could see that he hearkened close to every syllable, and seemed to ponder and try it in balances. It would have been hard to say what look there was, cold, attentive, and sinister, as of a man maturing plans, which still brooded over the unconscious guest; it was here, it was there, it was nowhere; it was now so little that Herrick chid himself for an idle fancy; and anon it was so gross and palpable that you could say every hair on the man's head talked mischief.

He woke up now, as with a start. 'You were talking of a charter,' said he.

'Was I?' said Att.w.a.ter. 'Well, let's talk of it no more at present.'

'Your own schooner is overdue, I understand?' continued the captain.

'You understand perfectly, Captain Brown,' said Att.w.a.ter; 'thirty-three days overdue at noon today.'

'She comes and goes, eh? plies between here and...?' hinted the captain.

'Exactly; every four months; three trips in the year,' said Att.w.a.ter.

'You go in her, ever?' asked Davis.

'No, one stops here,' said Att.w.a.ter, 'one has plenty to attend to.'

'Stop here, do you?' cried Davis. 'Say, how long?'

'How long, O Lord,' said Att.w.a.ter with perfect, stern gravity. 'But it does not seem so,' he added, with a smile.

'No, I dare say not,' said Davis. 'No, I suppose not. Not with all your G.o.ds about you, and in as snug a berth as this. For it is a pretty snug berth,' said he, with a sweeping look.

'The spot, as you are good enough to indicate, is not entirely intolerable,' was the reply.

'Sh.e.l.l, I suppose?' said Davis.

'Yes, there was sh.e.l.l,' said Att.w.a.ter.

'This is a considerable big beast of a lagoon, sir,' said the captain.

'Was there a--was the fis.h.i.+ng--would you call the fis.h.i.+ng anyways GOOD?'

'I don't know that I would call it anyways anything,' said Att.w.a.ter, 'if you put it to me direct.'

'There were pearls too?' said Davis.

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