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diff --git a/11472-0.txt b/11472-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5cf8496 --- /dev/null +++ b/11472-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,418 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11472 *** + +DEEP WATERS + +By W.W. JACOBS + + + + +PAYING OFF + +My biggest fault, said the night-watchman, gloomily, has been good +nature. I've spent the best part of my life trying to do my fellow- +creeturs a good turn. And what do I get for it? If all the people I've +helped was to come 'ere now there wouldn't be standing room for them on +this wharf. 'Arf of them would be pushed overboard--and a good place for +'em, too. + +I've been like it all my life. I was good-natured enough to go to sea as +a boy because a skipper took a fancy to me and wanted my 'elp, and when I +got older I was good-natured enough to get married. All my life I've +given 'elp and advice free, and only a day or two ago one of 'em wot I +'ad given it to came round here with her 'usband and 'er two brothers and +'er mother and two or three people from the same street, to see her give +me "wot for." + +Another fault o' mine has been being sharp. Most people make mistakes, +and they can't bear to see anybody as don't. Over and over agin I have +showed people 'ow silly they 'ave been to do certain things, and told 'em +wot I should ha' done in their place, but I can't remember one that ever +gave me a "thank you" for it. + +There was a man 'ere 'arf an hour ago that reminded me of both of these +faults. He came in a-purpose to remind me, and 'e brought a couple o' +grinning, brass-faced monkeys with 'im to see 'im do it. I was sitting +on that barrel when he came, and arter two minutes I felt as if I was +sitting on red-'ot cinders. He purtended he 'ad come in for the sake of +old times and to ask arter my 'ealth, and all the time he was doing 'is +best to upset me to amuse them two pore objecks 'e 'ad brought with 'im. + +Capt'in Mellun is his name, and 'e was always a foolish, soft-'eaded sort +o' man, and how he 'as kept 'is job I can't think. He used to trade +between this wharf and Bristol on a little schooner called the _Firefly_, +and seeing wot a silly, foolish kind o' man he was, I took a little bit +o' notice of 'im. Many and many a time when 'e was going to do something +he'd ha' been sorry for arterwards I 'ave taken 'im round to the Bear's +Head and stood 'im pint arter pint until he began to see reason and own +up that I was in the right. + +His crew was a'most as bad as wot he was, and all in one month one o' the +'ands gave a man ten shillings for a di'mond ring he saw 'im pick up, wot +turned out to be worth fourpence, and another one gave five bob for a +meerschaum pipe made o' chalk. When I pointed out to 'em wot fools they +was they didn't like it, and a week arterwards, when the skipper gave a +man in a pub 'is watch and chain and two pounds to hold, to show 'is +confidence in 'im, and I told 'im exactly wot I thought of him, 'e didn't +like it. + +"You're too sharp, Bill," he says, sneering like. "My opinion is that +the pore man was run over. He told me 'e should only be away five +minutes. And he 'ad got an honest face: nice open blue eyes, and a smile +that done you good to look at." + +"You've been swindled," I ses, "and you know it. If I'd been done like +that I should never hold up my 'ead agin. Why, a child o' five would +know better. You and your crew all seem to be tarred with the same +brush. You ain't fit to be trusted out alone." + +I believe 'e told his 'ands wot I said; anyway, two bits o' coke missed +me by 'arf an inch next evening, and for some weeks not one of 'em spoke +a word to me. When they see me coming they just used to stand up +straight and twist their nose. + +It didn't 'urt me, o' course. I took no notice of 'em. Even when one of +'em fell over the broom I was sweeping with I took no notice of 'im. I +just went on with my work as if 'e wasn't there. + +I suppose they 'ad been in the sulks about a month, and I was sitting +'ere one evening getting my breath arter a couple o' hours' 'ard work, +when one of 'em, George Tebb by name, came off the ship and nodded to me +as he passed. + +"Evening, Bill," he ses. + +"Evening," I ses, rather stiff. + +"I wanted a word with you, Bill," he ses, in a low voice. "In fact, I +might go so far as to say I want to ask you to do me a favour." + +I looked at him so 'ard that he coughed and looked away. + +"We might talk about it over a 'arf-pint," he ses. + +"No, thank you," I ses. "I 'ad a 'arf-pint the day before yesterday, and +I'm not thirsty." + +He stood there fidgeting about for a bit, and then he puts his 'and on my +shoulder. + +"Well, come to the end of the jetty," he ses. "I've got something +private to say." + +I got up slow-like and followed 'im. I wasn't a bit curious. Not a bit. +But if a man asks for my 'elp I always give it. + +"It's like this," he ses, looking round careful, "only I don't want the +other chaps to hear because I don't want to be laughed at. Last week an +old uncle o' mine died and left me thirty pounds. It's just a week ago, +and I've already got through five of 'em, and besides that the number of +chaps that want to borrow ten bob for a couple o' days would surprise +you." + +"I ain't so easy surprised," I ses, shaking my 'ead. + +"It ain't safe with me," he ses; "and the favour I want you to do is to +take care of it for me. I know it'll go if I keep it. I've got it +locked up in this box. And if you keep the box I'll keep the key, and +when I want a bit I'll come and see you about it." + +He pulled a little box out of 'is pocket and rattled it in my ear. + +"There's five-and-twenty golden goblins in there," he ses. "If you take +charge of 'em they'll be all right. If you don't, I'm pretty certain I +sha'n't 'ave one of 'em in a week or two's time." + +At fust I said I wouldn't 'ave anything to do with it, but he begged so +'ard that I began to alter my mind. + +"You're as honest as daylight, Bill," he ses, very earnest. "I don't +know another man in the world I could trust with twenty-five quid-- +especially myself. Now, put it in your pocket and look arter it for me. +One of the quids in it is for you, for your trouble." + +He slipped the box in my coat-pocket, and then he said 'is mind was so +relieved that 'e felt like 'arf a pint. I was for going to the Bear's +Head, the place I generally go to, because it is next door to the wharf, +so to speak, but George wanted me to try the beer at another place he +knew of. + +"The wharf's all right," he ses. "There's one or two 'ands on the ship, +and they won't let anybody run away with it." + +From wot he said I thought the pub was quite close, but instead o' that I +should think we walked pretty nearly a mile afore we got there. Nice +snug place it was, and the beer was all right, although, as I told George +Tebb, it didn't seem to me any better than the stuff at the Bear's Head. + +He stood me two 'arf-pints and was just going to order another, when 'e +found 'e 'adn't got any money left, and he wouldn't hear of me paying for +it, because 'e said it was his treat. + +"We'll 'ave a quid out o' the box," he ses. "I must 'ave one to go on +with, anyway." I shook my 'ead at 'im. + +"Only one," he ses, "and that'll last me a fortnight. Besides, I want to +give you the quid I promised you." + +I gave way at last, and he put his 'and in 'is trouser-pocket for the +key, and then found it wasn't there. + +"I must ha' left it in my chest," he ses. "I'll 'op back and get it." +And afore I could prevent 'im he 'ad waved his 'and at me and gorn. + +My fust idea was to go arter 'im, but I knew I couldn't catch 'im, and if +I tried to meet 'im coming back I should most likely miss 'im through the +side streets. So I sat there with my pipe and waited. + +I suppose I 'ad been sitting down waiting for him for about ten minutes, +when a couple o' sailormen came into the bar and began to make themselves +a nuisance. Big fat chaps they was, and both of 'em more than 'arf +sprung. And arter calling for a pint apiece they began to take a little +notice of me. + +"Where d'you come from?" ses one of 'em. "'Ome," I ses, very quiet. + +"It's a good place--'ome," ses the chap, shaking his 'ead. "Can you sing +"Ome, Sweet 'Ome'? You seem to 'ave got wot I might call a 'singing +face.'" + +"Never mind about my face," I ses, very sharp. "You mind wot you're +doing with that beer. You'll 'ave it over in a minute." + +The words was 'ardly out of my mouth afore 'e gave a lurch and spilt his +pint all over me. From 'ead to foot I was dripping with beer, and I was +in such a temper I wonder I didn't murder 'im; but afore I could move +they both pulled out their pocket-'ankerchers and started to rub me down. + +"That'll do," I ses at last, arter they 'ad walked round me 'arf-a-dozen +times and patted me all over to see if I was dry. "You get off while +you're safe." + +"It was my mistake, mate," ses the chap who 'ad spilt the beer. + +"You get outside," I ses. "Go on, both of you, afore I put you out." + +They gave one look at me, standing there with my fists clenched, and then +they went out like lambs, and I 'eard 'em trot round the corner as though +they was afraid I was following. I felt a little bit damp and chilly, +but beer is like sea-water--you don't catch cold through it--and I sat +down agin to wait for George Tebb. + +He came in smiling and out 'o breath in about ten minutes' time, with the +key in 'is 'and, and as soon as I told 'im wot had 'appened to me with +the beer he turned to the landlord and ordered me six o' rum 'ot at once. + +"Drink that up," he ses, 'anding it to me; "but fust of all give me the +box, so as I can pay for it." + +I put my 'and in my pocket. Then I put it in the other one, and arter +that I stood staring at George Tebb and shaking all over. + +"Wot's the matter? Wot are you looking like that for?" he ses. + +"It must ha' been them two," I ses, choking. "While they was purtending +to dry me and patting me all over they must 'ave taken it out of my +pocket." + +"Wot are you talking about?" ses George, staring at me. + +"The box 'as gorn," I ses, putting down the 'ot rum and feeling in my +trouser-pocket. "The box 'as gorn, and them two must 'ave taken it." + +"Gorn!" ses George. "Gorn! My box with twenty-five pounds in, wot I +trusted you with, gorn? Wot are you talking about? It can't be--it's +too crool!" + +He made such a noise that the landlord wot was waiting for 'is money, +asked 'im wot he meant by it, and, arter he 'ad explained, I'm blest if +the landlord didn't advise him to search me. I stood still and let +George go through my pockets, and then I told 'im I 'ad done with 'im and +I never wanted to see 'im agin as long as I lived. + +"I dare say," ses George, "I dare say. But you'll come along with me to +the wharf and see the skipper. I'm not going to lose five-and-twenty +quid through your carelessness." + +I marched along in front of 'im with my 'ead in the air, and when he +spoke to me I didn't answer him. He went aboard the ship when we got to +the wharf, and a minute or two arterwards 'e came to the side and said +the skipper wanted to see me. + +The airs the skipper gave 'imself was sickening. He sat down there in +'is miserable little rat-'ole of a cabin and acted as if 'e was a judge +and I was a prisoner. Most of the 'ands 'ad squeezed in there too, and +the things they advised George to do to me was remarkable. + +"Silence!" ses the skipper. "Now, watchman, tell me exactly 'ow this +thing 'appened." + +"I've told you once," I ses. + +"I know," ses the skipper, "but I want you to tell me again to see if you +contradict yourself. I can't understand 'ow such a clever man as you +could be done so easy." + +I thought I should ha' bust, but I kept my face wonderful. I just asked +'im wot the men was like that got off with 'is watch and chain and two +pounds, in case they might be the same. + +"That's different," he ses. + +"Oh!" ses I. "'Ow?" + +"I lost my own property," he ses, "but you lost George's, and 'ow a man +like you, that's so much sharper and cleverer than other people, could be +had so easy, I can't think. Why, a child of five would ha' known +better." + +"A baby in arms would ha' known better," ses the man wot 'ad bought the +di'mond ring. "'Ow could you 'ave been so silly, Bill? At your time o' +life, too!" + +"That's neither 'ere nor there," ses the skip-per. "The watchman has +lost twenty-five quid belonging to one o' my men. The question is, wot +is he going to do about it?" + +"Nothing," I ses. "I didn't ask 'im to let me mind the box. He done it +of 'is own free will. It's got nothing to do with me." + +"Oh, hasn't it?" ses the skipper, drawing 'imself up. "I don't want to +be too 'ard on you, but at the same time I can't let my man suffer. I'll +make it as easy as I can, and I order you to pay 'im five shillings a +week till the twenty-five pounds is cleared off." + +I laughed; I couldn't 'elp it. I just stood there and laughed at 'im. + +"If you don't," ses the skipper, "then I shall lay the facts of the case +afore the guv'nor. Whether he'll object to you being in a pub a mile +away, taking care of a box of gold while you was supposed to be taking +care of the wharf, is his bisness. My bisness is to see that my man 'as +'is rights." + +"'Ear, 'ear !" ses the crew. + +"You please yourself, watchman," ses the skipper. "You're such a clever +man that no doubt you could get a better job to-morrow. There must be +'eaps of people wanting a man like you. It's for you to decide. That's +all I've got to say--five bob a week till pore George 'as got 'is money +back, or else I put the case afore the guv'nor. Wot did you say?" + +I said it agin, and, as 'e didn't seem to understand, I said it once +more. + +"Please yourself," 'e ses, when I 'ad finished. "You're an old man, and +five bob a week can't be much loss to you. You've got nothing to spend +it on, at your time o' life. And you've got a very soft job 'ere. Wot?" + +I didn't answer 'im. I just turned round, and, arter giving a man wot +stood in my way a punch in the chest, I got up on deck and on to the +wharf, and said my little say all alone to myself, behind the crane. + +I paid the fust five bob to George Tebb the next time the ship was up, +and arter biting 'em over and over agin and then ringing 'em on the +deck 'e took the other chaps round to the Bear's Head. + +"P'r'aps it's just as well it's 'appened," he ses. "Five bob a week for +nearly two years ain't to be sneezed at. It's slow, but it's sure." + +I thought 'e was joking at fust, but arter working it out in the office +with a bit o' pencil and paper I thought I should ha' gorn crazy. And +when I complained about the time to George 'e said I could make it +shorter if I liked by paying ten bob a week, but 'e thought the steady +five bob a week was best for both of us. + +I got to 'ate the sight of 'im. Every week regular as clockwork he used +to come round to me with his 'and out, and then go and treat 'is mates to +beer with my money. If the ship came up in the day-time, at six o'clock +in the evening he'd be at the wharf gate waiting for me; and if it came +up at night she was no sooner made fast than 'e was over the side patting +my trouser-pocket and saying wot a good job it was for both of us that I +was in steady employment. + +Week arter week and month arter month I went on paying. I a'most forgot +the taste o' beer, and if I could manage to get a screw o' baccy a week I +thought myself lucky. And at last, just as I thought I couldn't stand it +any longer, the end came. + +I 'ad just given George 'is week's money--and 'ow I got it together that +week I don't know--when one o' the chaps came up and said the skipper +wanted to see me on board at once. + +"Tell 'im if he wants to see me I'm to be found on the wharf," I ses, +very sharp. + +"He wants to see you about George's money," ses the chap. "I should go +if I was you. My opinion is he wants to do you a good turn." + +I 'ung fire for a bit, and then, arter sweeping up for a little while +deliberate-like, I put down my broom and stepped aboard to see the +skipper, wot was sitting on the cabin skylight purtending to read a +newspaper. + +He put it down when 'e see me, and George and the others, wot 'ad been +standing in a little bunch for'ard, came aft and stood looking on. + +"I wanted to see you about this money, watchman," ses the skipper, +putting on 'is beastly frills agin. "O' course, we all feel that to a +pore man like you it's a bit of a strain, and, as George ses, arter all +you have been more foolish than wicked." + +"Much more," ses George. + +"I find that you 'ave now paid five bob a week for nineteen weeks," ses +the skipper, "and George 'as been kind enough and generous enough to let +you off the rest. There's no need for you to look bashful, George; it's +a credit to you." + +I could 'ardly believe my ears. George stood there grinning like a stuck +fool, and two o' the chaps was on their best behaviour with their 'ands +over their mouths and their eyes sticking out. + +"That's all, watchman," ses the skipper; "and I 'ope it'll be a lesson to +you not to neglect your dooty by going into public-'ouses and taking +charge of other people's money when you ain't fit for it." + +"I sha'n't try to do anybody else a kindness agin, if that's wot you +mean," I ses, looking at 'im. + +"No, you'd better not," he ses. "This partickler bit o' kindness 'as +cost you four pounds fifteen, and that's a curious thing when you come to +think of it. Very curious." + +"Wot d'ye mean?" I ses. + +"Why," he ses, grinning like a madman, "it's just wot we lost between us. +I lost a watch and chain worth two pounds, and another couple o' pounds +besides; Joe lost ten shillings over 'is di'mond ring; and Charlie lost +five bob over a pipe. 'That's four pounds fifteen--just the same as +you." + +Them silly fools stood there choking and sobbing and patting each other +on the back as though they'd never leave off, and all of a sudden I 'ad a +'orrible suspicion that I 'ad been done. + +"Did you see the sovereigns in the box?" I ses, turning to the skipper. + +"No," he ses, shaking his 'ead. + +"'Ow do you know they was there, then?" ses I. + +"Because you took charge of 'em," said the skipper; "and I know wot a +clever, sharp chap you are. It stands to reason that you wouldn't be +responsible for a box like that unless you saw inside of it. Why, a +child o' five wouldn't!" + +I stood there looking at 'im, but he couldn't meet my eye. None of 'em +could; and arter waiting there for a minute or two to give 'em a chance, +I turned my back on 'em and went off to my dooty. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Paying Off, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11472 *** |