Part 31 (1/2)

Captain Thomsett's eyes shone, but with a qualified admiration.

”Ain't it somewhat sudden?” he demurred.

Captain Stubbs regarded him with a look of supreme artfulness, and slowly closed one eye.

”He got a chill going in the water,” he said quietly.

”Well, you're a masterpiece,” said Thomsett ungrudgingly. ”I will say this of you, you're a masterpiece. Mind this is all to be kept quite secret.”

”Make your mind easy,” said the eminent jurist. ”If I told all I know there's a good many men in this river as 'ud be doing time at the present moment.”

Captain Thomsett expressed his pleasure at this information, and, having tried in vain to obtain a few of their names, even going so far as to suggest some, looked at the clock, and, shaking hands, departed to his own s.h.i.+p. Captain Stubbs, left to himself, finished his pipe and retired to rest; and his mate, who had been lying in the adjoining bunk during the consultation, vainly trying to get to sleep, scratched his head, and tried to think of a little strategy himself. He had glimmerings of it before he fell asleep, but when he awoke next morning it flashed before him in all the fulness of its matured beauty.

He went on deck smiling, and, leaning his arms on the side, gazed contemplatively at George, who was sitting on the deck listening darkly to the cook as that worthy read aloud from a newspaper.

”Anything interesting, cook?” demanded the mate.

”About George, sir,” said the cook, stopping in his reading. ”There's pictures of 'im too.”

He crossed to the side, and, handing the paper to the mate, listened smilingly to the little e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns of surprise and delight of that deceitful man as he gazed upon the likenesses. ”Wonderful,” he said emphatically. ”Wonderful. I never saw such a good likeness in my life, George. That'll be copied in every newspaper in London, and here's the name in full too-'George Cooper, schooner John Henry, now lying off Limehouse.'”

He handed the paper back to the cook and turned away grinning as George, unable to control himself any longer, got up with an oath and went below to nurse his wrath in silence. A little later the mate of the brig, after a very confidential chat with his own crew, lit his pipe and, with a jaunty air, went ash.o.r.e.

For the next hour or two George alternated between the foc'sle and the deck, from whence he cast hara.s.sed glances at the busy wharves ash.o.r.e.

The skipper, giving it as his own suggestion, acquainted him with the arrangements made in case of the worst, and George, though he seemed somewhat dubious about them, went below and put his bed in order.

”It's very unlikely she'll see that particular newspaper though,” said the skipper encouragingly.

”People are sure to see what you don't want 'em to,” growled George.

”Somebody what knows us is sure to see it, an' show 'er.”

”There's a lady stepping into a waterman's skiff now,” said the skipper, glancing at the stairs. ”That wouldn't be her, I s'pose?”

He turned to the seaman as he spoke, but the words had hardly left his lips before George was going below and undressing for his part.

”If anybody asks for me,” he said, turning to the cook, who was regarding his feverish movements in much astonishment, ”I'm dead.”

”You're wot?” inquired the other.

”Dead,” said George. ”Dead. Died at ten o'clock this morning. D'ye understand, fat-head?”

”I can't say as 'ow I do,” said the cook somewhat acrimoniously.

”Pa.s.s the word round that I'm dead,” repeated George hurriedly. ”Lay me out, cookie. I'll do as much for you one day.”

Instead of complying the horrified cook rushed up on deck to tell the skipper that George's brain had gone; but, finding him in the midst of a hurried explanation to the men, stopped with greedy ears to listen. The skiff was making straight for the schooner, propelled by an elderly waterman in his s.h.i.+rt-sleeves, the sole pa.s.senger being a lady of ample proportions, who was watching the life of the river through a black veil.

In another minute the skiff b.u.mped alongside, and the waterman standing in the boat pa.s.sed the painter aboard. The skipper gazed at the fare and, s.h.i.+vering inwardly, hoped that George was a good actor.