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diff --git a/10567-0.txt b/10567-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..437cb96 --- /dev/null +++ b/10567-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,505 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10567 *** + +SHIP'S COMPANY + +By W.W. Jacobs + + + +THE GUARDIAN ANGEL + +[Illustration: "The lodger was standing at the foot o' Ginger's bed, +going through 'is pockets."] + +The night-watchman shook his head. "I never met any of these phil-- +philantherpists, as you call 'em," he said, decidedly. "If I 'ad they +wouldn't 'ave got away from me in a hurry, I can tell you. I don't say I +don't believe in 'em; I only say I never met any of 'em. If people do +you a kindness it's generally because they want to get something out of +you; same as a man once--a perfick stranger--wot stood me eight +'arf-pints becos I reminded 'im of his dead brother, and then borrered +five bob off of me. + +"O' course, there must be some kind-'arted people in the world--all men +who get married must 'ave a soft spot somewhere, if it's only in the +'ead--but they don't often give things away. Kind-'artedness is often +only another name for artfulness, same as Sam Small's kindness to Ginger +Dick and Peter Russet. + +"It started with a row. They was just back from a v'y'ge and 'ad taken a +nice room together in Wapping, and for the fust day or two, wot with +'aving plenty o' money to spend and nothing to do, they was like three +brothers. Then, in a little, old-fashioned public-'ouse down Poplar way, +one night they fell out over a little joke Ginger played on Sam. + +"It was the fust drink that evening, and Sam 'ad just ordered a pot o' +beer and three glasses, when Ginger winked at the landlord and offered to +bet Sam a level 'arf-dollar that 'e wouldn't drink off that pot o' beer +without taking breath. The landlord held the money, and old Sam, with a +'appy smile on 'is face, 'ad just taken up the mug, when he noticed the +odd way in which they was all watching him. Twice he took the mug up and +put it down agin without starting and asked 'em wot the little game was, +but they on'y laughed. He took it up the third time and started, and he +'ad just got about 'arf-way through when Ginger turns to the landlord and +ses-- + +"'Did you catch it in the mouse-trap,' he ses, 'or did it die of poison?' + +"Pore Sam started as though he 'ad been shot, and, arter getting rid of +the beer in 'is mouth, stood there 'olding the mug away from 'im and +making such 'orrible faces that they was a'most frightened. + +"'Wot's the matter with him? I've never seen 'im carry on like that over +a drop of beer before,' ses Ginger, staring. + +"'He usually likes it,' ses Peter Russet. + +"'Not with a dead mouse in it,' ses Sam, trembling with passion. + +"'Mouse?' ses Ginger, innercent-like. 'Mouse? Why, I didn't say it was +in your beer, Sam. Wotever put that into your 'ead?' + +"'And made you lose your bet,' ses Peter. + +"Then old Sam see 'ow he'd been done, and the way he carried on when the +landlord gave Ginger the 'arf-dollar, and said it was won fair and +honest, was a disgrace. He 'opped about that bar 'arf crazy, until at +last the landlord and 'is brother, and a couple o' soldiers, and a +helpless cripple wot wos selling matches, put 'im outside and told 'im to +stop there. + +"He stopped there till Ginger and Peter came out, and then, drawing +'imself up in a proud way, he told 'em their characters and wot he +thought about 'em. And he said 'e never wanted to see wot they called +their faces agin as long as he lived. + +"'I've done with you,' he ses, 'both of you, for ever.' + +"'All right,' ses Ginger moving off. 'Ta-ta for the present. Let's 'ope +he'll come 'ome in a better temper, Peter.' + +"'Ome?' ses Sam, with a nasty laugh, "'ome? D'ye think I'm coming back to +breathe the same air as you, Ginger? D'ye think I want to be +suffocated?' + +"He held his 'ead up very 'igh, and, arter looking at them as if they was +dirt, he turned round and walked off with his nose in the air to spend +the evening by 'imself. + +"His temper kept him up for a time, but arter a while he 'ad to own up to +'imself that it was very dull, and the later it got the more he thought +of 'is nice warm bed. The more 'e thought of it the nicer and warmer it +seemed, and, arter a struggle between his pride and a few 'arf-pints, he +got 'is good temper back agin and went off 'ome smiling. + +"The room was dark when 'e got there, and, arter standing listening a +moment to Ginger and Peter snoring, he took off 'is coat and sat down on +'is bed to take 'is boots off. He only sat down for a flash, and then he +bent down and hit his 'ead an awful smack against another 'ead wot 'ad +just started up to see wot it was sitting on its legs. + +"He thought it was Peter or Ginger in the wrong bed at fust, but afore he +could make it out Ginger 'ad got out of 'is own bed and lit the candle. +Then 'e saw it was a stranger in 'is bed, and without saying a word he +laid 'old of him by the 'air and began dragging him out. + +"'Here, stop that!' ses Ginger catching hold of 'im. 'Lend a hand 'ere, +Peter.' + +"Peter lent a hand and screwed it into the back o' Sam's neck till he +made 'im leave go, and then the stranger, a nasty-looking little chap +with a yellow face and a little dark moustache, told Sam wot he'd like to +do to him. + +"'Who are you?' ses Sam, 'and wot are you a-doing of in my bed?' + +"'It's our lodger,' ses Ginger. + +"'Your wot?' ses Sam, 'ardly able to believe his ears. + +"'Our lodger,' ses Peter Russet. 'We've let 'im the bed you said you +didn't want for sixpence a night. Now you take yourself off.' + +"Old Sam couldn't speak for a minute; there was no words that he knew bad +enough, but at last he licks 'is lips and he ses, 'I've paid for that bed +up to Saturday, and I'm going to have it.' + +"He rushed at the lodger, but Peter and Ginger got hold of 'im agin and +put 'im down on the floor and sat on 'im till he promised to be'ave +himself. They let 'im get up at last, and then, arter calling themselves +names for their kind-'artedness, they said if he was very good he might +sleep on the floor. + +"Sam looked at 'em for a moment, and then, without a word, he took off +'is boots and put on 'is coat and went up in a corner to be out of the +draught, but, wot with the cold and 'is temper, and the hardness of the +floor, it was a long time afore 'e could get to sleep. He dropped off at +last, and it seemed to 'im that he 'ad only just closed 'is eyes when it +was daylight. He opened one eye and was just going to open the other +when he saw something as made 'im screw 'em both up sharp and peep +through 'is eyelashes. The lodger was standing at the foot o' Ginger's +bed, going through 'is pockets, and then, arter waiting a moment and +'aving a look round, he went through Peter Russet's. Sam lay still mouse +while the lodger tip-toed out o' the room with 'is boots in his 'and, and +then, springing up, follered him downstairs. + +"He caught 'im up just as he 'ad undone the front door, and, catching +hold of 'im by the back o' the neck, shook 'im till 'e was tired. Then +he let go of 'im and, holding his fist under 'is nose, told 'im to hand +over the money, and look sharp about it. + +"'Ye--ye--yes, sir,' ses the lodger, who was 'arf choked. + +"Sam held out his 'and, and the lodger, arter saying it was only a little +bit o' fun on 'is part, and telling 'im wot a fancy he 'ad taken to 'im +from the fust, put Ginger's watch and chain into his 'ands and eighteen +pounds four shillings and sevenpence. Sam put it into his pocket, and, +arter going through the lodger's pockets to make sure he 'adn't forgot +anything, opened the door and flung 'im into the street. He stopped on +the landing to put the money in a belt he was wearing under 'is clothes, +and then 'e went back on tip-toe to 'is corner and went to sleep with one +eye open and the 'appiest smile that had been on his face for years. + +"He shut both eyes when he 'eard Ginger wake up, and he slept like a +child through the 'orrible noise that Peter and Ginger see fit to make +when they started to put their clothes on. He got tired of it afore they +did, and, arter opening 'is eyes slowly and yawning, he asked Ginger wot +he meant by it. + +"'You'll wake your lodger up if you ain't careful, making that noise,' he +ses. 'Wot's the matter?' + +"'Sam,' ses Ginger, in a very different voice to wot he 'ad used the +night before, 'Sam, old pal, he's taken all our money and bolted.' + +"'Wot?' ses Sam, sitting up on the floor and blinking, 'Nonsense!' + +"'Robbed me and Peter,' ses Ginger, in a trembling voice; 'taken every +penny we've got, and my watch and chain.' + +"'You're dreaming,' ses Sam. + +"'I wish I was,' ses Ginger. + +"'But surely, Ginger,' ses Sam, standing up, 'surely you didn't take a +lodger without a character?' + +"'He seemed such a nice chap,' ses Peter. 'We was only saying wot a much +nicer chap he was than--than----' + +"'Go on, Peter,' ses Sam, very perlite. + +"'Than he might ha' been,' ses Ginger, very quick. + +"'Well, I've 'ad a wonderful escape,' ses Sam. 'If it hadn't ha' been +for sleeping in my clothes I suppose he'd ha' 'ad my money as well.' + +"He felt in 'is pockets anxious-like, then he smiled, and stood there +letting 'is money fall through 'is fingers into his pocket over and over +agin. + +"'Pore chap,' he ses; 'pore chap; p'r'aps he'd got a starving wife and +family. Who knows? It ain't for us to judge 'im, Ginger.' + +"He stood a little while longer chinking 'is money, and when he took off +his coat to wash Ginger Dick poured the water out for im and Peter Russet +picked up the soap, which 'ad fallen on the floor. Then they started +pitying themselves, looking very 'ard at the back of old Sam while they +did it. + +"'I s'pose we've got to starve, Peter,' ses Ginger, in, a sad voice. + +"'Looks like it,' ses Peter, dressing hisself very slowly. + +"'There's nobody'll mourn for me, that's one comfort,' ses Ginger. + +"'Or me,' ses Peter. + +"'P'r'aps Sam'll miss us a bit,' ses Ginger, grinding 'is teeth as old +Sam went on washing as if he was deaf. 'He'ss the only real pal we ever +'ad.' + +"'Wot are you talking about?' ses Sam, turning round with the soap in +his eyes, and feeling for the towel. 'Wot d'ye want to starve for? Why +don't you get a ship?' + +"'I thought we was all going to sign on in the Cheaspeake agin, Sam,' ses +Ginger, very mild. + +"'She won't be ready for sea for pretty near three weeks,' ses Sam. 'You +know that.' + +"'P'r'aps Sam would lend us a trifle to go on with, Ginger,' ses Peter +Russet. 'Just enough to keep body and soul together, so as we can hold +out and 'ave the pleasure of sailing with 'im agin.' + +"'P'r'aps he wouldn't,' ses Sam, afore Ginger could open his mouth. +'I've just got about enough to last myself; I 'aven't got any to lend. +Sailormen wot turns on their best friends and makes them sleep on the +cold 'ard floor while their new pal is in his bed don't get money lent to +'em. My neck is so stiff it creaks every time I move it, and I've got +the rheumatics in my legs something cruel.' + +"He began to 'um a song, and putting on 'is cap went out to get some +brekfuss. He went to a little eating-'ouse near by, where they was in +the 'abit of going, and 'ad just started on a plate of eggs and bacon +when Ginger Dick and Peter came into the place with a pocket-'ankercher +of 'is wot they 'ad found in the fender. + +"'We thought you might want it, Sam,' ses Peter. + +"'So we brought it along,' ses Ginger. 'I 'ope you're enjoying of your +brekfuss, Sam.' + +"Sam took the 'ankercher and thanked 'em very perlite, and arter standing +there for a minute or two as if they wanted to say something they +couldn't remember, they sheered off. When Sam left the place 'arf-an- +hour afterwards they was still hanging about, and as Sam passed Ginger +asked 'im if he was going for a walk. + +"'Walk?' ses Sam. 'Cert'nly not. I'm going to bed; I didn't 'ave a good +night's rest like you and your lodger.' + +"He went back 'ome, and arter taking off 'is coat and boots got into bed +and slept like a top till one o'clock, when he woke up to find Ginger +shaking 'im by the shoulders. + +"'Wot's the matter?' he ses. 'Wot are you up to?' + +"'It's dinner-time,' ses Ginger. 'I thought p'r'aps you'd like to know, +in case you missed it.' + +"'You leave me alone,' ses Sam, cuddling into the clothes agin. 'I don't +want no dinner. You go and look arter your own dinners.' + +"He stayed in bed for another 'arf-hour, listening to Peter and Ginger +telling each other in loud whispers 'ow hungry they was, and then he got +up and put 'is things on and went to the door. + +"'I'm going to get a bit o' dinner,' he ses. 'And mind, I've got my +pocket 'ankercher.' + +"He went out and 'ad a steak and onions and a pint o' beer, but, although +he kept looking up sudden from 'is plate, he didn't see Peter or Ginger. +It spoilt 'is dinner a bit, but arter he got outside 'e saw them standing +at the corner, and, pretending not to see them, he went off for a walk +down the Mile End Road. + +[Illustration: "'We thought you might want it, Sam,' ses Peter"] + +"He walked as far as Bow with them follering'im, and then he jumped on a +bus and rode back as far as Whitechapel. There was no sign of 'em when +he got off, and, feeling a bit lonesome, he stood about looking in shop- +windows until 'e see them coming along as hard as they could come. + +"'Why, halloa!' he ses. 'Where did you spring from?' + +"'We--we--we've been--for a bit of a walk,' ses Ginger Dick, puffing and +blowing like a grampus. + +"'To-keep down the 'unger,' ses Peter Russet. + +"Old Sam looked at 'em very stern for a moment, then he beckoned 'em to +foller 'im, and, stopping at a little public-'ouse, he went in and +ordered a pint o' bitter. + +"'And give them two pore fellers a crust o' bread and cheese and 'arf-a- +pint of four ale each,' he ses to the barmaid. + +"Ginger and Peter looked at each other, but they was so hungry they +didn't say a word; they just stood waiting. + +"'Put that inside you my pore fellers,' ses Sam, with a oily smile. 'I +can't bear to see people suffering for want o' food,' he ses to the +barmaid, as he chucked down a sovereign on the counter. + +"The barmaid, a very nice gal with black 'air and her fingers covered all +over with rings, said that it did 'im credit, and they stood there +talking about tramps and beggars and such-like till Peter and Ginger +nearly choked. He stood there watching 'em and smoking a threepenny +cigar, and when they 'ad finished he told the barmaid to give 'em a +sausage-roll each, and went off. + +"Peter and Ginger snatched up their sausage-rolls and follered 'im, and +at last Ginger swallowed his pride and walked up to 'im and asked 'im to +lend them some money. + +"'You'll get it back agin,' he ses. 'You know that well enough.' + +"'Cert'nly not,' ses Sam; 'and I'm surprised at you asking. Why, a child +could rob you. It's 'ard enough as it is for a pore man like me to 'ave +to keep a couple o' hulking sailormen, but I'm not going to give you +money to chuck away on lodgers. No more sleeping on the floor for me! +Now I don't want none o' your langwidge, and I don't want you follering +me like a couple o' cats arter a meat-barrer. I shall be 'aving a cup o' +tea at Brown's coffee-shop by and by, and if you're there at five sharp +I'll see wot I can do for you. Wot did you call me?' + +"Ginger told 'im three times, and then Peter Russet dragged 'im away. +They turned up outside Brown's at a quarter to five, and at ten past six +Sam Small strolled up smoking a cigar, and, arter telling them that he +'ad forgot all about 'em, took 'em inside and paid for their teas. He +told Mr. Brown 'e was paying for 'em, and 'e told the gal wot served 'em +'e was paying for 'em, and it was all pore Ginger could do to stop +'imself from throwing his plate in 'is face. + +"Sam went off by 'imself, and arter walking about all the evening without +a ha'penny in their pockets, Ginger Dick and Peter went off 'ome to bed +and went to sleep till twelve o'clock, when Sam came in and woke 'em up +to tell 'em about a music-'all he 'ad been to, and 'ow many pints he had +'ad. He sat up in bed till past one o'clock talking about 'imself, and +twice Peter Russet woke Ginger up to listen and got punched for 'is +trouble. + +"They both said they'd get a ship next morning, and then old Sam turned +round and wouldn't 'ear of it. The airs he gave 'imself was awful. He +said he'd tell 'em when they was to get a ship, and if they went and did +things without asking 'im he'd let 'em starve. + +"He kept 'em with 'im all that day for fear of losing 'em and having to +give 'em their money when 'e met 'em agin instead of spending it on 'em +and getting praised for it. They 'ad their dinner with 'im at Brown's, +and nothing they could do pleased him. He spoke to Peter Russet out loud +about making a noise while he was eating, and directly arterwards he told +Ginger to use his pocket 'ankercher. Pore Ginger sat there looking at +'im and swelling and swelling until he nearly bust, and Sam told 'im if +he couldn't keep 'is temper when people was trying to do 'im a kindness +he'd better go and get somebody else to keep him. + +"He took 'em to a music-'all that night, but he spoilt it all for 'em by +taking 'em into the little public-'ouse in Whitechapel Road fust and +standing 'em a drink. He told the barmaid 'e was keeping 'em till they +could find a job, and arter she 'ad told him he was too soft-'arted and +would only be took advantage of, she brought another barmaid up to look +at 'em and ask 'em wot they could do, and why they didn't do it. + +"Sam served 'em like that for over a week, and he 'ad so much praise from +Mr. Brown and other people that it nearly turned his 'ead. For once in +his life he 'ad it pretty near all 'is own way. Twice Ginger Dick +slipped off and tried to get a ship and came back sulky and hungry, and +once Peter Russet sprained his thumb trying to get a job at the docks. + +"They gave it up then and kept to Sam like a couple o' shadders, only +giving 'im back-answers when they felt as if something 'ud give way +inside if they didn't. For the fust time in their lives they began to +count the days till their boat was ready for sea. Then something +happened. + +"They was all coming 'ome late one night along the Minories, when Ginger +Dick gave a shout and, suddenly bolting up a little street arter a man +that 'ad turned up there, fust of all sent 'im flying with a heavy punch +of 'is fist, and then knelt on 'im. + +"'Now then Ginger,' ses Sam bustling up with Peter Russet, 'wot's all +this? Wot yer doing?' + +"'It's the thief,' ses Ginger. 'It's our lodger. You keep still!' he +ses shaking the man. 'D'ye hear?' + +"Peter gave a shout of joy, and stood by to help. + +"'Nonsense!' ses old Sam, turning pale. 'You've been drinking, Ginger. +This comes of standing you 'arf-pints.' + +"'It's him right enough,' ses Ginger. 'I'd know 'is ugly face anywhere.' + +"'You come off 'ome at once,' ses Sam, very sharp, but his voice +trembling. 'At once. D'ye hear me?' + +"'Fetch a policeman, Peter,' ses Ginger. + +"'Let the pore feller go, I tell you,' ses Sam, stamping his foot. ''Ow +would you like to be locked up? 'Ow would you like to be torn away from +your wife and little ones? 'Ow would you--' + +"'Fetch a policeman, Peter,' ses Ginger agin. 'D'ye hear?' + +"'Don't do that, guv'nor,' ses the lodger. 'You got your money back. +Wot's the good o' putting me away?' + +"'Got our wot back?' ses Ginger, shaking 'im agin. 'Don't you try and be +funny with me, else I'll tear you into little pieces.' + +"'But he took it back,' ses the man, trying to sit up and pointing at +Sam. 'He follered me downstairs and took it all away from me. Your +ticker as well.' + +"'Wot?' ses Ginger and Peter both together. + +"Strue as I'm 'ere,' ses the lodger. 'You turn 'is pockets out and see. +Look out! He's going off!' + +"Ginger turned his 'ead just in time to see old Sam nipping round the +corner. He pulled the lodger up like a flash, and, telling Peter to take +hold of the other side of him, they set off arter Sam. + +"'Little-joke-o' mine-Ginger,' ses Sam, when they caught 'im. 'I was +going to tell you about it to-night. It ain't often I get the chance of +a joke agin you Ginger; you're too sharp for a old man like me.' + +"Ginger Dick didn't say anything. He kept 'old o' Sam's arm with one +hand and the lodger's neck with the other, and marched 'em off to his +lodgings. + +"He shut the door when 'e got in, and arter Peter 'ad lit the candle they +took hold o' Sam and went through 'im, and arter trying to find pockets +where he 'adn't got any, they took off 'is belt and found Ginger's watch, +seventeen pounds five shillings, and a few coppers. + +"'We 'ad over nine quid each, me and Peter,' ses Ginger. 'Where's the +rest?' + +"'It's all I've got left,' ses Sam; 'every ha'penny.' + +"He 'ad to undress and even take 'is boots off afore they'd believe 'im, +and then Ginger took 'is watch and he ses to Peter, 'Lemme see; 'arf of +seventeen pounds is eight pounds ten; 'arf of five shillings is 'arf-a- +crown; and 'arf of fourpence is twopence.' + +"'What about me Ginger old pal?' ses Sam, in a kind voice. 'We must +divide it into threes.' + +"'Threes?' ses Ginger, staring at'im. 'Whaffor?' + +"''Cos part of it's mine,' ses Sam, struggling 'ard to be perlite. 'I've +paid for everything for the last ten days, ain't I?' + +"'Yes,' ses Ginger. 'You 'ave, and I thank you for it.' + +"'So do I,' ses Peter Russet. 'Hearty I do.' + +"'It was your kind-'artedness,' ses Ginger, grinning like mad. 'You gave +it to us, and we wouldn't dream of giving it to you back.' + +"'Nothin' o' the kind,' ses Sam, choking. + +"'Oh, yes you did,' ses Ginger, 'and you didn't forget to tell people +neither. You told everybody. Now it's our turn.' + +"He opened the door and kicked the lodger out. Leastways, he would 'ave +kicked 'im, but the chap was too quick for 'im. And then 'e came back, +and, putting his arm round Peter's waist, danced a waltz round the room +with 'im, while pore old Sam got on to his bed to be out of the way. +They danced for nearly 'arf-an-hour, and then they undressed and sat on +Peter's bed and talked. They talked in whispers at fust, but at last Sam +'eard Peter say:-- + +"'Threepence for 'is brekfuss; sevenpence for 'is dinner; threepence for +'is tea; penny for beer and a penny for bacca. 'Ow much is that, +Ginger?' + +"'One bob,' ses Ginger. + +"Peter counted up to 'imself. 'I make it more than that, old pal,' he +ses, when he 'ad finished. + +"'Do you?' ses Ginger, getting up. 'Well, he won't; not if he counts it +twenty times over he won't. Good-night, Peter. 'Appy dreams.'" + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Guardian Angel, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10567 *** |