Part 40 (1/2)

”It's an easy thing to turn a few thousands a year while there are old s.h.i.+ps to be bought, and offices which will insure them above their value. There was D'Arcy Campbell, of the _Silvertown_--what a trade that man did! He was smart--tarnation smart! Collisions was his line, and he worked 'em well. There warn't a skipper out of Liverpool as could get run down as nat'ral as he could.”

”Get run down?”

”Aye. He'd go lolloping about in the Channel if there was any fog on, steering for the lights o' any steamers or headin' round for all the fog whistles if it was too thick to see. Sooner or later, as sure as fate, he'd get cut down to the water's edge. Lor', it was a fine game!

Half a 'yard o' print about his n.o.ble conduc' in the newspapers, and maybe a leader about the British tar and unexpected emergencies.

It once went the length o' a subscription. Ha! ha!” Miggs laughed until he choked.

”And what became of this British star?” asked the German.

”He's still about. He's in the pa.s.senger trade now.”

”Potztausand!” Von Baumser e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. ”I would not go as a pa.s.senger with him for something.”

”There's many a way that it's done, sir,” the mate added, filling up his gla.s.s again, and pa.s.sing the bottle to the captain. ”There's loadin' a cranky vessel wi' grain in bulk without usin' part.i.tion boards. If you get a little water in, as you are bound to do with a s.h.i.+p o' that kind, the grain will swell and swell until it bursts the seams open, and down ye go. Then there's ignition o' coal gas aboard o' steamers. That's a safe game, for n.o.body can deny it. And there are accidents to propellers. If the shaft o' a propeller breaks in heavy weather it's a bad look-out. I've known s.h.i.+ps leave the docks with their propellers half sawn through all round. Lor', there's no end o' the tricks o' the trade.”

”I cannot believe, however,” said Tom stoutly, ”that Mr. Girdlestone connives at such things.”

”He's on the waitin' lay,” the seaman answered. ”He doesn't send 'em down, but he just hangs on, and keeps his insurances up, and trusts in Providence. He's had some good hauls that way, though not o' late.

There was the _Belinda_ at Cape Palmas. That was five thousand, clear, if it was a penny. And the _Sockatoo_--that was a bad business!

She was never heard of, nor her crew. Went down at sea, and left no trace.”

”The crew too!” Tom cried with horror. ”But how about yourselves, if what you say is true?”

”We are paid for the risk,” said both the seamen, shrugging their shoulders.

”But there are Government inspectors?”

”Ha! ha! I dare say you've seen the way some o' them do their work!”

said Miggs.

Tom's mind was filled with consternation at what he had heard. If the African merchant were capable of this, what might he not be capable of?

Was his word to be depended on under any circ.u.mstances? And what sort of firm must this be, which turned so fair a side to the world and in which he had embarked his fortune? All these thoughts flashed through his mind as he listened to the gossip of the garrulous old sea dogs.

A greater shock still, however, was in store for him.

Von Baumser had been listening to the conversation with an amused look upon his good-humoured face. ”Ah!” said he, suddenly striking in, ”I vill tell you something of your own firm which perhaps you do not know. Have you heard dat Mr. Ezra Girdlestone is about to be married?”

”To be married!”

”Oh yes; I have heard It dis morning at Eckermann's office. I think it is the talk of the City.”

”Who's the gal?” Miggs asked, with languid interest.

”I disremember her name,” Von Baumser answered. ”It is a girl the major has met--the young lady who has lived in the same house, and is vat they call a warder.”

”Not--not his ward?” cried Tom, springing to his feet and turning as white as a sheet. ”Not Miss Harston? You don't tell me that he is going to marry Miss Harston?”

”Dat is the name. Miss Harston it is, sure enough.”

”It is a lie--an infamous lie!” Tom cried hotly.