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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10562-0.txt b/10562-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..44d6d37 --- /dev/null +++ b/10562-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,550 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10562 *** + +SHIP'S COMPANY + +By W.W. Jacobs + + + +FRIENDS IN NEED + + +R. Joseph Gibbs finished his half-pint in the private bar of the Red Lion +with the slowness of a man unable to see where the next was coming from, +and, placing the mug on the counter, filled his pipe from a small paper +of tobacco and shook his head slowly at his companions. + +"First I've 'ad since ten o'clock this morning," he said, in a hard +voice. + +"Cheer up," said Mr. George Brown. + +"It can't go on for ever," said Bob Kidd, encouragingly. + +"All I ask for--is work," said Mr. Gibbs, impressively. "Not slavery, +mind yer, but work." + +"It's rather difficult to distinguish," said Mr. Brown. + +"'Specially for some people," added Mr. Kidd. + +"Go on," said Mr. Gibbs, gloomily. "Go on. Stand a man 'arf a pint, and +then go and hurt 'is feelings. Twice yesterday I wondered to myself what +it would feel like to make a hole in the water." + +"Lots o' chaps do do it," said Mr. Brown, musingly. + +"And leave their wives and families to starve," said Mr. Gibbs, icily. + +"Very often the wife is better off," said his friend. "It's one mouth +less for her to feed. Besides, she gen'rally gets something. When pore +old Bill went they 'ad a Friendly Lead at the 'King's Head' and got his +missis pretty nearly seventeen pounds." + +"And I believe we'd get more than that for your old woman," said Mr. +Kidd. "There's no kids, and she could keep 'erself easy. Not that I +want to encourage you to make away with yourself." + +Mr. Gibbs scowled and, tilting his mug, peered gloomily into the +interior. + +"Joe won't make no 'ole in the water," said Mr. Brown, wagging his head. +"If it was beer, now--" + +Mr. Gibbs turned and, drawing himself up to five feet three, surveyed the +speaker with an offensive stare. + +"I don't see why he need make a 'ole in anything," said Mr. Kidd, slowly. +"It 'ud do just as well if we said he 'ad. Then we could pass the hat +round and share it." + +"Divide it into three halves and each 'ave one," said Mr. Brown, nodding; +"but 'ow is it to be done?" + +"'Ave some more beer and think it over," said Mr. Kidd, pale with +excitement. "Three pints, please." + +He and Mr. Brown took up their pints, and nodded at each other. Mr. +Gibbs, toying idly with the handle of his, eyed them carefully. "Mind, +I'm not promising anything," he said, slowly. "Understand, I ain't +a-committing of myself by drinking this 'ere pint." + +"You leave it to me, Joe," said Mr. Kidd. + +Mr. Gibbs left it to him after a discussion in which pints played a +persuasive part; with the result that Mr. Brown, sitting in the same bar +the next evening with two or three friends, was rudely disturbed by the +cyclonic entrance of Mr. Kidd, who, dripping with water, sank on a bench +and breathed heavily. + +"What's up? What's the matter?" demanded several voices. + +"It's Joe--poor Joe Gibbs," said Mr. Kidd. "I was on Smith's wharf +shifting that lighter to the next berth, and, o' course Joe must come +aboard to help. He was shoving her off with 'is foot when--" + +He broke off and shuddered and, accepting a mug of beer, pending the +arrival of some brandy that a sympathizer had ordered, drank it slowly. + +"It all 'appened in a flash," he said, looking round. "By the time I 'ad +run round to his end he was just going down for the third time. I hung +over the side and grabbed at 'im, and his collar and tie came off in my +hand. Nearly went in, I did." + +He held out the collar and tie; and approving notice was taken of the +fact that he was soaking wet from the top of his head to the middle +button of his waistcoat. + +"Pore chap!" said the landlord, leaning over the bar. "He was in 'ere +only 'arf an hour ago, standing in this very bar." + +"Well, he's 'ad his last drop o' beer," said a carman in a chastened +voice. + +"That's more than anybody can say," said the landlord, sharply. "I never +heard anything against the man; he's led a good life so far as I know, +and 'ow can we tell that he won't 'ave beer?" + +He made Mr. Kidd a present of another small glass of brandy. + +"He didn't leave any family, did he?" he inquired, as he passed it over. + +"Only a wife," said Mr. Kidd; "and who's to tell that pore soul I don't +know. She fair doated on 'im. 'Ow she's to live I don't know. I shall +do what I can for 'er." + +"Same 'ere," said Mr. Brown, in a deep voice. + +"Something ought to be done for 'er," said the carman, as he went out. + +"First thing is to tell the police," said the landlord. "They ought to +know; then p'r'aps one of them'll tell her. It's what they're paid for." + +"It's so awfully sudden. I don't know where I am 'ardly," said Mr. Kidd. +"I don't believe she's got a penny-piece in the 'ouse. Pore Joe 'ad a +lot o' pals. I wonder whether we could'nt get up something for her." + +"Go round and tell the police first," said the landlord, pursing up his +lips thoughtfully. "We can talk about that later on." + +Mr. Kidd thanked him warmly and withdrew, accompanied by Mr. Brown. +Twenty minutes later they left the station, considerably relieved at the +matter-of-fact way in which the police had received the tidings, and, +hurrying across London Bridge, made their way towards a small figure +supporting its back against a post in the Borough market. + +"Well?" said Mr. Gibbs, snappishly, as he turned at the sound of their +footsteps. + +"It'll be all right, Joe," said Mr. Kidd. "We've sowed the seed." + +"Sowed the wot?" demanded the other. + +Mr. Kidd explained. + +"Ho!" said Mr. Gibbs. "An' while your precious seed is a-coming up, wot +am I to do? Wot about my comfortable 'ome? Wot about my bed and grub?" + +His two friends looked at each other uneasily. In the excitement of the +arrangements they had for gotten these things, and a long and sometimes +painful experience of Mr. Gibbs showed them only too plainly where they +were drifting. + +"You'll 'ave to get a bed this side o' the river somewhere," said Mr. +Brown, slowly. "Coffee-shop or something; and a smart, active man wot +keeps his eyes open can always pick up a little money." + +Mr. Gibbs laughed. + +"And mind," said Mr. Kidd, furiously, in reply to the laugh, "anything we +lend you is to be paid back out of your half when you get it. And, wot's +more, you don't get a ha'penny till you've come into a barber's shop and +'ad them whiskers off. We don't want no accidents." + +Mr. Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for his whiskers for +nearly half an hour, and at the end of that time was led into a barber's, +and in a state of sullen indignation proffered his request for a "clean" +shave. He gazed at the bare-faced creature that confronted him in the +glass after the operation in open-eyed consternation, and Messrs. Kidd +and Brown's politeness easily gave way before their astonishment. + +"Well, I may as well have a 'air-cut while I'm here," said Mr. Gibbs, +after a lengthy survey. + +"And a shampoo, sir?" said the assistant. + +"Just as you like," said Mr. Gibbs, turning a deaf ear to the frenzied +expostulations of his financial backers. "Wot is it?" + +[Illustration: Mr. Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for +nearly half an hour] + +He sat in amazed discomfort during the operation, and emerging with his +friends remarked that he felt half a stone lighter. The information was +received in stony silence, and, having spent some time in the selection, +they found a quiet public-house, and in a retired corner formed +themselves into a Committee of Ways and Means. + +"That'll do for you to go on with," said Mr. Kidd, after he and Mr. Brown +had each made a contribution; "and, mind, it's coming off of your share." + +Mr. Gibbs nodded. "And any evening you want to see me you'll find me in +here," he remarked. "Beer's ripping. Now you'd better go and see my old +woman." + +The two friends departed, and, to their great relief, found a little knot +of people outside the abode of Mrs. Gibbs. It was clear that the news +had been already broken, and, pushing their way upstairs, they found the +widow with a damp handkerchief in her hand surrounded by attentive +friends. In feeble accents she thanked Mr. Kidd for his noble attempts +at rescue. + +"He ain't dry yet," said Mr. Brown. + +"I done wot I could," said Mr. Kidd, simply. "Pore Joe! Nobody could +ha' had a better pal. Nobody!" + +"Always ready to lend a helping 'and to them as was in trouble, he was," +said Mr. Brown, looking round. + +"'Ear, 'ear!" said a voice. + +"And we'll lend 'im a helping 'and," said Mr. Kidd, energetically. "We +can't do 'im no good, pore chap, but we can try and do something for 'er +as is left behind." + +He moved slowly to the door, accompanied by Mr. Brown, and catching the +eye of one or two of the men beckoned them to follow. Under his able +guidance a small but gradually increasing crowd made its way to the "Red +Lion." For the next three or four days the friends worked unceasingly. +Cards stating that a Friendly Lead would be held at the "Red Lion," for +the benefit of the widow of the late Mr. Joseph Gibbs, were distributed +broadcast; and anecdotes portraying a singularly rare and beautiful +character obtained an even wider circulation. Too late Wapping realized +the benevolent disposition and the kindly but unobtrusive nature that had +departed from it for ever. + +Mr. Gibbs, from his retreat across the water, fully shared his friends' +enthusiasm, but an insane desire--engendered by vanity--to be present at +the function was a source of considerable trouble and annoyance to them. +When he offered to black his face and take part in the entertainment as a +nigger minstrel, Mr. Kidd had to be led outside and kept there until such +time as he could converse in English pure and undefiled. + +"Getting above 'imself, that's wot it is," said Mr. Brown, as they wended +their way home. "He's having too much money out of us to spend; but it +won't be for long now." + +"He's having a lord's life of it, while we're slaving ourselves to +death," grumbled Mr. Kidd. "I never see'im looking so fat and well. By +rights he oughtn't to 'ave the same share as wot we're going to 'ave; he +ain't doing none of the work." + +His ill-humour lasted until the night of the "Lead," which, largely owing +to the presence of a sporting fishmonger who had done well at the races +that day, and some of his friends, realized a sum far beyond the +expectations of the hard-working promoters. The fishmonger led off by +placing a five-pound note in the plate, and the packed audience breathed +so hard that the plate-holder's responsibility began to weigh upon his +spirits. In all, a financial tribute of thirty-seven pounds three and +fourpence was paid to the memory of the late Mr. Gibbs. + +"Over twelve quid apiece," said the delighted Mr. Kidd as he bade his +co-worker good night. "Sounds too good to be true." + +The next day passed all too slowly, but work was over at last, and Mr. +Kidd led the way over London Bridge a yard or two ahead of the more +phlegmatic Mr. Brown. Mr. Gibbs was in his old corner at the +"Wheelwright's Arms," and, instead of going into ecstasies over the sum +realized, hinted darkly that it would have been larger if he had been +allowed to have had a hand in it. + +"It'll 'ardly pay me for my trouble," he said, shaking his head. "It's +very dull over 'ere all alone by myself. By the time you two have 'ad +your share, besides taking wot I owe you, there'll be 'ardly anything +left." + +"I'll talk to you another time," said Mr. Kidd, regarding him fixedly. +"Wot you've got to do now is to come acrost the river with us." + +"What for?" demanded Mr. Gibbs. + +"We're going to break the joyful news to your old woman that you're alive +afore she starts spending money wot isn't hers," said Mr. Kidd. "And we +want you to be close by in case she don't believe us. + +"Well, do it gentle, mind," said the fond husband. "We don't want 'er +screaming, or anything o' that sort. I know 'er better than wot you do, +and my advice to you is to go easy." + +He walked along by the side of them, and, after some demur, consented, as +a further disguise, to put on a pair of spectacles, for which Mr. Kidd's +wife's mother had been hunting high and low since eight o'clock that +morning. + +"You doddle about 'ere for ten minutes," said Mr. Kidd, as they reached +the Monument, "and then foller on. When you pass a lamp-post 'old your +handkerchief up to your face. And wait for us at the corner of your road +till we come for you." + +He went off at a brisk pace with Mr. Brown, a pace moderated to one of +almost funeral solemnity as they approached the residence of Mrs. Gibbs. +To their relief she was alone, and after the usual amenities thanked them +warmly for all they had done for her. + +"I'd do more than that for pore Joe," said Mr. Brown. + +"They--they 'aven't found 'im yet?" said the widow. + +Mr. Kidd shook his head. "My idea is they won't find 'im," he said, +slowly. + +"Went down on the ebb tide," explained Mr. Brown; and spoilt Mr. Kidd's +opening. + +"Wherever he is 'e's better off," said Mrs. Gibbs. + +"No more trouble about being out o' work; no more worry; no more pain. +We've all got to go some day. + +"Yes," began Mr. Kidd; "but-- + +"I'm sure I don't wish 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs; "that would be +sinful." + +"But 'ow if he wanted to come back?" said Mr. Kidd, playing for an +opening. + +"And 'elp you spend that money," said Mr. Brown, ignoring the scowls of +his friend. + +Mrs. Gibbs looked bewildered. "Spend the money?" she began. + +"Suppose," said Mr. Kidd, "suppose he wasn't drownded after all? Only +last night I dreamt he was alive." + +"So did I," said Mr. Brown. + +"He was smiling at me," said Mr. Kidd, in a tender voice. "'Bob,' he +ses, 'go and tell my pore missis that I'm alive,' he ses; 'break it to +'er gentle.'" + +"It's the very words he said to me in my dream," said Mr. Brown. "Bit +strange, ain't it?" + +"Very," said Mrs. Gibbs. + +"I suppose," said Mr. Kidd, after a pause, "I suppose you haven't been +dreaming about 'im?" + +"No; I'm a teetotaller," said the widow. + +The two gentlemen exchanged glances, and Mr. Kidd, ever of an impulsive +nature, resolved to bring matters to a head. + +"Wot would you do if Joe was to come in 'ere at this door?" he asked. + +"Scream the house down," said the widow, promptly. + +"Scream--scream the 'ouse down?" said the distressed Mr. Kidd. + +Mrs. Gibbs nodded. "I should go screaming, raving mad," she said, with +conviction. + +"But--but not if 'e was alive!" said Mr. Kidd. + +"I don't know what you're driving at," said Mrs. Gibbs. "Why don't you +speak out plain? Poor Joe is drownded, you know that; you saw it all, +and yet you come talking to me about dreams and things." + +Mr. Kidd bent over her and put his hand affectionately on her shoulder. +"He escaped," he said, in a thrilling whisper. "He's alive and well." + +"WHAT?" said Mrs. Gibbs, starting back. + +"True as I stand 'ere," said Mr. Kidd; "ain't it, George?" + +"Truer," said Mr. Brown, loyally. + +Mrs. Gibbs leaned back, gasping. "Alive!" she said. "But 'ow? 'Ow can +he be?" + +"Don't make such a noise," said Mr. Kidd, earnestly. "Mind, if anybody +else gets to 'ear of it you'll 'ave to give that money back." + +"I'd give more than that to get 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs, wildly. "I +believe you're deceiving me." + +"True as I stand 'ere," asseverated the other. "He's only a minute or +two off, and if it wasn't for you screaming I'd go out and fetch 'im in." + +"I won't scream," said Mrs. Gibbs, "not if I know it's flesh and blood. +Oh, where is he? Why don't you bring 'im in? Let me go to 'im." + +"All right," said Mr. Kidd, with a satisfied smile at Mr. Brown; "all in +good time. I'll go and fetch 'im now; but, mind, if you scream you'll +spoil everything." + +He bustled cheerfully out of the room and downstairs, and Mrs. Gibbs, +motioning Mr. Brown to silence, stood by the door with parted lips, +waiting. Three or four minutes elapsed. + +"'Ere they come," said Mr. Brown, as footsteps sounded on the stairs. +"Now, no screaming, mind!" + +Mrs. Gibbs drew back, and, to the gratification of all concerned, did not +utter a sound as Mr. Kidd, followed by her husband, entered the room. +She stood looking expectantly towards the doorway. + +"Where is he?" she gasped. + +"Eh?" said Mr. Kidd, in a startled voice. "Why here. Don't you know +'im?" + +"It's me, Susan," said Mr. Gibbs, in a low voice. + +"Oh, I might 'ave known it was a joke," cried Mrs. Gibbs, in a faint +voice, as she tottered to a chair. "Oh,'ow cruel of you to tell me my +pore Joe was alive! Oh, 'ow could you?" + +"Lor' lumme," said the incensed Mr. Kidd, pushing Mr. Gibbs forward. +"Here he is. Same as you saw 'im last, except for 'is whiskers. Don't +make that sobbing noise; people'll be coming in." + +"Oh! Oh! Oh! Take 'im away," cried Mrs. Gibbs. "Go and play your +tricks with somebody else's broken 'art." + +"But it's your husband," said Mr. Brown. + +"Take 'im away," wailed Mrs. Gibbs. + +Mr. Kidd, grinding his teeth, tried to think. "'Ave you got any marks on +your body, Joe?" he inquired. + +"I ain't got a mark on me," said Mr. Gibbs with a satisfied air, "or a +blemish. My skin is as whi--" + +"That's enough about your skin," interrupted Mr. Kidd, rudely. + +"If you ain't all of you gone before I count ten," said Mrs. Gibbs, in a +suppressed voice, "I'll scream. 'Ow dare you come into a respectable +woman's place and talk about your skins? Are you going? One! Two! +Three! Four! Five!" + +Her voice rose with each numeral; and Mr. Gibbs himself led the way +downstairs, and, followed by his friends, slipped nimbly round the +corner. + +"It's a wonder she didn't rouse the whole 'ouse," he said, wiping his +brow on his sleeve; "and where should we ha' been then? I thought at the +time it was a mistake you making me 'ave my whiskers off, but I let you +know best. She's never seen me without 'em. I 'ad a remarkable strong +growth when I was quite a boy. While other boys was--" + +"Shut-up!" vociferated Mr. Kidd. + +"Sha'n't!" said Mr. Gibbs, defiantly. "I've 'ad enough of being away +from my comfortable little 'ome and my wife; and I'm going to let 'em +start growing agin this very night. She'll never reckernize me without +'em, that's certain." + +"He's right, Bob," said Mr. Brown, with conviction. + +"D'ye mean to tell me we've got to wait till 'is blasted whiskers grow?" +cried Mr. Kidd, almost dancing with fury. "And go on keeping 'im in +idleness till they do?" + +"You'll get it all back out o' my share," said Mr. Gibbs, with dignity. +"But you can please yourself. If you like to call it quits now, I don't +mind." + +Mr. Brown took his seething friend aside, and conferred with him in low +but earnest tones. Mr. Gibbs, with an indifferent air, stood by +whistling softly. + +"'Ow long will they take to grow?" inquired Mr. Kidd, turning to him +with a growl. + +Mr. Gibbs shrugged his shoulders. "Can't say," he replied; "but I should +think two or three weeks would be enough for 'er to reckernize me by. If +she don't, we must wait another week or so, that's all." + +"Well, there won't be much o' your share left, mind that," said Mr. Kidd, +glowering at him. + +"I can't help it," said Mr. Gibbs. "You needn't keep reminding me of +it." + +They walked the rest of the way in silence; and for the next fortnight +Mr. Gibbs's friends paid nightly visits to note the change in his +appearance, and grumble at its slowness. + +"We'll try and pull it off to-morrow night," said Mr. Kidd, at the end of +that period. "I'm fair sick o' lending you money." + +Mr. Gibbs shook his head and spoke sagely about not spoiling the ship for +a ha'porth o' tar; but Mr. Kidd was obdurate. + +"There's enough for 'er to reckernize you by," he said, sternly, "and we +don't want other people to. Meet us at the Monument at eight o'clock +to-morrow night, and we'll get it over." + +"Give your orders," said Mr. Gibbs, in a nasty voice. + +"Keep your 'at well over your eyes," commanded Mr. Kidd, sternly. "Put +them spectacles on wot I lent you, and it wouldn't be a bad idea if you +tied your face up in a piece o' red flannel." + +"I know wot I'm going to do without you telling me," said Mr. Gibbs, +nodding. "I'll bet you pots round that you don't either of you +reckernize me tomorrow night." + +The bet was taken at once, and from eight o'clock until ten minutes to +nine the following night Messrs. Kidd and Brown did their best to win it. +Then did Mr. Kidd, turning to Mr. Brown in perplexity, inquire with many +redundant words what it all meant. + +[Illustration: "Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen. "Where?"] + +"He must 'ave gone on by 'imself," said Mr. Brown. "We'd better go and +see." + +In a state of some disorder they hurried back to Wapping, and, mounting +the stairs to Mrs. Gibbs's room, found the door fast. To their fervent +and repeated knocking there was no answer. + +"Ah, you won't make her 'ear," said a woman, thrusting an untidy head +over the balusters on the next landing. "She's gone." + +"Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen. "Where?" + +"Canada," said the woman. "She went off this morning." + +Mr. Kidd leaned up against the wall for support; Mr. Brown stood open- +mouthed and voiceless. + +"It was a surprise to me," said the woman, "but she told me this morning +she's been getting ready on the quiet for the last fortnight. Good +spirits she was in, too; laughing like anything." + +"Laughing!" repeated Mr. Kidd, in a terrible voice. + +The woman nodded. "And when I spoke about it and reminded 'er that she +'ad only just lost 'er pore husband, I thought she would ha' burst," she +said, severely. "She sat down on that stair and laughed till the tears +ran dowwn 'er face like water." + +Mr. Brown turned a bewildered face upon his partner. "Laughing!" he +said, slowly. "Wot 'ad she got to laugh at?" + +"Two born-fools," replied Mr. Kidd. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Friends In Need, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10562 *** diff --git a/10562-h.zip b/10562-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..67b94a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10562-h.zip diff --git a/10562-h/003.jpg b/10562-h/003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8131c96 --- /dev/null +++ b/10562-h/003.jpg diff --git a/10562-h/004.jpg b/10562-h/004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1daedb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10562-h/004.jpg diff --git a/10562-h/005.jpg b/10562-h/005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..27bbc05 --- /dev/null +++ b/10562-h/005.jpg diff --git a/10562-h/006.jpg b/10562-h/006.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a53d721 --- /dev/null +++ b/10562-h/006.jpg diff --git a/10562-h/10562-h.htm b/10562-h/10562-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fdd45d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10562-h/10562-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1116 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Ship's Company, Book 2</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +img {border: 0;} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Friends In Need, by W.W. Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Friends In Need + Ship's Company, Part 2. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: January 1, 2004 [EBook #10562] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDS IN NEED *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="cover.jpg (139K)" src="cover.jpg" height="899" width="752"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title.jpg (44K)" src="title.jpg" height="736" width="486"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="frontis.jpg (100K)" src="frontis.jpg" height="743" width="494"> +</center> +<br><br> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center> +<h2>BOOK 2</h2> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<h4>FROM DRAWINGS BY WILL OWEN</h4></center> +<br> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + + +<p><a href="#003">"Cheer up," said Mr George Brown</a><br> +<a href="#004">Mr Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for nearly half an hour</a><br> +<a href="#005">"Where is he?" she gasped</a><br> +<a href="#006">"Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen "Where?"</a></p> + + + + + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br><br> +<br><br> + + + + + +<br><br> + +<a name="c2"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h1> +FRIENDS IN NEED +</h1> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>R. Joseph Gibbs finished his half-pint in the private bar of the Red Lion +with the slowness of a man unable to see where the next was coming from, +and, placing the mug on the counter, filled his pipe from a small paper +of tobacco and shook his head slowly at his companions.</p> + +<p>"First I've 'ad since ten o'clock this morning," he said, in a hard +voice.</p> + +<p>"Cheer up," said Mr. George Brown.</p> + + +<a name="003"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="003.jpg (82K)" src="003.jpg" height="510" width="561"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"It can't go on for ever," said Bob Kidd, encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"All I ask for—is work," said Mr. Gibbs, impressively. "Not slavery, +mind yer, but work."</p> + +<p>"It's rather difficult to distinguish," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"'Specially for some people," added Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>"Go on," said Mr. Gibbs, gloomily. "Go on. Stand a man 'arf a pint, and +then go and hurt 'is feelings. Twice yesterday I wondered to myself what +it would feel like to make a hole in the water."</p> + +<p>"Lots o' chaps do do it," said Mr. Brown, musingly.</p> + +<p>"And leave their wives and families to starve," said Mr. Gibbs, icily.</p> + +<p>"Very often the wife is better off," said his friend. "It's one mouth +less for her to feed. Besides, she gen'rally gets something. When pore +old Bill went they 'ad a Friendly Lead at the 'King's Head' and got his +missis pretty nearly seventeen pounds."</p> + +<p>"And I believe we'd get more than that for your old woman," said Mr. +Kidd. "There's no kids, and she could keep 'erself easy. Not that I +want to encourage you to make away with yourself."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs scowled and, tilting his mug, peered gloomily into the +interior.</p> + +<p>"Joe won't make no 'ole in the water," said Mr. Brown, wagging his head. +"If it was beer, now—"</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs turned and, drawing himself up to five feet three, surveyed the +speaker with an offensive stare.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why he need make a 'ole in anything," said Mr. Kidd, slowly. +"It 'ud do just as well if we said he 'ad. Then we could pass the hat +round and share it."</p> + +<p>"Divide it into three halves and each 'ave one," said Mr. Brown, nodding; +"but 'ow is it to be done?"</p> + +<p>"'Ave some more beer and think it over," said Mr. Kidd, pale with +excitement. "Three pints, please."</p> + +<p>He and Mr. Brown took up their pints, and nodded at each other. Mr. +Gibbs, toying idly with the handle of his, eyed them carefully. "Mind, +I'm not promising anything," he said, slowly. "Understand, I ain't +a-committing of myself by drinking this 'ere pint."</p> + +<p>"You leave it to me, Joe," said Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs left it to him after a discussion in which pints played a +persuasive part; with the result that Mr. Brown, sitting in the same bar +the next evening with two or three friends, was rudely disturbed by the +cyclonic entrance of Mr. Kidd, who, dripping with water, sank on a bench +and breathed heavily.</p> + +<p>"What's up? What's the matter?" demanded several voices.</p> + +<p>"It's Joe—poor Joe Gibbs," said Mr. Kidd. "I was on Smith's wharf +shifting that lighter to the next berth, and, o' course Joe must come +aboard to help. He was shoving her off with 'is foot when—"</p> + +<p>He broke off and shuddered and, accepting a mug of beer, pending the +arrival of some brandy that a sympathizer had ordered, drank it slowly.</p> + +<p>"It all 'appened in a flash," he said, looking round. "By the time I 'ad +run round to his end he was just going down for the third time. I hung +over the side and grabbed at 'im, and his collar and tie came off in my +hand. Nearly went in, I did."</p> + +<p>He held out the collar and tie; and approving notice was taken of the +fact that he was soaking wet from the top of his head to the middle +button of his waistcoat.</p> + +<p>"Pore chap!" said the landlord, leaning over the bar. "He was in 'ere +only 'arf an hour ago, standing in this very bar."</p> + +<p>"Well, he's 'ad his last drop o' beer," said a carman in a chastened +voice.</p> + +<p>"That's more than anybody can say," said the landlord, sharply. "I never +heard anything against the man; he's led a good life so far as I know, +and 'ow can we tell that he won't 'ave beer?"</p> + +<p>He made Mr. Kidd a present of another small glass of brandy.</p> + +<p>"He didn't leave any family, did he?" he inquired, as he passed it over.</p> + +<p>"Only a wife," said Mr. Kidd; "and who's to tell that pore soul I don't +know. She fair doated on 'im. 'Ow she's to live I don't know. I shall +do what I can for 'er."</p> + +<p>"Same 'ere," said Mr. Brown, in a deep voice.</p> + +<p>"Something ought to be done for 'er," said the carman, as he went out.</p> + +<p>"First thing is to tell the police," said the landlord. "They ought to +know; then p'r'aps one of them'll tell her. It's what they're paid for."</p> + +<p>"It's so awfully sudden. I don't know where I am 'ardly," said Mr. Kidd. +"I don't believe she's got a penny-piece in the 'ouse. Pore Joe 'ad a +lot o' pals. I wonder whether we could'nt get up something for her."</p> + +<p>"Go round and tell the police first," said the landlord, pursing up his +lips thoughtfully. "We can talk about that later on."</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd thanked him warmly and withdrew, accompanied by Mr. Brown. +Twenty minutes later they left the station, considerably relieved at the +matter-of-fact way in which the police had received the tidings, and, +hurrying across London Bridge, made their way towards a small figure +supporting its back against a post in the Borough market.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Mr. Gibbs, snappishly, as he turned at the sound of their +footsteps.</p> + +<p>"It'll be all right, Joe," said Mr. Kidd. "We've sowed the seed."</p> + +<p>"Sowed the wot?" demanded the other.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd explained.</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said Mr. Gibbs. "An' while your precious seed is a-coming up, wot +am I to do? Wot about my comfortable 'ome? Wot about my bed and grub?"</p> + +<p>His two friends looked at each other uneasily. In the excitement of the +arrangements they had for gotten these things, and a long and sometimes +painful experience of Mr. Gibbs showed them only too plainly where they +were drifting.</p> + +<p>"You'll 'ave to get a bed this side o' the river somewhere," said Mr. +Brown, slowly. "Coffee-shop or something; and a smart, active man wot +keeps his eyes open can always pick up a little money."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs laughed.</p> + +<p>"And mind," said Mr. Kidd, furiously, in reply to the laugh, "anything we +lend you is to be paid back out of your half when you get it. And, wot's +more, you don't get a ha'penny till you've come into a barber's shop and +'ad them whiskers off. We don't want no accidents."</p> + +<a name="004"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="004.jpg (91K)" src="004.jpg" height="648" width="566"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>Mr. Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for his whiskers for +nearly half an hour, and at the end of that time was led into a barber's, +and in a state of sullen indignation proffered his request for a "clean" +shave. He gazed at the bare-faced creature that confronted him in the +glass after the operation in open-eyed consternation, and Messrs. Kidd +and Brown's politeness easily gave way before their astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Well, I may as well have a 'air-cut while I'm here," said Mr. Gibbs, +after a lengthy survey.</p> + +<p>"And a shampoo, sir?" said the assistant.</p> + +<p>"Just as you like," said Mr. Gibbs, turning a deaf ear to the frenzied +expostulations of his financial backers. "Wot is it?"</p> + + +<p>He sat in amazed discomfort during the operation, and emerging with his +friends remarked that he felt half a stone lighter. The information was +received in stony silence, and, having spent some time in the selection, +they found a quiet public-house, and in a retired corner formed +themselves into a Committee of Ways and Means.</p> + +<p>"That'll do for you to go on with," said Mr. Kidd, after he and Mr. Brown +had each made a contribution; "and, mind, it's coming off of your share."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs nodded. "And any evening you want to see me you'll find me in +here," he remarked. "Beer's ripping. Now you'd better go and see my old +woman."</p> + +<p>The two friends departed, and, to their great relief, found a little knot +of people outside the abode of Mrs. Gibbs. It was clear that the news +had been already broken, and, pushing their way upstairs, they found the +widow with a damp handkerchief in her hand surrounded by attentive +friends. In feeble accents she thanked Mr. Kidd for his noble attempts +at rescue.</p> + +<p>"He ain't dry yet," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"I done wot I could," said Mr. Kidd, simply. "Pore Joe! Nobody could +ha' had a better pal. Nobody!"</p> + +<p>"Always ready to lend a helping 'and to them as was in trouble, he was," +said Mr. Brown, looking round.</p> + +<p>"'Ear, 'ear!" said a voice.</p> + +<p>"And we'll lend 'im a helping 'and," said Mr. Kidd, energetically. "We +can't do 'im no good, pore chap, but we can try and do something for 'er +as is left behind."</p> + +<p>He moved slowly to the door, accompanied by Mr. Brown, and catching the +eye of one or two of the men beckoned them to follow. Under his able +guidance a small but gradually increasing crowd made its way to the "Red +Lion." For the next three or four days the friends worked unceasingly. +Cards stating that a Friendly Lead would be held at the "Red Lion," for +the benefit of the widow of the late Mr. Joseph Gibbs, were distributed +broadcast; and anecdotes portraying a singularly rare and beautiful +character obtained an even wider circulation. Too late Wapping realized +the benevolent disposition and the kindly but unobtrusive nature that had +departed from it for ever.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs, from his retreat across the water, fully shared his friends' +enthusiasm, but an insane desire—engendered by vanity—to be present at +the function was a source of considerable trouble and annoyance to them. +When he offered to black his face and take part in the entertainment as a +nigger minstrel, Mr. Kidd had to be led outside and kept there until such +time as he could converse in English pure and undefiled.</p> + +<p>"Getting above 'imself, that's wot it is," said Mr. Brown, as they wended +their way home. "He's having too much money out of us to spend; but it +won't be for long now."</p> + +<p>"He's having a lord's life of it, while we're slaving ourselves to +death," grumbled Mr. Kidd. "I never see'im looking so fat and well. By +rights he oughtn't to 'ave the same share as wot we're going to 'ave; he +ain't doing none of the work."</p> + +<p>His ill-humour lasted until the night of the "Lead," which, largely owing +to the presence of a sporting fishmonger who had done well at the races +that day, and some of his friends, realized a sum far beyond the +expectations of the hard-working promoters. The fishmonger led off by +placing a five-pound note in the plate, and the packed audience breathed +so hard that the plate-holder's responsibility began to weigh upon his +spirits. In all, a financial tribute of thirty-seven pounds three and +fourpence was paid to the memory of the late Mr. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>"Over twelve quid apiece," said the delighted Mr. Kidd as he bade his +co-worker good night. "Sounds too good to be true."</p> + +<p>The next day passed all too slowly, but work was over at last, and Mr. +Kidd led the way over London Bridge a yard or two ahead of the more +phlegmatic Mr. Brown. Mr. Gibbs was in his old corner at the +"Wheelwright's Arms," and, instead of going into ecstasies over the sum +realized, hinted darkly that it would have been larger if he had been +allowed to have had a hand in it.</p> + +<p>"It'll 'ardly pay me for my trouble," he said, shaking his head. "It's +very dull over 'ere all alone by myself. By the time you two have 'ad +your share, besides taking wot I owe you, there'll be 'ardly anything +left."</p> + +<p>"I'll talk to you another time," said Mr. Kidd, regarding him fixedly. +"Wot you've got to do now is to come acrost the river with us."</p> + +<p>"What for?" demanded Mr. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>"We're going to break the joyful news to your old woman that you're alive +afore she starts spending money wot isn't hers," said Mr. Kidd. "And we +want you to be close by in case she don't believe us.</p> + +<p>"Well, do it gentle, mind," said the fond husband. "We don't want 'er +screaming, or anything o' that sort. I know 'er better than wot you do, +and my advice to you is to go easy."</p> + +<p>He walked along by the side of them, and, after some demur, consented, as +a further disguise, to put on a pair of spectacles, for which Mr. Kidd's +wife's mother had been hunting high and low since eight o'clock that +morning.</p> + +<p>"You doddle about 'ere for ten minutes," said Mr. Kidd, as they reached +the Monument, "and then foller on. When you pass a lamp-post 'old your +handkerchief up to your face. And wait for us at the corner of your road +till we come for you."</p> + +<p>He went off at a brisk pace with Mr. Brown, a pace moderated to one of +almost funeral solemnity as they approached the residence of Mrs. Gibbs. +To their relief she was alone, and after the usual amenities thanked them +warmly for all they had done for her.</p> + +<p>"I'd do more than that for pore Joe," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"They—they 'aven't found 'im yet?" said the widow.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd shook his head. "My idea is they won't find 'im," he said, +slowly.</p> + +<p>"Went down on the ebb tide," explained Mr. Brown; and spoilt Mr. Kidd's +opening.</p> + +<p>"Wherever he is 'e's better off," said Mrs. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>"No more trouble about being out o' work; no more worry; no more pain. +We've all got to go some day.</p> + +<p>"Yes," began Mr. Kidd; "but—</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't wish 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs; "that would be +sinful."</p> + +<p>"But 'ow if he wanted to come back?" said Mr. Kidd, playing for an +opening.</p> + +<p>"And 'elp you spend that money," said Mr. Brown, ignoring the scowls of +his friend.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gibbs looked bewildered. "Spend the money?" she began.</p> + +<p>"Suppose," said Mr. Kidd, "suppose he wasn't drownded after all? Only +last night I dreamt he was alive."</p> + +<p>"So did I," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"He was smiling at me," said Mr. Kidd, in a tender voice. "'Bob,' he +ses, 'go and tell my pore missis that I'm alive,' he ses; 'break it to +'er gentle.'"</p> + +<p>"It's the very words he said to me in my dream," said Mr. Brown. "Bit +strange, ain't it?"</p> + +<p>"Very," said Mrs. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," said Mr. Kidd, after a pause, "I suppose you haven't been +dreaming about 'im?"</p> + +<p>"No; I'm a teetotaller," said the widow.</p> + +<p>The two gentlemen exchanged glances, and Mr. Kidd, ever of an impulsive +nature, resolved to bring matters to a head.</p> + +<p>"Wot would you do if Joe was to come in 'ere at this door?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Scream the house down," said the widow, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Scream—scream the 'ouse down?" said the distressed Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gibbs nodded. "I should go screaming, raving mad," she said, with +conviction.</p> + +<p>"But—but not if 'e was alive!" said Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you're driving at," said Mrs. Gibbs. "Why don't you +speak out plain? Poor Joe is drownded, you know that; you saw it all, +and yet you come talking to me about dreams and things."</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd bent over her and put his hand affectionately on her shoulder. +"He escaped," he said, in a thrilling whisper. "He's alive and well."</p> + +<p>"WHAT?" said Mrs. Gibbs, starting back.</p> + +<p>"True as I stand 'ere," said Mr. Kidd; "ain't it, George?"</p> + +<p>"Truer," said Mr. Brown, loyally.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gibbs leaned back, gasping. "Alive!" she said. "But 'ow? 'Ow can +he be?"</p> + +<p>"Don't make such a noise," said Mr. Kidd, earnestly. "Mind, if anybody +else gets to 'ear of it you'll 'ave to give that money back."</p> + +<p>"I'd give more than that to get 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs, wildly. "I +believe you're deceiving me."</p> + +<p>"True as I stand 'ere," asseverated the other. "He's only a minute or +two off, and if it wasn't for you screaming I'd go out and fetch 'im in."</p> + +<p>"I won't scream," said Mrs. Gibbs, "not if I know it's flesh and blood. +Oh, where is he? Why don't you bring 'im in? Let me go to 'im."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Mr. Kidd, with a satisfied smile at Mr. Brown; "all in +good time. I'll go and fetch 'im now; but, mind, if you scream you'll +spoil everything."</p> + +<p>He bustled cheerfully out of the room and downstairs, and Mrs. Gibbs, +motioning Mr. Brown to silence, stood by the door with parted lips, +waiting. Three or four minutes elapsed.</p> + +<p>"'Ere they come," said Mr. Brown, as footsteps sounded on the stairs. +"Now, no screaming, mind!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gibbs drew back, and, to the gratification of all concerned, did not +utter a sound as Mr. Kidd, followed by her husband, entered the room. +She stood looking expectantly towards the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?" she gasped.</p> + + +<a name="005"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="005.jpg (146K)" src="005.jpg" height="578" width="798"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"Eh?" said Mr. Kidd, in a startled voice. "Why here. Don't you know +'im?"</p> + +<p>"It's me, Susan," said Mr. Gibbs, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I might 'ave known it was a joke," cried Mrs. Gibbs, in a faint +voice, as she tottered to a chair. "Oh,'ow cruel of you to tell me my +pore Joe was alive! Oh, 'ow could you?"</p> + +<p>"Lor' lumme," said the incensed Mr. Kidd, pushing Mr. Gibbs forward. +"Here he is. Same as you saw 'im last, except for 'is whiskers. Don't +make that sobbing noise; people'll be coming in."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh! Oh! Take 'im away," cried Mrs. Gibbs. "Go and play your +tricks with somebody else's broken 'art."</p> + +<p>"But it's your husband," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Take 'im away," wailed Mrs. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd, grinding his teeth, tried to think. "'Ave you got any marks on +your body, Joe?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"I ain't got a mark on me," said Mr. Gibbs with a satisfied air, "or a +blemish. My skin is as whi—"</p> + +<p>"That's enough about your skin," interrupted Mr. Kidd, rudely.</p> + +<p>"If you ain't all of you gone before I count ten," said Mrs. Gibbs, in a +suppressed voice, "I'll scream. 'Ow dare you come into a respectable +woman's place and talk about your skins? Are you going? One! Two! +Three! Four! Five!"</p> + +<p>Her voice rose with each numeral; and Mr. Gibbs himself led the way +downstairs, and, followed by his friends, slipped nimbly round the +corner.</p> + +<p>"It's a wonder she didn't rouse the whole 'ouse," he said, wiping his +brow on his sleeve; "and where should we ha' been then? I thought at the +time it was a mistake you making me 'ave my whiskers off, but I let you +know best. She's never seen me without 'em. I 'ad a remarkable strong +growth when I was quite a boy. While other boys was—"</p> + +<p>"Shut-up!" vociferated Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>"Sha'n't!" said Mr. Gibbs, defiantly. "I've 'ad enough of being away +from my comfortable little 'ome and my wife; and I'm going to let 'em +start growing agin this very night. She'll never reckernize me without +'em, that's certain."</p> + +<p>"He's right, Bob," said Mr. Brown, with conviction.</p> + +<p>"D'ye mean to tell me we've got to wait till 'is blasted whiskers grow?" +cried Mr. Kidd, almost dancing with fury. "And go on keeping 'im in +idleness till they do?"</p> + +<p>"You'll get it all back out o' my share," said Mr. Gibbs, with dignity. +"But you can please yourself. If you like to call it quits now, I don't +mind."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown took his seething friend aside, and conferred with him in low +but earnest tones. Mr. Gibbs, with an indifferent air, stood by +whistling softly.</p> + +<p>"'Ow long will they take to grow?" inquired Mr. Kidd, turning to him +with a growl.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs shrugged his shoulders. "Can't say," he replied; "but I should +think two or three weeks would be enough for 'er to reckernize me by. If +she don't, we must wait another week or so, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Well, there won't be much o' your share left, mind that," said Mr. Kidd, +glowering at him.</p> + +<p>"I can't help it," said Mr. Gibbs. "You needn't keep reminding me of +it."</p> + +<p>They walked the rest of the way in silence; and for the next fortnight +Mr. Gibbs's friends paid nightly visits to note the change in his +appearance, and grumble at its slowness.</p> + +<p>"We'll try and pull it off to-morrow night," said Mr. Kidd, at the end of +that period. "I'm fair sick o' lending you money."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs shook his head and spoke sagely about not spoiling the ship for +a ha'porth o' tar; but Mr. Kidd was obdurate.</p> + +<p>"There's enough for 'er to reckernize you by," he said, sternly, "and we +don't want other people to. Meet us at the Monument at eight o'clock +to-morrow night, and we'll get it over."</p> + +<p>"Give your orders," said Mr. Gibbs, in a nasty voice.</p> + +<p>"Keep your 'at well over your eyes," commanded Mr. Kidd, sternly. "Put +them spectacles on wot I lent you, and it wouldn't be a bad idea if you +tied your face up in a piece o' red flannel."</p> + +<p>"I know wot I'm going to do without you telling me," said Mr. Gibbs, +nodding. "I'll bet you pots round that you don't either of you +reckernize me tomorrow night."</p> + +<p>The bet was taken at once, and from eight o'clock until ten minutes to +nine the following night Messrs. Kidd and Brown did their best to win it. +Then did Mr. Kidd, turning to Mr. Brown in perplexity, inquire with many +redundant words what it all meant.</p> + + +<p>"He must 'ave gone on by 'imself," said Mr. Brown. "We'd better go and +see."</p> + +<p>In a state of some disorder they hurried back to Wapping, and, mounting +the stairs to Mrs. Gibbs's room, found the door fast. To their fervent +and repeated knocking there was no answer.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you won't make her 'ear," said a woman, thrusting an untidy head +over the balusters on the next landing. "She's gone."</p> + +<p>"Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen. "Where?"</p> + + +<a name="006"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="006.jpg (83K)" src="006.jpg" height="636" width="567"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"Canada," said the woman. "She went off this morning."</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd leaned up against the wall for support; Mr. Brown stood open- +mouthed and voiceless.</p> + +<p>"It was a surprise to me," said the woman, "but she told me this morning +she's been getting ready on the quiet for the last fortnight. Good +spirits she was in, too; laughing like anything."</p> + +<p>"Laughing!" repeated Mr. Kidd, in a terrible voice.</p> + +<p>The woman nodded. "And when I spoke about it and reminded 'er that she +'ad only just lost 'er pore husband, I thought she would ha' burst," she +said, severely. "She sat down on that stair and laughed till the tears +ran dowwn 'er face like water."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown turned a bewildered face upon his partner. "Laughing!" he +said, slowly. "Wot 'ad she got to laugh at?"</p> + +<p>"Two born-fools," replied Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<br><br> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Friends In Need, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDS IN NEED *** + +***** This file should be named 10562-h.htm or 10562-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/5/6/10562/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Friends In Need + Ship's Company, Part 2. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: January 1, 2004 [EBook #10562] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDS IN NEED *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +SHIP'S COMPANY + +By W.W. Jacobs + + + +FRIENDS IN NEED + + +R. Joseph Gibbs finished his half-pint in the private bar of the Red Lion +with the slowness of a man unable to see where the next was coming from, +and, placing the mug on the counter, filled his pipe from a small paper +of tobacco and shook his head slowly at his companions. + +"First I've 'ad since ten o'clock this morning," he said, in a hard +voice. + +"Cheer up," said Mr. George Brown. + +"It can't go on for ever," said Bob Kidd, encouragingly. + +"All I ask for--is work," said Mr. Gibbs, impressively. "Not slavery, +mind yer, but work." + +"It's rather difficult to distinguish," said Mr. Brown. + +"'Specially for some people," added Mr. Kidd. + +"Go on," said Mr. Gibbs, gloomily. "Go on. Stand a man 'arf a pint, and +then go and hurt 'is feelings. Twice yesterday I wondered to myself what +it would feel like to make a hole in the water." + +"Lots o' chaps do do it," said Mr. Brown, musingly. + +"And leave their wives and families to starve," said Mr. Gibbs, icily. + +"Very often the wife is better off," said his friend. "It's one mouth +less for her to feed. Besides, she gen'rally gets something. When pore +old Bill went they 'ad a Friendly Lead at the 'King's Head' and got his +missis pretty nearly seventeen pounds." + +"And I believe we'd get more than that for your old woman," said Mr. +Kidd. "There's no kids, and she could keep 'erself easy. Not that I +want to encourage you to make away with yourself." + +Mr. Gibbs scowled and, tilting his mug, peered gloomily into the +interior. + +"Joe won't make no 'ole in the water," said Mr. Brown, wagging his head. +"If it was beer, now--" + +Mr. Gibbs turned and, drawing himself up to five feet three, surveyed the +speaker with an offensive stare. + +"I don't see why he need make a 'ole in anything," said Mr. Kidd, slowly. +"It 'ud do just as well if we said he 'ad. Then we could pass the hat +round and share it." + +"Divide it into three halves and each 'ave one," said Mr. Brown, nodding; +"but 'ow is it to be done?" + +"'Ave some more beer and think it over," said Mr. Kidd, pale with +excitement. "Three pints, please." + +He and Mr. Brown took up their pints, and nodded at each other. Mr. +Gibbs, toying idly with the handle of his, eyed them carefully. "Mind, +I'm not promising anything," he said, slowly. "Understand, I ain't +a-committing of myself by drinking this 'ere pint." + +"You leave it to me, Joe," said Mr. Kidd. + +Mr. Gibbs left it to him after a discussion in which pints played a +persuasive part; with the result that Mr. Brown, sitting in the same bar +the next evening with two or three friends, was rudely disturbed by the +cyclonic entrance of Mr. Kidd, who, dripping with water, sank on a bench +and breathed heavily. + +"What's up? What's the matter?" demanded several voices. + +"It's Joe--poor Joe Gibbs," said Mr. Kidd. "I was on Smith's wharf +shifting that lighter to the next berth, and, o' course Joe must come +aboard to help. He was shoving her off with 'is foot when--" + +He broke off and shuddered and, accepting a mug of beer, pending the +arrival of some brandy that a sympathizer had ordered, drank it slowly. + +"It all 'appened in a flash," he said, looking round. "By the time I 'ad +run round to his end he was just going down for the third time. I hung +over the side and grabbed at 'im, and his collar and tie came off in my +hand. Nearly went in, I did." + +He held out the collar and tie; and approving notice was taken of the +fact that he was soaking wet from the top of his head to the middle +button of his waistcoat. + +"Pore chap!" said the landlord, leaning over the bar. "He was in 'ere +only 'arf an hour ago, standing in this very bar." + +"Well, he's 'ad his last drop o' beer," said a carman in a chastened +voice. + +"That's more than anybody can say," said the landlord, sharply. "I never +heard anything against the man; he's led a good life so far as I know, +and 'ow can we tell that he won't 'ave beer?" + +He made Mr. Kidd a present of another small glass of brandy. + +"He didn't leave any family, did he?" he inquired, as he passed it over. + +"Only a wife," said Mr. Kidd; "and who's to tell that pore soul I don't +know. She fair doated on 'im. 'Ow she's to live I don't know. I shall +do what I can for 'er." + +"Same 'ere," said Mr. Brown, in a deep voice. + +"Something ought to be done for 'er," said the carman, as he went out. + +"First thing is to tell the police," said the landlord. "They ought to +know; then p'r'aps one of them'll tell her. It's what they're paid for." + +"It's so awfully sudden. I don't know where I am 'ardly," said Mr. Kidd. +"I don't believe she's got a penny-piece in the 'ouse. Pore Joe 'ad a +lot o' pals. I wonder whether we could'nt get up something for her." + +"Go round and tell the police first," said the landlord, pursing up his +lips thoughtfully. "We can talk about that later on." + +Mr. Kidd thanked him warmly and withdrew, accompanied by Mr. Brown. +Twenty minutes later they left the station, considerably relieved at the +matter-of-fact way in which the police had received the tidings, and, +hurrying across London Bridge, made their way towards a small figure +supporting its back against a post in the Borough market. + +"Well?" said Mr. Gibbs, snappishly, as he turned at the sound of their +footsteps. + +"It'll be all right, Joe," said Mr. Kidd. "We've sowed the seed." + +"Sowed the wot?" demanded the other. + +Mr. Kidd explained. + +"Ho!" said Mr. Gibbs. "An' while your precious seed is a-coming up, wot +am I to do? Wot about my comfortable 'ome? Wot about my bed and grub?" + +His two friends looked at each other uneasily. In the excitement of the +arrangements they had for gotten these things, and a long and sometimes +painful experience of Mr. Gibbs showed them only too plainly where they +were drifting. + +"You'll 'ave to get a bed this side o' the river somewhere," said Mr. +Brown, slowly. "Coffee-shop or something; and a smart, active man wot +keeps his eyes open can always pick up a little money." + +Mr. Gibbs laughed. + +"And mind," said Mr. Kidd, furiously, in reply to the laugh, "anything we +lend you is to be paid back out of your half when you get it. And, wot's +more, you don't get a ha'penny till you've come into a barber's shop and +'ad them whiskers off. We don't want no accidents." + +Mr. Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for his whiskers for +nearly half an hour, and at the end of that time was led into a barber's, +and in a state of sullen indignation proffered his request for a "clean" +shave. He gazed at the bare-faced creature that confronted him in the +glass after the operation in open-eyed consternation, and Messrs. Kidd +and Brown's politeness easily gave way before their astonishment. + +"Well, I may as well have a 'air-cut while I'm here," said Mr. Gibbs, +after a lengthy survey. + +"And a shampoo, sir?" said the assistant. + +"Just as you like," said Mr. Gibbs, turning a deaf ear to the frenzied +expostulations of his financial backers. "Wot is it?" + +[Illustration: Mr. Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for +nearly half an hour] + +He sat in amazed discomfort during the operation, and emerging with his +friends remarked that he felt half a stone lighter. The information was +received in stony silence, and, having spent some time in the selection, +they found a quiet public-house, and in a retired corner formed +themselves into a Committee of Ways and Means. + +"That'll do for you to go on with," said Mr. Kidd, after he and Mr. Brown +had each made a contribution; "and, mind, it's coming off of your share." + +Mr. Gibbs nodded. "And any evening you want to see me you'll find me in +here," he remarked. "Beer's ripping. Now you'd better go and see my old +woman." + +The two friends departed, and, to their great relief, found a little knot +of people outside the abode of Mrs. Gibbs. It was clear that the news +had been already broken, and, pushing their way upstairs, they found the +widow with a damp handkerchief in her hand surrounded by attentive +friends. In feeble accents she thanked Mr. Kidd for his noble attempts +at rescue. + +"He ain't dry yet," said Mr. Brown. + +"I done wot I could," said Mr. Kidd, simply. "Pore Joe! Nobody could +ha' had a better pal. Nobody!" + +"Always ready to lend a helping 'and to them as was in trouble, he was," +said Mr. Brown, looking round. + +"'Ear, 'ear!" said a voice. + +"And we'll lend 'im a helping 'and," said Mr. Kidd, energetically. "We +can't do 'im no good, pore chap, but we can try and do something for 'er +as is left behind." + +He moved slowly to the door, accompanied by Mr. Brown, and catching the +eye of one or two of the men beckoned them to follow. Under his able +guidance a small but gradually increasing crowd made its way to the "Red +Lion." For the next three or four days the friends worked unceasingly. +Cards stating that a Friendly Lead would be held at the "Red Lion," for +the benefit of the widow of the late Mr. Joseph Gibbs, were distributed +broadcast; and anecdotes portraying a singularly rare and beautiful +character obtained an even wider circulation. Too late Wapping realized +the benevolent disposition and the kindly but unobtrusive nature that had +departed from it for ever. + +Mr. Gibbs, from his retreat across the water, fully shared his friends' +enthusiasm, but an insane desire--engendered by vanity--to be present at +the function was a source of considerable trouble and annoyance to them. +When he offered to black his face and take part in the entertainment as a +nigger minstrel, Mr. Kidd had to be led outside and kept there until such +time as he could converse in English pure and undefiled. + +"Getting above 'imself, that's wot it is," said Mr. Brown, as they wended +their way home. "He's having too much money out of us to spend; but it +won't be for long now." + +"He's having a lord's life of it, while we're slaving ourselves to +death," grumbled Mr. Kidd. "I never see'im looking so fat and well. By +rights he oughtn't to 'ave the same share as wot we're going to 'ave; he +ain't doing none of the work." + +His ill-humour lasted until the night of the "Lead," which, largely owing +to the presence of a sporting fishmonger who had done well at the races +that day, and some of his friends, realized a sum far beyond the +expectations of the hard-working promoters. The fishmonger led off by +placing a five-pound note in the plate, and the packed audience breathed +so hard that the plate-holder's responsibility began to weigh upon his +spirits. In all, a financial tribute of thirty-seven pounds three and +fourpence was paid to the memory of the late Mr. Gibbs. + +"Over twelve quid apiece," said the delighted Mr. Kidd as he bade his +co-worker good night. "Sounds too good to be true." + +The next day passed all too slowly, but work was over at last, and Mr. +Kidd led the way over London Bridge a yard or two ahead of the more +phlegmatic Mr. Brown. Mr. Gibbs was in his old corner at the +"Wheelwright's Arms," and, instead of going into ecstasies over the sum +realized, hinted darkly that it would have been larger if he had been +allowed to have had a hand in it. + +"It'll 'ardly pay me for my trouble," he said, shaking his head. "It's +very dull over 'ere all alone by myself. By the time you two have 'ad +your share, besides taking wot I owe you, there'll be 'ardly anything +left." + +"I'll talk to you another time," said Mr. Kidd, regarding him fixedly. +"Wot you've got to do now is to come acrost the river with us." + +"What for?" demanded Mr. Gibbs. + +"We're going to break the joyful news to your old woman that you're alive +afore she starts spending money wot isn't hers," said Mr. Kidd. "And we +want you to be close by in case she don't believe us. + +"Well, do it gentle, mind," said the fond husband. "We don't want 'er +screaming, or anything o' that sort. I know 'er better than wot you do, +and my advice to you is to go easy." + +He walked along by the side of them, and, after some demur, consented, as +a further disguise, to put on a pair of spectacles, for which Mr. Kidd's +wife's mother had been hunting high and low since eight o'clock that +morning. + +"You doddle about 'ere for ten minutes," said Mr. Kidd, as they reached +the Monument, "and then foller on. When you pass a lamp-post 'old your +handkerchief up to your face. And wait for us at the corner of your road +till we come for you." + +He went off at a brisk pace with Mr. Brown, a pace moderated to one of +almost funeral solemnity as they approached the residence of Mrs. Gibbs. +To their relief she was alone, and after the usual amenities thanked them +warmly for all they had done for her. + +"I'd do more than that for pore Joe," said Mr. Brown. + +"They--they 'aven't found 'im yet?" said the widow. + +Mr. Kidd shook his head. "My idea is they won't find 'im," he said, +slowly. + +"Went down on the ebb tide," explained Mr. Brown; and spoilt Mr. Kidd's +opening. + +"Wherever he is 'e's better off," said Mrs. Gibbs. + +"No more trouble about being out o' work; no more worry; no more pain. +We've all got to go some day. + +"Yes," began Mr. Kidd; "but-- + +"I'm sure I don't wish 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs; "that would be +sinful." + +"But 'ow if he wanted to come back?" said Mr. Kidd, playing for an +opening. + +"And 'elp you spend that money," said Mr. Brown, ignoring the scowls of +his friend. + +Mrs. Gibbs looked bewildered. "Spend the money?" she began. + +"Suppose," said Mr. Kidd, "suppose he wasn't drownded after all? Only +last night I dreamt he was alive." + +"So did I," said Mr. Brown. + +"He was smiling at me," said Mr. Kidd, in a tender voice. "'Bob,' he +ses, 'go and tell my pore missis that I'm alive,' he ses; 'break it to +'er gentle.'" + +"It's the very words he said to me in my dream," said Mr. Brown. "Bit +strange, ain't it?" + +"Very," said Mrs. Gibbs. + +"I suppose," said Mr. Kidd, after a pause, "I suppose you haven't been +dreaming about 'im?" + +"No; I'm a teetotaller," said the widow. + +The two gentlemen exchanged glances, and Mr. Kidd, ever of an impulsive +nature, resolved to bring matters to a head. + +"Wot would you do if Joe was to come in 'ere at this door?" he asked. + +"Scream the house down," said the widow, promptly. + +"Scream--scream the 'ouse down?" said the distressed Mr. Kidd. + +Mrs. Gibbs nodded. "I should go screaming, raving mad," she said, with +conviction. + +"But--but not if 'e was alive!" said Mr. Kidd. + +"I don't know what you're driving at," said Mrs. Gibbs. "Why don't you +speak out plain? Poor Joe is drownded, you know that; you saw it all, +and yet you come talking to me about dreams and things." + +Mr. Kidd bent over her and put his hand affectionately on her shoulder. +"He escaped," he said, in a thrilling whisper. "He's alive and well." + +"WHAT?" said Mrs. Gibbs, starting back. + +"True as I stand 'ere," said Mr. Kidd; "ain't it, George?" + +"Truer," said Mr. Brown, loyally. + +Mrs. Gibbs leaned back, gasping. "Alive!" she said. "But 'ow? 'Ow can +he be?" + +"Don't make such a noise," said Mr. Kidd, earnestly. "Mind, if anybody +else gets to 'ear of it you'll 'ave to give that money back." + +"I'd give more than that to get 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs, wildly. "I +believe you're deceiving me." + +"True as I stand 'ere," asseverated the other. "He's only a minute or +two off, and if it wasn't for you screaming I'd go out and fetch 'im in." + +"I won't scream," said Mrs. Gibbs, "not if I know it's flesh and blood. +Oh, where is he? Why don't you bring 'im in? Let me go to 'im." + +"All right," said Mr. Kidd, with a satisfied smile at Mr. Brown; "all in +good time. I'll go and fetch 'im now; but, mind, if you scream you'll +spoil everything." + +He bustled cheerfully out of the room and downstairs, and Mrs. Gibbs, +motioning Mr. Brown to silence, stood by the door with parted lips, +waiting. Three or four minutes elapsed. + +"'Ere they come," said Mr. Brown, as footsteps sounded on the stairs. +"Now, no screaming, mind!" + +Mrs. Gibbs drew back, and, to the gratification of all concerned, did not +utter a sound as Mr. Kidd, followed by her husband, entered the room. +She stood looking expectantly towards the doorway. + +"Where is he?" she gasped. + +"Eh?" said Mr. Kidd, in a startled voice. "Why here. Don't you know +'im?" + +"It's me, Susan," said Mr. Gibbs, in a low voice. + +"Oh, I might 'ave known it was a joke," cried Mrs. Gibbs, in a faint +voice, as she tottered to a chair. "Oh,'ow cruel of you to tell me my +pore Joe was alive! Oh, 'ow could you?" + +"Lor' lumme," said the incensed Mr. Kidd, pushing Mr. Gibbs forward. +"Here he is. Same as you saw 'im last, except for 'is whiskers. Don't +make that sobbing noise; people'll be coming in." + +"Oh! Oh! Oh! Take 'im away," cried Mrs. Gibbs. "Go and play your +tricks with somebody else's broken 'art." + +"But it's your husband," said Mr. Brown. + +"Take 'im away," wailed Mrs. Gibbs. + +Mr. Kidd, grinding his teeth, tried to think. "'Ave you got any marks on +your body, Joe?" he inquired. + +"I ain't got a mark on me," said Mr. Gibbs with a satisfied air, "or a +blemish. My skin is as whi--" + +"That's enough about your skin," interrupted Mr. Kidd, rudely. + +"If you ain't all of you gone before I count ten," said Mrs. Gibbs, in a +suppressed voice, "I'll scream. 'Ow dare you come into a respectable +woman's place and talk about your skins? Are you going? One! Two! +Three! Four! Five!" + +Her voice rose with each numeral; and Mr. Gibbs himself led the way +downstairs, and, followed by his friends, slipped nimbly round the +corner. + +"It's a wonder she didn't rouse the whole 'ouse," he said, wiping his +brow on his sleeve; "and where should we ha' been then? I thought at the +time it was a mistake you making me 'ave my whiskers off, but I let you +know best. She's never seen me without 'em. I 'ad a remarkable strong +growth when I was quite a boy. While other boys was--" + +"Shut-up!" vociferated Mr. Kidd. + +"Sha'n't!" said Mr. Gibbs, defiantly. "I've 'ad enough of being away +from my comfortable little 'ome and my wife; and I'm going to let 'em +start growing agin this very night. She'll never reckernize me without +'em, that's certain." + +"He's right, Bob," said Mr. Brown, with conviction. + +"D'ye mean to tell me we've got to wait till 'is blasted whiskers grow?" +cried Mr. Kidd, almost dancing with fury. "And go on keeping 'im in +idleness till they do?" + +"You'll get it all back out o' my share," said Mr. Gibbs, with dignity. +"But you can please yourself. If you like to call it quits now, I don't +mind." + +Mr. Brown took his seething friend aside, and conferred with him in low +but earnest tones. Mr. Gibbs, with an indifferent air, stood by +whistling softly. + +"'Ow long will they take to grow?" inquired Mr. Kidd, turning to him +with a growl. + +Mr. Gibbs shrugged his shoulders. "Can't say," he replied; "but I should +think two or three weeks would be enough for 'er to reckernize me by. If +she don't, we must wait another week or so, that's all." + +"Well, there won't be much o' your share left, mind that," said Mr. Kidd, +glowering at him. + +"I can't help it," said Mr. Gibbs. "You needn't keep reminding me of +it." + +They walked the rest of the way in silence; and for the next fortnight +Mr. Gibbs's friends paid nightly visits to note the change in his +appearance, and grumble at its slowness. + +"We'll try and pull it off to-morrow night," said Mr. Kidd, at the end of +that period. "I'm fair sick o' lending you money." + +Mr. Gibbs shook his head and spoke sagely about not spoiling the ship for +a ha'porth o' tar; but Mr. Kidd was obdurate. + +"There's enough for 'er to reckernize you by," he said, sternly, "and we +don't want other people to. Meet us at the Monument at eight o'clock +to-morrow night, and we'll get it over." + +"Give your orders," said Mr. Gibbs, in a nasty voice. + +"Keep your 'at well over your eyes," commanded Mr. Kidd, sternly. "Put +them spectacles on wot I lent you, and it wouldn't be a bad idea if you +tied your face up in a piece o' red flannel." + +"I know wot I'm going to do without you telling me," said Mr. Gibbs, +nodding. "I'll bet you pots round that you don't either of you +reckernize me tomorrow night." + +The bet was taken at once, and from eight o'clock until ten minutes to +nine the following night Messrs. Kidd and Brown did their best to win it. +Then did Mr. Kidd, turning to Mr. Brown in perplexity, inquire with many +redundant words what it all meant. + +[Illustration: "Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen. "Where?"] + +"He must 'ave gone on by 'imself," said Mr. Brown. "We'd better go and +see." + +In a state of some disorder they hurried back to Wapping, and, mounting +the stairs to Mrs. Gibbs's room, found the door fast. To their fervent +and repeated knocking there was no answer. + +"Ah, you won't make her 'ear," said a woman, thrusting an untidy head +over the balusters on the next landing. "She's gone." + +"Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen. "Where?" + +"Canada," said the woman. "She went off this morning." + +Mr. Kidd leaned up against the wall for support; Mr. Brown stood open- +mouthed and voiceless. + +"It was a surprise to me," said the woman, "but she told me this morning +she's been getting ready on the quiet for the last fortnight. Good +spirits she was in, too; laughing like anything." + +"Laughing!" repeated Mr. Kidd, in a terrible voice. + +The woman nodded. "And when I spoke about it and reminded 'er that she +'ad only just lost 'er pore husband, I thought she would ha' burst," she +said, severely. "She sat down on that stair and laughed till the tears +ran dowwn 'er face like water." + +Mr. Brown turned a bewildered face upon his partner. "Laughing!" he +said, slowly. "Wot 'ad she got to laugh at?" + +"Two born-fools," replied Mr. Kidd. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Friends In Need, by W.W. 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Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Friends In Need + Ship's Company, Part 2. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: January 1, 2004 [EBook #10562] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDS IN NEED *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="cover.jpg (139K)" src="cover.jpg" height="899" width="752"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title.jpg (44K)" src="title.jpg" height="736" width="486"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="frontis.jpg (100K)" src="frontis.jpg" height="743" width="494"> +</center> +<br><br> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center> +<h2>BOOK 2</h2> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<h4>FROM DRAWINGS BY WILL OWEN</h4></center> +<br> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + + +<p><a href="#003">"Cheer up," said Mr George Brown</a><br> +<a href="#004">Mr Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for nearly half an hour</a><br> +<a href="#005">"Where is he?" she gasped</a><br> +<a href="#006">"Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen "Where?"</a></p> + + + + + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br><br> +<br><br> + + + + + +<br><br> + +<a name="c2"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h1> +FRIENDS IN NEED +</h1> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>R. Joseph Gibbs finished his half-pint in the private bar of the Red Lion +with the slowness of a man unable to see where the next was coming from, +and, placing the mug on the counter, filled his pipe from a small paper +of tobacco and shook his head slowly at his companions.</p> + +<p>"First I've 'ad since ten o'clock this morning," he said, in a hard +voice.</p> + +<p>"Cheer up," said Mr. George Brown.</p> + + +<a name="003"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="003.jpg (82K)" src="003.jpg" height="510" width="561"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"It can't go on for ever," said Bob Kidd, encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"All I ask for—is work," said Mr. Gibbs, impressively. "Not slavery, +mind yer, but work."</p> + +<p>"It's rather difficult to distinguish," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"'Specially for some people," added Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>"Go on," said Mr. Gibbs, gloomily. "Go on. Stand a man 'arf a pint, and +then go and hurt 'is feelings. Twice yesterday I wondered to myself what +it would feel like to make a hole in the water."</p> + +<p>"Lots o' chaps do do it," said Mr. Brown, musingly.</p> + +<p>"And leave their wives and families to starve," said Mr. Gibbs, icily.</p> + +<p>"Very often the wife is better off," said his friend. "It's one mouth +less for her to feed. Besides, she gen'rally gets something. When pore +old Bill went they 'ad a Friendly Lead at the 'King's Head' and got his +missis pretty nearly seventeen pounds."</p> + +<p>"And I believe we'd get more than that for your old woman," said Mr. +Kidd. "There's no kids, and she could keep 'erself easy. Not that I +want to encourage you to make away with yourself."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs scowled and, tilting his mug, peered gloomily into the +interior.</p> + +<p>"Joe won't make no 'ole in the water," said Mr. Brown, wagging his head. +"If it was beer, now—"</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs turned and, drawing himself up to five feet three, surveyed the +speaker with an offensive stare.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why he need make a 'ole in anything," said Mr. Kidd, slowly. +"It 'ud do just as well if we said he 'ad. Then we could pass the hat +round and share it."</p> + +<p>"Divide it into three halves and each 'ave one," said Mr. Brown, nodding; +"but 'ow is it to be done?"</p> + +<p>"'Ave some more beer and think it over," said Mr. Kidd, pale with +excitement. "Three pints, please."</p> + +<p>He and Mr. Brown took up their pints, and nodded at each other. Mr. +Gibbs, toying idly with the handle of his, eyed them carefully. "Mind, +I'm not promising anything," he said, slowly. "Understand, I ain't +a-committing of myself by drinking this 'ere pint."</p> + +<p>"You leave it to me, Joe," said Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs left it to him after a discussion in which pints played a +persuasive part; with the result that Mr. Brown, sitting in the same bar +the next evening with two or three friends, was rudely disturbed by the +cyclonic entrance of Mr. Kidd, who, dripping with water, sank on a bench +and breathed heavily.</p> + +<p>"What's up? What's the matter?" demanded several voices.</p> + +<p>"It's Joe—poor Joe Gibbs," said Mr. Kidd. "I was on Smith's wharf +shifting that lighter to the next berth, and, o' course Joe must come +aboard to help. He was shoving her off with 'is foot when—"</p> + +<p>He broke off and shuddered and, accepting a mug of beer, pending the +arrival of some brandy that a sympathizer had ordered, drank it slowly.</p> + +<p>"It all 'appened in a flash," he said, looking round. "By the time I 'ad +run round to his end he was just going down for the third time. I hung +over the side and grabbed at 'im, and his collar and tie came off in my +hand. Nearly went in, I did."</p> + +<p>He held out the collar and tie; and approving notice was taken of the +fact that he was soaking wet from the top of his head to the middle +button of his waistcoat.</p> + +<p>"Pore chap!" said the landlord, leaning over the bar. "He was in 'ere +only 'arf an hour ago, standing in this very bar."</p> + +<p>"Well, he's 'ad his last drop o' beer," said a carman in a chastened +voice.</p> + +<p>"That's more than anybody can say," said the landlord, sharply. "I never +heard anything against the man; he's led a good life so far as I know, +and 'ow can we tell that he won't 'ave beer?"</p> + +<p>He made Mr. Kidd a present of another small glass of brandy.</p> + +<p>"He didn't leave any family, did he?" he inquired, as he passed it over.</p> + +<p>"Only a wife," said Mr. Kidd; "and who's to tell that pore soul I don't +know. She fair doated on 'im. 'Ow she's to live I don't know. I shall +do what I can for 'er."</p> + +<p>"Same 'ere," said Mr. Brown, in a deep voice.</p> + +<p>"Something ought to be done for 'er," said the carman, as he went out.</p> + +<p>"First thing is to tell the police," said the landlord. "They ought to +know; then p'r'aps one of them'll tell her. It's what they're paid for."</p> + +<p>"It's so awfully sudden. I don't know where I am 'ardly," said Mr. Kidd. +"I don't believe she's got a penny-piece in the 'ouse. Pore Joe 'ad a +lot o' pals. I wonder whether we could'nt get up something for her."</p> + +<p>"Go round and tell the police first," said the landlord, pursing up his +lips thoughtfully. "We can talk about that later on."</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd thanked him warmly and withdrew, accompanied by Mr. Brown. +Twenty minutes later they left the station, considerably relieved at the +matter-of-fact way in which the police had received the tidings, and, +hurrying across London Bridge, made their way towards a small figure +supporting its back against a post in the Borough market.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Mr. Gibbs, snappishly, as he turned at the sound of their +footsteps.</p> + +<p>"It'll be all right, Joe," said Mr. Kidd. "We've sowed the seed."</p> + +<p>"Sowed the wot?" demanded the other.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd explained.</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said Mr. Gibbs. "An' while your precious seed is a-coming up, wot +am I to do? Wot about my comfortable 'ome? Wot about my bed and grub?"</p> + +<p>His two friends looked at each other uneasily. In the excitement of the +arrangements they had for gotten these things, and a long and sometimes +painful experience of Mr. Gibbs showed them only too plainly where they +were drifting.</p> + +<p>"You'll 'ave to get a bed this side o' the river somewhere," said Mr. +Brown, slowly. "Coffee-shop or something; and a smart, active man wot +keeps his eyes open can always pick up a little money."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs laughed.</p> + +<p>"And mind," said Mr. Kidd, furiously, in reply to the laugh, "anything we +lend you is to be paid back out of your half when you get it. And, wot's +more, you don't get a ha'penny till you've come into a barber's shop and +'ad them whiskers off. We don't want no accidents."</p> + +<a name="004"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="004.jpg (91K)" src="004.jpg" height="648" width="566"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>Mr. Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for his whiskers for +nearly half an hour, and at the end of that time was led into a barber's, +and in a state of sullen indignation proffered his request for a "clean" +shave. He gazed at the bare-faced creature that confronted him in the +glass after the operation in open-eyed consternation, and Messrs. Kidd +and Brown's politeness easily gave way before their astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Well, I may as well have a 'air-cut while I'm here," said Mr. Gibbs, +after a lengthy survey.</p> + +<p>"And a shampoo, sir?" said the assistant.</p> + +<p>"Just as you like," said Mr. Gibbs, turning a deaf ear to the frenzied +expostulations of his financial backers. "Wot is it?"</p> + + +<p>He sat in amazed discomfort during the operation, and emerging with his +friends remarked that he felt half a stone lighter. The information was +received in stony silence, and, having spent some time in the selection, +they found a quiet public-house, and in a retired corner formed +themselves into a Committee of Ways and Means.</p> + +<p>"That'll do for you to go on with," said Mr. Kidd, after he and Mr. Brown +had each made a contribution; "and, mind, it's coming off of your share."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs nodded. "And any evening you want to see me you'll find me in +here," he remarked. "Beer's ripping. Now you'd better go and see my old +woman."</p> + +<p>The two friends departed, and, to their great relief, found a little knot +of people outside the abode of Mrs. Gibbs. It was clear that the news +had been already broken, and, pushing their way upstairs, they found the +widow with a damp handkerchief in her hand surrounded by attentive +friends. In feeble accents she thanked Mr. Kidd for his noble attempts +at rescue.</p> + +<p>"He ain't dry yet," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"I done wot I could," said Mr. Kidd, simply. "Pore Joe! Nobody could +ha' had a better pal. Nobody!"</p> + +<p>"Always ready to lend a helping 'and to them as was in trouble, he was," +said Mr. Brown, looking round.</p> + +<p>"'Ear, 'ear!" said a voice.</p> + +<p>"And we'll lend 'im a helping 'and," said Mr. Kidd, energetically. "We +can't do 'im no good, pore chap, but we can try and do something for 'er +as is left behind."</p> + +<p>He moved slowly to the door, accompanied by Mr. Brown, and catching the +eye of one or two of the men beckoned them to follow. Under his able +guidance a small but gradually increasing crowd made its way to the "Red +Lion." For the next three or four days the friends worked unceasingly. +Cards stating that a Friendly Lead would be held at the "Red Lion," for +the benefit of the widow of the late Mr. Joseph Gibbs, were distributed +broadcast; and anecdotes portraying a singularly rare and beautiful +character obtained an even wider circulation. Too late Wapping realized +the benevolent disposition and the kindly but unobtrusive nature that had +departed from it for ever.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs, from his retreat across the water, fully shared his friends' +enthusiasm, but an insane desire—engendered by vanity—to be present at +the function was a source of considerable trouble and annoyance to them. +When he offered to black his face and take part in the entertainment as a +nigger minstrel, Mr. Kidd had to be led outside and kept there until such +time as he could converse in English pure and undefiled.</p> + +<p>"Getting above 'imself, that's wot it is," said Mr. Brown, as they wended +their way home. "He's having too much money out of us to spend; but it +won't be for long now."</p> + +<p>"He's having a lord's life of it, while we're slaving ourselves to +death," grumbled Mr. Kidd. "I never see'im looking so fat and well. By +rights he oughtn't to 'ave the same share as wot we're going to 'ave; he +ain't doing none of the work."</p> + +<p>His ill-humour lasted until the night of the "Lead," which, largely owing +to the presence of a sporting fishmonger who had done well at the races +that day, and some of his friends, realized a sum far beyond the +expectations of the hard-working promoters. The fishmonger led off by +placing a five-pound note in the plate, and the packed audience breathed +so hard that the plate-holder's responsibility began to weigh upon his +spirits. In all, a financial tribute of thirty-seven pounds three and +fourpence was paid to the memory of the late Mr. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>"Over twelve quid apiece," said the delighted Mr. Kidd as he bade his +co-worker good night. "Sounds too good to be true."</p> + +<p>The next day passed all too slowly, but work was over at last, and Mr. +Kidd led the way over London Bridge a yard or two ahead of the more +phlegmatic Mr. Brown. Mr. Gibbs was in his old corner at the +"Wheelwright's Arms," and, instead of going into ecstasies over the sum +realized, hinted darkly that it would have been larger if he had been +allowed to have had a hand in it.</p> + +<p>"It'll 'ardly pay me for my trouble," he said, shaking his head. "It's +very dull over 'ere all alone by myself. By the time you two have 'ad +your share, besides taking wot I owe you, there'll be 'ardly anything +left."</p> + +<p>"I'll talk to you another time," said Mr. Kidd, regarding him fixedly. +"Wot you've got to do now is to come acrost the river with us."</p> + +<p>"What for?" demanded Mr. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>"We're going to break the joyful news to your old woman that you're alive +afore she starts spending money wot isn't hers," said Mr. Kidd. "And we +want you to be close by in case she don't believe us.</p> + +<p>"Well, do it gentle, mind," said the fond husband. "We don't want 'er +screaming, or anything o' that sort. I know 'er better than wot you do, +and my advice to you is to go easy."</p> + +<p>He walked along by the side of them, and, after some demur, consented, as +a further disguise, to put on a pair of spectacles, for which Mr. Kidd's +wife's mother had been hunting high and low since eight o'clock that +morning.</p> + +<p>"You doddle about 'ere for ten minutes," said Mr. Kidd, as they reached +the Monument, "and then foller on. When you pass a lamp-post 'old your +handkerchief up to your face. And wait for us at the corner of your road +till we come for you."</p> + +<p>He went off at a brisk pace with Mr. Brown, a pace moderated to one of +almost funeral solemnity as they approached the residence of Mrs. Gibbs. +To their relief she was alone, and after the usual amenities thanked them +warmly for all they had done for her.</p> + +<p>"I'd do more than that for pore Joe," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"They—they 'aven't found 'im yet?" said the widow.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd shook his head. "My idea is they won't find 'im," he said, +slowly.</p> + +<p>"Went down on the ebb tide," explained Mr. Brown; and spoilt Mr. Kidd's +opening.</p> + +<p>"Wherever he is 'e's better off," said Mrs. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>"No more trouble about being out o' work; no more worry; no more pain. +We've all got to go some day.</p> + +<p>"Yes," began Mr. Kidd; "but—</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't wish 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs; "that would be +sinful."</p> + +<p>"But 'ow if he wanted to come back?" said Mr. Kidd, playing for an +opening.</p> + +<p>"And 'elp you spend that money," said Mr. Brown, ignoring the scowls of +his friend.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gibbs looked bewildered. "Spend the money?" she began.</p> + +<p>"Suppose," said Mr. Kidd, "suppose he wasn't drownded after all? Only +last night I dreamt he was alive."</p> + +<p>"So did I," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"He was smiling at me," said Mr. Kidd, in a tender voice. "'Bob,' he +ses, 'go and tell my pore missis that I'm alive,' he ses; 'break it to +'er gentle.'"</p> + +<p>"It's the very words he said to me in my dream," said Mr. Brown. "Bit +strange, ain't it?"</p> + +<p>"Very," said Mrs. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," said Mr. Kidd, after a pause, "I suppose you haven't been +dreaming about 'im?"</p> + +<p>"No; I'm a teetotaller," said the widow.</p> + +<p>The two gentlemen exchanged glances, and Mr. Kidd, ever of an impulsive +nature, resolved to bring matters to a head.</p> + +<p>"Wot would you do if Joe was to come in 'ere at this door?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Scream the house down," said the widow, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Scream—scream the 'ouse down?" said the distressed Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gibbs nodded. "I should go screaming, raving mad," she said, with +conviction.</p> + +<p>"But—but not if 'e was alive!" said Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you're driving at," said Mrs. Gibbs. "Why don't you +speak out plain? Poor Joe is drownded, you know that; you saw it all, +and yet you come talking to me about dreams and things."</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd bent over her and put his hand affectionately on her shoulder. +"He escaped," he said, in a thrilling whisper. "He's alive and well."</p> + +<p>"WHAT?" said Mrs. Gibbs, starting back.</p> + +<p>"True as I stand 'ere," said Mr. Kidd; "ain't it, George?"</p> + +<p>"Truer," said Mr. Brown, loyally.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gibbs leaned back, gasping. "Alive!" she said. "But 'ow? 'Ow can +he be?"</p> + +<p>"Don't make such a noise," said Mr. Kidd, earnestly. "Mind, if anybody +else gets to 'ear of it you'll 'ave to give that money back."</p> + +<p>"I'd give more than that to get 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs, wildly. "I +believe you're deceiving me."</p> + +<p>"True as I stand 'ere," asseverated the other. "He's only a minute or +two off, and if it wasn't for you screaming I'd go out and fetch 'im in."</p> + +<p>"I won't scream," said Mrs. Gibbs, "not if I know it's flesh and blood. +Oh, where is he? Why don't you bring 'im in? Let me go to 'im."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Mr. Kidd, with a satisfied smile at Mr. Brown; "all in +good time. I'll go and fetch 'im now; but, mind, if you scream you'll +spoil everything."</p> + +<p>He bustled cheerfully out of the room and downstairs, and Mrs. Gibbs, +motioning Mr. Brown to silence, stood by the door with parted lips, +waiting. Three or four minutes elapsed.</p> + +<p>"'Ere they come," said Mr. Brown, as footsteps sounded on the stairs. +"Now, no screaming, mind!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gibbs drew back, and, to the gratification of all concerned, did not +utter a sound as Mr. Kidd, followed by her husband, entered the room. +She stood looking expectantly towards the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?" she gasped.</p> + + +<a name="005"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="005.jpg (146K)" src="005.jpg" height="578" width="798"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"Eh?" said Mr. Kidd, in a startled voice. "Why here. Don't you know +'im?"</p> + +<p>"It's me, Susan," said Mr. Gibbs, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I might 'ave known it was a joke," cried Mrs. Gibbs, in a faint +voice, as she tottered to a chair. "Oh,'ow cruel of you to tell me my +pore Joe was alive! Oh, 'ow could you?"</p> + +<p>"Lor' lumme," said the incensed Mr. Kidd, pushing Mr. Gibbs forward. +"Here he is. Same as you saw 'im last, except for 'is whiskers. Don't +make that sobbing noise; people'll be coming in."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh! Oh! Take 'im away," cried Mrs. Gibbs. "Go and play your +tricks with somebody else's broken 'art."</p> + +<p>"But it's your husband," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Take 'im away," wailed Mrs. Gibbs.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd, grinding his teeth, tried to think. "'Ave you got any marks on +your body, Joe?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"I ain't got a mark on me," said Mr. Gibbs with a satisfied air, "or a +blemish. My skin is as whi—"</p> + +<p>"That's enough about your skin," interrupted Mr. Kidd, rudely.</p> + +<p>"If you ain't all of you gone before I count ten," said Mrs. Gibbs, in a +suppressed voice, "I'll scream. 'Ow dare you come into a respectable +woman's place and talk about your skins? Are you going? One! Two! +Three! Four! Five!"</p> + +<p>Her voice rose with each numeral; and Mr. Gibbs himself led the way +downstairs, and, followed by his friends, slipped nimbly round the +corner.</p> + +<p>"It's a wonder she didn't rouse the whole 'ouse," he said, wiping his +brow on his sleeve; "and where should we ha' been then? I thought at the +time it was a mistake you making me 'ave my whiskers off, but I let you +know best. She's never seen me without 'em. I 'ad a remarkable strong +growth when I was quite a boy. While other boys was—"</p> + +<p>"Shut-up!" vociferated Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<p>"Sha'n't!" said Mr. Gibbs, defiantly. "I've 'ad enough of being away +from my comfortable little 'ome and my wife; and I'm going to let 'em +start growing agin this very night. She'll never reckernize me without +'em, that's certain."</p> + +<p>"He's right, Bob," said Mr. Brown, with conviction.</p> + +<p>"D'ye mean to tell me we've got to wait till 'is blasted whiskers grow?" +cried Mr. Kidd, almost dancing with fury. "And go on keeping 'im in +idleness till they do?"</p> + +<p>"You'll get it all back out o' my share," said Mr. Gibbs, with dignity. +"But you can please yourself. If you like to call it quits now, I don't +mind."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown took his seething friend aside, and conferred with him in low +but earnest tones. Mr. Gibbs, with an indifferent air, stood by +whistling softly.</p> + +<p>"'Ow long will they take to grow?" inquired Mr. Kidd, turning to him +with a growl.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs shrugged his shoulders. "Can't say," he replied; "but I should +think two or three weeks would be enough for 'er to reckernize me by. If +she don't, we must wait another week or so, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Well, there won't be much o' your share left, mind that," said Mr. Kidd, +glowering at him.</p> + +<p>"I can't help it," said Mr. Gibbs. "You needn't keep reminding me of +it."</p> + +<p>They walked the rest of the way in silence; and for the next fortnight +Mr. Gibbs's friends paid nightly visits to note the change in his +appearance, and grumble at its slowness.</p> + +<p>"We'll try and pull it off to-morrow night," said Mr. Kidd, at the end of +that period. "I'm fair sick o' lending you money."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs shook his head and spoke sagely about not spoiling the ship for +a ha'porth o' tar; but Mr. Kidd was obdurate.</p> + +<p>"There's enough for 'er to reckernize you by," he said, sternly, "and we +don't want other people to. Meet us at the Monument at eight o'clock +to-morrow night, and we'll get it over."</p> + +<p>"Give your orders," said Mr. Gibbs, in a nasty voice.</p> + +<p>"Keep your 'at well over your eyes," commanded Mr. Kidd, sternly. "Put +them spectacles on wot I lent you, and it wouldn't be a bad idea if you +tied your face up in a piece o' red flannel."</p> + +<p>"I know wot I'm going to do without you telling me," said Mr. Gibbs, +nodding. "I'll bet you pots round that you don't either of you +reckernize me tomorrow night."</p> + +<p>The bet was taken at once, and from eight o'clock until ten minutes to +nine the following night Messrs. Kidd and Brown did their best to win it. +Then did Mr. Kidd, turning to Mr. Brown in perplexity, inquire with many +redundant words what it all meant.</p> + + +<p>"He must 'ave gone on by 'imself," said Mr. Brown. "We'd better go and +see."</p> + +<p>In a state of some disorder they hurried back to Wapping, and, mounting +the stairs to Mrs. Gibbs's room, found the door fast. To their fervent +and repeated knocking there was no answer.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you won't make her 'ear," said a woman, thrusting an untidy head +over the balusters on the next landing. "She's gone."</p> + +<p>"Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen. "Where?"</p> + + +<a name="006"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="006.jpg (83K)" src="006.jpg" height="636" width="567"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"Canada," said the woman. "She went off this morning."</p> + +<p>Mr. Kidd leaned up against the wall for support; Mr. Brown stood open- +mouthed and voiceless.</p> + +<p>"It was a surprise to me," said the woman, "but she told me this morning +she's been getting ready on the quiet for the last fortnight. Good +spirits she was in, too; laughing like anything."</p> + +<p>"Laughing!" repeated Mr. Kidd, in a terrible voice.</p> + +<p>The woman nodded. "And when I spoke about it and reminded 'er that she +'ad only just lost 'er pore husband, I thought she would ha' burst," she +said, severely. "She sat down on that stair and laughed till the tears +ran dowwn 'er face like water."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown turned a bewildered face upon his partner. "Laughing!" he +said, slowly. "Wot 'ad she got to laugh at?"</p> + +<p>"Two born-fools," replied Mr. Kidd.</p> + +<br><br> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Friends In Need, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDS IN NEED *** + +***** This file should be named 10562-h.htm or 10562-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/5/6/10562/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Friends In Need + Ship's Company, Part 2. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: January 1, 2004 [EBook #10562] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDS IN NEED *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +SHIP'S COMPANY + +By W.W. Jacobs + + + +FRIENDS IN NEED + + +R. Joseph Gibbs finished his half-pint in the private bar of the Red Lion +with the slowness of a man unable to see where the next was coming from, +and, placing the mug on the counter, filled his pipe from a small paper +of tobacco and shook his head slowly at his companions. + +"First I've 'ad since ten o'clock this morning," he said, in a hard +voice. + +"Cheer up," said Mr. George Brown. + +"It can't go on for ever," said Bob Kidd, encouragingly. + +"All I ask for--is work," said Mr. Gibbs, impressively. "Not slavery, +mind yer, but work." + +"It's rather difficult to distinguish," said Mr. Brown. + +"'Specially for some people," added Mr. Kidd. + +"Go on," said Mr. Gibbs, gloomily. "Go on. Stand a man 'arf a pint, and +then go and hurt 'is feelings. Twice yesterday I wondered to myself what +it would feel like to make a hole in the water." + +"Lots o' chaps do do it," said Mr. Brown, musingly. + +"And leave their wives and families to starve," said Mr. Gibbs, icily. + +"Very often the wife is better off," said his friend. "It's one mouth +less for her to feed. Besides, she gen'rally gets something. When pore +old Bill went they 'ad a Friendly Lead at the 'King's Head' and got his +missis pretty nearly seventeen pounds." + +"And I believe we'd get more than that for your old woman," said Mr. +Kidd. "There's no kids, and she could keep 'erself easy. Not that I +want to encourage you to make away with yourself." + +Mr. Gibbs scowled and, tilting his mug, peered gloomily into the +interior. + +"Joe won't make no 'ole in the water," said Mr. Brown, wagging his head. +"If it was beer, now--" + +Mr. Gibbs turned and, drawing himself up to five feet three, surveyed the +speaker with an offensive stare. + +"I don't see why he need make a 'ole in anything," said Mr. Kidd, slowly. +"It 'ud do just as well if we said he 'ad. Then we could pass the hat +round and share it." + +"Divide it into three halves and each 'ave one," said Mr. Brown, nodding; +"but 'ow is it to be done?" + +"'Ave some more beer and think it over," said Mr. Kidd, pale with +excitement. "Three pints, please." + +He and Mr. Brown took up their pints, and nodded at each other. Mr. +Gibbs, toying idly with the handle of his, eyed them carefully. "Mind, +I'm not promising anything," he said, slowly. "Understand, I ain't +a-committing of myself by drinking this 'ere pint." + +"You leave it to me, Joe," said Mr. Kidd. + +Mr. Gibbs left it to him after a discussion in which pints played a +persuasive part; with the result that Mr. Brown, sitting in the same bar +the next evening with two or three friends, was rudely disturbed by the +cyclonic entrance of Mr. Kidd, who, dripping with water, sank on a bench +and breathed heavily. + +"What's up? What's the matter?" demanded several voices. + +"It's Joe--poor Joe Gibbs," said Mr. Kidd. "I was on Smith's wharf +shifting that lighter to the next berth, and, o' course Joe must come +aboard to help. He was shoving her off with 'is foot when--" + +He broke off and shuddered and, accepting a mug of beer, pending the +arrival of some brandy that a sympathizer had ordered, drank it slowly. + +"It all 'appened in a flash," he said, looking round. "By the time I 'ad +run round to his end he was just going down for the third time. I hung +over the side and grabbed at 'im, and his collar and tie came off in my +hand. Nearly went in, I did." + +He held out the collar and tie; and approving notice was taken of the +fact that he was soaking wet from the top of his head to the middle +button of his waistcoat. + +"Pore chap!" said the landlord, leaning over the bar. "He was in 'ere +only 'arf an hour ago, standing in this very bar." + +"Well, he's 'ad his last drop o' beer," said a carman in a chastened +voice. + +"That's more than anybody can say," said the landlord, sharply. "I never +heard anything against the man; he's led a good life so far as I know, +and 'ow can we tell that he won't 'ave beer?" + +He made Mr. Kidd a present of another small glass of brandy. + +"He didn't leave any family, did he?" he inquired, as he passed it over. + +"Only a wife," said Mr. Kidd; "and who's to tell that pore soul I don't +know. She fair doated on 'im. 'Ow she's to live I don't know. I shall +do what I can for 'er." + +"Same 'ere," said Mr. Brown, in a deep voice. + +"Something ought to be done for 'er," said the carman, as he went out. + +"First thing is to tell the police," said the landlord. "They ought to +know; then p'r'aps one of them'll tell her. It's what they're paid for." + +"It's so awfully sudden. I don't know where I am 'ardly," said Mr. Kidd. +"I don't believe she's got a penny-piece in the 'ouse. Pore Joe 'ad a +lot o' pals. I wonder whether we could'nt get up something for her." + +"Go round and tell the police first," said the landlord, pursing up his +lips thoughtfully. "We can talk about that later on." + +Mr. Kidd thanked him warmly and withdrew, accompanied by Mr. Brown. +Twenty minutes later they left the station, considerably relieved at the +matter-of-fact way in which the police had received the tidings, and, +hurrying across London Bridge, made their way towards a small figure +supporting its back against a post in the Borough market. + +"Well?" said Mr. Gibbs, snappishly, as he turned at the sound of their +footsteps. + +"It'll be all right, Joe," said Mr. Kidd. "We've sowed the seed." + +"Sowed the wot?" demanded the other. + +Mr. Kidd explained. + +"Ho!" said Mr. Gibbs. "An' while your precious seed is a-coming up, wot +am I to do? Wot about my comfortable 'ome? Wot about my bed and grub?" + +His two friends looked at each other uneasily. In the excitement of the +arrangements they had for gotten these things, and a long and sometimes +painful experience of Mr. Gibbs showed them only too plainly where they +were drifting. + +"You'll 'ave to get a bed this side o' the river somewhere," said Mr. +Brown, slowly. "Coffee-shop or something; and a smart, active man wot +keeps his eyes open can always pick up a little money." + +Mr. Gibbs laughed. + +"And mind," said Mr. Kidd, furiously, in reply to the laugh, "anything we +lend you is to be paid back out of your half when you get it. And, wot's +more, you don't get a ha'penny till you've come into a barber's shop and +'ad them whiskers off. We don't want no accidents." + +Mr. Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for his whiskers for +nearly half an hour, and at the end of that time was led into a barber's, +and in a state of sullen indignation proffered his request for a "clean" +shave. He gazed at the bare-faced creature that confronted him in the +glass after the operation in open-eyed consternation, and Messrs. Kidd +and Brown's politeness easily gave way before their astonishment. + +"Well, I may as well have a 'air-cut while I'm here," said Mr. Gibbs, +after a lengthy survey. + +"And a shampoo, sir?" said the assistant. + +"Just as you like," said Mr. Gibbs, turning a deaf ear to the frenzied +expostulations of his financial backers. "Wot is it?" + +[Illustration: Mr. Gibbs, with his back against the post, fought for +nearly half an hour] + +He sat in amazed discomfort during the operation, and emerging with his +friends remarked that he felt half a stone lighter. The information was +received in stony silence, and, having spent some time in the selection, +they found a quiet public-house, and in a retired corner formed +themselves into a Committee of Ways and Means. + +"That'll do for you to go on with," said Mr. Kidd, after he and Mr. Brown +had each made a contribution; "and, mind, it's coming off of your share." + +Mr. Gibbs nodded. "And any evening you want to see me you'll find me in +here," he remarked. "Beer's ripping. Now you'd better go and see my old +woman." + +The two friends departed, and, to their great relief, found a little knot +of people outside the abode of Mrs. Gibbs. It was clear that the news +had been already broken, and, pushing their way upstairs, they found the +widow with a damp handkerchief in her hand surrounded by attentive +friends. In feeble accents she thanked Mr. Kidd for his noble attempts +at rescue. + +"He ain't dry yet," said Mr. Brown. + +"I done wot I could," said Mr. Kidd, simply. "Pore Joe! Nobody could +ha' had a better pal. Nobody!" + +"Always ready to lend a helping 'and to them as was in trouble, he was," +said Mr. Brown, looking round. + +"'Ear, 'ear!" said a voice. + +"And we'll lend 'im a helping 'and," said Mr. Kidd, energetically. "We +can't do 'im no good, pore chap, but we can try and do something for 'er +as is left behind." + +He moved slowly to the door, accompanied by Mr. Brown, and catching the +eye of one or two of the men beckoned them to follow. Under his able +guidance a small but gradually increasing crowd made its way to the "Red +Lion." For the next three or four days the friends worked unceasingly. +Cards stating that a Friendly Lead would be held at the "Red Lion," for +the benefit of the widow of the late Mr. Joseph Gibbs, were distributed +broadcast; and anecdotes portraying a singularly rare and beautiful +character obtained an even wider circulation. Too late Wapping realized +the benevolent disposition and the kindly but unobtrusive nature that had +departed from it for ever. + +Mr. Gibbs, from his retreat across the water, fully shared his friends' +enthusiasm, but an insane desire--engendered by vanity--to be present at +the function was a source of considerable trouble and annoyance to them. +When he offered to black his face and take part in the entertainment as a +nigger minstrel, Mr. Kidd had to be led outside and kept there until such +time as he could converse in English pure and undefiled. + +"Getting above 'imself, that's wot it is," said Mr. Brown, as they wended +their way home. "He's having too much money out of us to spend; but it +won't be for long now." + +"He's having a lord's life of it, while we're slaving ourselves to +death," grumbled Mr. Kidd. "I never see'im looking so fat and well. By +rights he oughtn't to 'ave the same share as wot we're going to 'ave; he +ain't doing none of the work." + +His ill-humour lasted until the night of the "Lead," which, largely owing +to the presence of a sporting fishmonger who had done well at the races +that day, and some of his friends, realized a sum far beyond the +expectations of the hard-working promoters. The fishmonger led off by +placing a five-pound note in the plate, and the packed audience breathed +so hard that the plate-holder's responsibility began to weigh upon his +spirits. In all, a financial tribute of thirty-seven pounds three and +fourpence was paid to the memory of the late Mr. Gibbs. + +"Over twelve quid apiece," said the delighted Mr. Kidd as he bade his +co-worker good night. "Sounds too good to be true." + +The next day passed all too slowly, but work was over at last, and Mr. +Kidd led the way over London Bridge a yard or two ahead of the more +phlegmatic Mr. Brown. Mr. Gibbs was in his old corner at the +"Wheelwright's Arms," and, instead of going into ecstasies over the sum +realized, hinted darkly that it would have been larger if he had been +allowed to have had a hand in it. + +"It'll 'ardly pay me for my trouble," he said, shaking his head. "It's +very dull over 'ere all alone by myself. By the time you two have 'ad +your share, besides taking wot I owe you, there'll be 'ardly anything +left." + +"I'll talk to you another time," said Mr. Kidd, regarding him fixedly. +"Wot you've got to do now is to come acrost the river with us." + +"What for?" demanded Mr. Gibbs. + +"We're going to break the joyful news to your old woman that you're alive +afore she starts spending money wot isn't hers," said Mr. Kidd. "And we +want you to be close by in case she don't believe us. + +"Well, do it gentle, mind," said the fond husband. "We don't want 'er +screaming, or anything o' that sort. I know 'er better than wot you do, +and my advice to you is to go easy." + +He walked along by the side of them, and, after some demur, consented, as +a further disguise, to put on a pair of spectacles, for which Mr. Kidd's +wife's mother had been hunting high and low since eight o'clock that +morning. + +"You doddle about 'ere for ten minutes," said Mr. Kidd, as they reached +the Monument, "and then foller on. When you pass a lamp-post 'old your +handkerchief up to your face. And wait for us at the corner of your road +till we come for you." + +He went off at a brisk pace with Mr. Brown, a pace moderated to one of +almost funeral solemnity as they approached the residence of Mrs. Gibbs. +To their relief she was alone, and after the usual amenities thanked them +warmly for all they had done for her. + +"I'd do more than that for pore Joe," said Mr. Brown. + +"They--they 'aven't found 'im yet?" said the widow. + +Mr. Kidd shook his head. "My idea is they won't find 'im," he said, +slowly. + +"Went down on the ebb tide," explained Mr. Brown; and spoilt Mr. Kidd's +opening. + +"Wherever he is 'e's better off," said Mrs. Gibbs. + +"No more trouble about being out o' work; no more worry; no more pain. +We've all got to go some day. + +"Yes," began Mr. Kidd; "but-- + +"I'm sure I don't wish 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs; "that would be +sinful." + +"But 'ow if he wanted to come back?" said Mr. Kidd, playing for an +opening. + +"And 'elp you spend that money," said Mr. Brown, ignoring the scowls of +his friend. + +Mrs. Gibbs looked bewildered. "Spend the money?" she began. + +"Suppose," said Mr. Kidd, "suppose he wasn't drownded after all? Only +last night I dreamt he was alive." + +"So did I," said Mr. Brown. + +"He was smiling at me," said Mr. Kidd, in a tender voice. "'Bob,' he +ses, 'go and tell my pore missis that I'm alive,' he ses; 'break it to +'er gentle.'" + +"It's the very words he said to me in my dream," said Mr. Brown. "Bit +strange, ain't it?" + +"Very," said Mrs. Gibbs. + +"I suppose," said Mr. Kidd, after a pause, "I suppose you haven't been +dreaming about 'im?" + +"No; I'm a teetotaller," said the widow. + +The two gentlemen exchanged glances, and Mr. Kidd, ever of an impulsive +nature, resolved to bring matters to a head. + +"Wot would you do if Joe was to come in 'ere at this door?" he asked. + +"Scream the house down," said the widow, promptly. + +"Scream--scream the 'ouse down?" said the distressed Mr. Kidd. + +Mrs. Gibbs nodded. "I should go screaming, raving mad," she said, with +conviction. + +"But--but not if 'e was alive!" said Mr. Kidd. + +"I don't know what you're driving at," said Mrs. Gibbs. "Why don't you +speak out plain? Poor Joe is drownded, you know that; you saw it all, +and yet you come talking to me about dreams and things." + +Mr. Kidd bent over her and put his hand affectionately on her shoulder. +"He escaped," he said, in a thrilling whisper. "He's alive and well." + +"WHAT?" said Mrs. Gibbs, starting back. + +"True as I stand 'ere," said Mr. Kidd; "ain't it, George?" + +"Truer," said Mr. Brown, loyally. + +Mrs. Gibbs leaned back, gasping. "Alive!" she said. "But 'ow? 'Ow can +he be?" + +"Don't make such a noise," said Mr. Kidd, earnestly. "Mind, if anybody +else gets to 'ear of it you'll 'ave to give that money back." + +"I'd give more than that to get 'im back," said Mrs. Gibbs, wildly. "I +believe you're deceiving me." + +"True as I stand 'ere," asseverated the other. "He's only a minute or +two off, and if it wasn't for you screaming I'd go out and fetch 'im in." + +"I won't scream," said Mrs. Gibbs, "not if I know it's flesh and blood. +Oh, where is he? Why don't you bring 'im in? Let me go to 'im." + +"All right," said Mr. Kidd, with a satisfied smile at Mr. Brown; "all in +good time. I'll go and fetch 'im now; but, mind, if you scream you'll +spoil everything." + +He bustled cheerfully out of the room and downstairs, and Mrs. Gibbs, +motioning Mr. Brown to silence, stood by the door with parted lips, +waiting. Three or four minutes elapsed. + +"'Ere they come," said Mr. Brown, as footsteps sounded on the stairs. +"Now, no screaming, mind!" + +Mrs. Gibbs drew back, and, to the gratification of all concerned, did not +utter a sound as Mr. Kidd, followed by her husband, entered the room. +She stood looking expectantly towards the doorway. + +"Where is he?" she gasped. + +"Eh?" said Mr. Kidd, in a startled voice. "Why here. Don't you know +'im?" + +"It's me, Susan," said Mr. Gibbs, in a low voice. + +"Oh, I might 'ave known it was a joke," cried Mrs. Gibbs, in a faint +voice, as she tottered to a chair. "Oh,'ow cruel of you to tell me my +pore Joe was alive! Oh, 'ow could you?" + +"Lor' lumme," said the incensed Mr. Kidd, pushing Mr. Gibbs forward. +"Here he is. Same as you saw 'im last, except for 'is whiskers. Don't +make that sobbing noise; people'll be coming in." + +"Oh! Oh! Oh! Take 'im away," cried Mrs. Gibbs. "Go and play your +tricks with somebody else's broken 'art." + +"But it's your husband," said Mr. Brown. + +"Take 'im away," wailed Mrs. Gibbs. + +Mr. Kidd, grinding his teeth, tried to think. "'Ave you got any marks on +your body, Joe?" he inquired. + +"I ain't got a mark on me," said Mr. Gibbs with a satisfied air, "or a +blemish. My skin is as whi--" + +"That's enough about your skin," interrupted Mr. Kidd, rudely. + +"If you ain't all of you gone before I count ten," said Mrs. Gibbs, in a +suppressed voice, "I'll scream. 'Ow dare you come into a respectable +woman's place and talk about your skins? Are you going? One! Two! +Three! Four! Five!" + +Her voice rose with each numeral; and Mr. Gibbs himself led the way +downstairs, and, followed by his friends, slipped nimbly round the +corner. + +"It's a wonder she didn't rouse the whole 'ouse," he said, wiping his +brow on his sleeve; "and where should we ha' been then? I thought at the +time it was a mistake you making me 'ave my whiskers off, but I let you +know best. She's never seen me without 'em. I 'ad a remarkable strong +growth when I was quite a boy. While other boys was--" + +"Shut-up!" vociferated Mr. Kidd. + +"Sha'n't!" said Mr. Gibbs, defiantly. "I've 'ad enough of being away +from my comfortable little 'ome and my wife; and I'm going to let 'em +start growing agin this very night. She'll never reckernize me without +'em, that's certain." + +"He's right, Bob," said Mr. Brown, with conviction. + +"D'ye mean to tell me we've got to wait till 'is blasted whiskers grow?" +cried Mr. Kidd, almost dancing with fury. "And go on keeping 'im in +idleness till they do?" + +"You'll get it all back out o' my share," said Mr. Gibbs, with dignity. +"But you can please yourself. If you like to call it quits now, I don't +mind." + +Mr. Brown took his seething friend aside, and conferred with him in low +but earnest tones. Mr. Gibbs, with an indifferent air, stood by +whistling softly. + +"'Ow long will they take to grow?" inquired Mr. Kidd, turning to him +with a growl. + +Mr. Gibbs shrugged his shoulders. "Can't say," he replied; "but I should +think two or three weeks would be enough for 'er to reckernize me by. If +she don't, we must wait another week or so, that's all." + +"Well, there won't be much o' your share left, mind that," said Mr. Kidd, +glowering at him. + +"I can't help it," said Mr. Gibbs. "You needn't keep reminding me of +it." + +They walked the rest of the way in silence; and for the next fortnight +Mr. Gibbs's friends paid nightly visits to note the change in his +appearance, and grumble at its slowness. + +"We'll try and pull it off to-morrow night," said Mr. Kidd, at the end of +that period. "I'm fair sick o' lending you money." + +Mr. Gibbs shook his head and spoke sagely about not spoiling the ship for +a ha'porth o' tar; but Mr. Kidd was obdurate. + +"There's enough for 'er to reckernize you by," he said, sternly, "and we +don't want other people to. Meet us at the Monument at eight o'clock +to-morrow night, and we'll get it over." + +"Give your orders," said Mr. Gibbs, in a nasty voice. + +"Keep your 'at well over your eyes," commanded Mr. Kidd, sternly. "Put +them spectacles on wot I lent you, and it wouldn't be a bad idea if you +tied your face up in a piece o' red flannel." + +"I know wot I'm going to do without you telling me," said Mr. Gibbs, +nodding. "I'll bet you pots round that you don't either of you +reckernize me tomorrow night." + +The bet was taken at once, and from eight o'clock until ten minutes to +nine the following night Messrs. Kidd and Brown did their best to win it. +Then did Mr. Kidd, turning to Mr. Brown in perplexity, inquire with many +redundant words what it all meant. + +[Illustration: "Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen. "Where?"] + +"He must 'ave gone on by 'imself," said Mr. Brown. "We'd better go and +see." + +In a state of some disorder they hurried back to Wapping, and, mounting +the stairs to Mrs. Gibbs's room, found the door fast. To their fervent +and repeated knocking there was no answer. + +"Ah, you won't make her 'ear," said a woman, thrusting an untidy head +over the balusters on the next landing. "She's gone." + +"Gone!" exclaimed both gentlemen. "Where?" + +"Canada," said the woman. "She went off this morning." + +Mr. Kidd leaned up against the wall for support; Mr. Brown stood open- +mouthed and voiceless. + +"It was a surprise to me," said the woman, "but she told me this morning +she's been getting ready on the quiet for the last fortnight. Good +spirits she was in, too; laughing like anything." + +"Laughing!" repeated Mr. Kidd, in a terrible voice. + +The woman nodded. "And when I spoke about it and reminded 'er that she +'ad only just lost 'er pore husband, I thought she would ha' burst," she +said, severely. "She sat down on that stair and laughed till the tears +ran dowwn 'er face like water." + +Mr. Brown turned a bewildered face upon his partner. "Laughing!" he +said, slowly. "Wot 'ad she got to laugh at?" + +"Two born-fools," replied Mr. Kidd. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Friends In Need, by W.W. 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