1 files changed, 550 insertions, 0 deletions

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 ***