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diff --git a/11481-h/001.jpg b/11481-h/001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f003e6a --- /dev/null +++ b/11481-h/001.jpg diff --git a/11481-h/11481-h.htm b/11481-h/11481-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..321d699 --- /dev/null +++ b/11481-h/11481-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1204 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<meta content="pg2html (binary version 0.11)" + name="generator"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of + Deep Waters: DIRTY WORK + by W.W. Jacobs. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7} + * { font-family: Times; + } + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin: 15%; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 14pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; color:#A82C28} + HR { width: 33%; } + PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dirty Work, 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: Dirty Work + Deep Waters, Part 11. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: March 6, 2004 [EBook #11481] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DIRTY WORK *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="cover (95K)" src="cover.jpg" height="787" width="632" /> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h1> + DEEP WATERS +</h1> +<center><h2> + By W.W. JACOBS +</h2></center> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title (39K)" src="title.jpg" height="617" width="488" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="001 (37K)" src="001.jpg" height="670" width="480" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br><hr><br><br> + + + + +<a name="2H_4_11"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1> + DIRTY WORK +</h1> +<br /><br /> +<p> + It was nearly high-water, and the night-watchman, who had stepped aboard + a lighter lying alongside the wharf to smoke a pipe, sat with half-closed + eyes enjoying the summer evening. The bustle of the day was over, the + wharves were deserted, and hardly a craft moved on the river. Perfumed + clouds of shag, hovering for a time over the lighter, floated lazily + towards the Surrey shore. +</p> +<p> + "There's one thing about my job," said the night-watchman, slowly, "it's + done all alone by yourself. There's no foreman a-hollering at you and + offering you a penny for your thoughts, and no mates to run into you from + behind with a loaded truck and then ask you why you didn't look where + you're going to. From six o'clock in the evening to six o'clock next + morning I'm my own master." +</p> +<p> + He rammed down the tobacco with an experienced forefinger and puffed + contentedly. +</p> +<p> + People like you 'ud find it lonely (he continued, after a pause); I did + at fust. I used to let people come and sit 'ere with me of an evening + talking, but I got tired of it arter a time, and when one chap fell + overboard while 'e was showing me 'ow he put his wife's mother in 'er + place, I gave it up altogether. There was three foot o' mud in the dock + at the time, and arter I 'ad got 'im out, he fainted in my arms. +</p> +<p> + Arter that I kept myself to myself. Say wot you like, a man's best + friend is 'imself. There's nobody else'll do as much for 'im, or let 'im + off easier when he makes a mistake. If I felt a bit lonely I used to + open the wicket in the gate and sit there watching the road, and p'r'aps + pass a word or two with the policeman. Then something 'appened one night + that made me take quite a dislike to it for a time. +</p> +<p> + I was sitting there with my feet outside, smoking a quiet pipe, when I + 'eard a bit of a noise in the distance. Then I 'eard people running and + shouts of "Stop, thief!" A man came along round the corner full pelt, + and, just as I got up, dashed through the wicket and ran on to the wharf. + I was arter 'im like a shot and got up to 'im just in time to see him + throw something into the dock. And at the same moment I 'eard the other + people run past the gate. +</p> +<p> + "Wot's up?" I ses, collaring 'im. +</p> +<p> + "Nothing," he ses, breathing 'ard and struggling. "Let me go." +</p> +<p> + He was a little wisp of a man, and I shook 'im like a dog shakes a rat. + I remembered my own pocket being picked, and I nearly shook the breath + out of 'im. +</p> +<p> + "And now I'm going to give you in charge," I ses, pushing 'im along + towards the gate. +</p> +<p> + "Wot for?" he ses, purtending to be surprised. +</p> +<p> + "Stealing," I ses. +</p> +<p> + "You've made a mistake," he ses; "you can search me if you like." +</p> +<p> + "More use to search the dock," I ses. "I see you throw it in. Now you + keep quiet, else you'll get 'urt. If you get five years I shall be all + the more pleased." +</p> +<p> + I don't know 'ow he did it, but 'e did. He seemed to sink away between + my legs, and afore I knew wot was 'appening, I was standing upside down + with all the blood rushing to my 'ead. As I rolled over he bolted + through the wicket, and was off like a flash of lightning. +</p> +<p> + A couple o' minutes arterwards the people wot I 'ad 'eard run past came + back agin. There was a big fat policeman with 'em—a man I'd seen afore + on the beat—and, when they 'ad gorn on, he stopped to 'ave a word with + me. +</p> +<p> + "'Ot work," he ses, taking off his 'elmet and wiping his bald 'ead with a + large red handkerchief. "I've lost all my puff." +</p> +<p> + "Been running?" I ses, very perlite. +</p> +<p> + "Arter a pickpocket," he ses. "He snatched a lady's purse just as she + was stepping aboard the French boat with her 'usband. 'Twelve pounds in + it in gold, two peppermint lozenges, and a postage stamp.'" +</p> +<p> + He shook his 'ead, and put his 'elmet on agin. +</p> +<p> + "Holding it in her little 'and as usual," he ses. "Asking for trouble, I + call it. I believe if a woman 'ad one hand off and only a finger and + thumb left on the other, she'd carry 'er purse in it." +</p> +<p> + He knew a'most as much about wimmen as I do. When 'is fust wife died, + she said 'er only wish was that she could take 'im with her, and she made + 'im promise her faithful that 'e'd never marry agin. His second wife, + arter a long illness, passed away while he was playing hymns on the + concertina to her, and 'er mother, arter looking at 'er very hard, went + to the doctor and said she wanted an inquest. +</p> +<p> + He went on talking for a long time, but I was busy doing a bit of 'ead- + work and didn't pay much attention to 'im. I was thinking o' twelve + pounds, two lozenges, and a postage stamp laying in the mud at the bottom + of my dock, and arter a time 'e said 'e see as 'ow I was waiting to get + back to my night's rest, and went off—stamping. +</p> +<p> + I locked the wicket when he 'ad gorn away, and then I went to the edge of + the dock and stood looking down at the spot where the purse 'ad been + chucked in. The tide was on the ebb, but there was still a foot or two + of water atop of the mud. I walked up and down, thinking. +</p> +<p> + I thought for a long time, and then I made up my mind. If I got the + purse and took it to the police-station, the police would share the money + out between 'em, and tell me they 'ad given it back to the lady. If I + found it and put a notice in the newspaper—which would cost money—very + likely a dozen or two ladies would come and see me and say it was theirs. + Then if I gave it to the best-looking one and the one it belonged to + turned up, there'd be trouble. My idea was to keep it—for a time—and + then if the lady who lost it came to me and asked me for it I would give + it to 'er. +</p> +<p> + Once I had made up my mind to do wot was right I felt quite 'appy, and + arter a look up and down, I stepped round to the Bear's Head and 'ad a + couple o' goes o' rum to keep the cold out. There was nobody in there + but the landlord, and 'e started at once talking about the thief, and 'ow + he 'ad run arter him in 'is shirt-sleeves. +</p> +<p> + "My opinion is," he ses, "that 'e bolted on one of the wharves and 'id + 'imself. He disappeared like magic. Was that little gate o' yours + open?" +</p> +<p> + "I was on the wharf," I ses, very cold. +</p> +<p> + "You might ha' been on the wharf and yet not 'ave seen anybody come on," + he ses, nodding. +</p> +<p> + "Wot d'ye mean?" I ses, very sharp. "Nothing," he ses. "Nothing." +</p> +<p> + "Are you trying to take my character away?" I ses, fixing 'im with my + eye. +</p> +<p> + "Lo' bless me, no!" he ses, staring at me. "It's no good to me." +</p> +<p> + He sat down in 'is chair behind the bar and went straight off to sleep + with his eyes screwed up as tight as they would go. Then 'e opened + his mouth and snored till the glasses shook. I suppose I've been one of + the best customers he ever 'ad, and that's the way he treated me. For + two pins I'd ha' knocked 'is ugly 'ead off, but arter waking him up very + sudden by dropping my glass on the floor I went off back to the wharf. +</p> +<p> + I locked up agin, and 'ad another look at the dock. The water 'ad nearly + gone and the mud was showing in patches. My mind went back to a + sailorman wot had dropped 'is watch over-board two years before, and + found it by walking about in the dock in 'is bare feet. He found it more + easy because the glass broke when he trod on it. +</p> +<p> + The evening was a trifle chilly for June, but I've been used to roughing + it all my life, especially when I was afloat, and I went into the office + and began to take my clothes off. I took off everything but my pants, + and I made sure o' them by making braces for 'em out of a bit of string. + Then I turned the gas low, and, arter slipping on my boots, went outside. +</p> +<p> + It was so cold that at fust I thought I'd give up the idea. The longer I + stood on the edge looking at the mud the colder it looked, but at last I + turned round and went slowly down the ladder. I waited a moment at the + bottom, and was just going to step off when I remembered that I 'ad got + my boots on, and I 'ad to go up agin and take 'em off. +</p> +<p> + I went down very slow the next time, and anybody who 'as been down an + iron ladder with thin, cold rungs, in their bare feet, will know why, + and I had just dipped my left foot in, when the wharf-bell rang. +</p> +<p> + I 'oped at fust that it was a runaway-ring, but it kept on, and the + longer it kept on, the worse it got. I went up that ladder agin and + called out that I was coming, and then I went into the office and just + slipped on my coat and trousers and went to the gate. +</p> +<p> + "Wot d'you want?" I ses, opening the wicket three or four inches and + looking out at a man wot was standing there. +</p> +<p> + "Are you old Bill?" he ses. +</p> +<p> + "I'm the watchman," I ses, sharp-like. "Wot d'you want?" +</p> +<p> + "Don't bite me!" he ses, purtending to draw back. "I ain't done no 'arm. + I've come round about that glass you smashed at the Bear's Head." +</p> +<p> + "Glass!" I ses, 'ardly able to speak. +</p> +<p> + "Yes, glass," he ses—"thing wot yer drink out of. The landlord says + it'll cost you a tanner, and 'e wants it now in case you pass away in + your sleep. He couldn't come 'imself cos he's got nobody to mind the + bar, so 'e sent me. Why! Halloa! Where's your boots? Ain't you afraid + o' ketching cold?" +</p> +<p> + "You clear off," I ses, shouting at him. "D'ye 'ear me? Clear off while + you're safe, and you tell the landlord that next time 'e insults me I'll + smash every glass in 'is place and then sit 'im on top of 'cm! Tell 'im + if 'e wants a tanner out o' me, to come round 'imself, and see wot he + gets." +</p> +<p> + It was a silly thing to say, and I saw it arterwards, but I was in such a + temper I 'ardly knew wot I was saying. I slammed the wicket in 'is face + and turned the key and then I took off my clothes and went down that + ladder agin. +</p> +<p> + It seemed colder than ever, and the mud when I got fairly into it was + worse than I thought it could ha' been. It stuck to me like glue, and + every step I took seemed colder than the one before. 'Owever, when I + make up my mind to do a thing, I do it. I fixed my eyes on the place + where I thought the purse was, and every time I felt anything under my + foot I reached down and picked it up—and then chucked it away as far as + I could so as not to pick it up agin. Dirty job it was, too, and in five + minutes I was mud up to the neck, a'most. And I 'ad just got to wot I + thought was the right place, and feeling about very careful, when the + bell rang agin. +</p> +<p> + I thought I should ha' gorn out o' my mind. It was just a little tinkle + at first, then another tinkle, but, as I stood there all in the dark and + cold trying to make up my mind to take no notice of it, it began to ring + like mad. I 'ad to go—I've known men climb over the gate afore now—and + I didn't want to be caught in that dock. +</p> +<p> + The mud seemed stickier than ever, but I got out at last, and, arter + scraping some of it off with a bit o' stick, I put on my coat and + trousers and boots just as I was and went to the gate, with the bell + going its 'ardest all the time. +</p> +<p> + When I opened the gate and see the landlord of the Bear's Head standing + there I turned quite dizzy, and there was a noise in my ears like the + roaring of the sea. I should think I stood there for a couple o' minutes + without being able to say a word. I could think of 'em. +</p> +<p> + "Don't be frightened, Bill," ses the landlord. "I'm not going to eat + you." +</p> +<p> + "He looks as if he's walking in 'is sleep," ses the fat policeman, wot + was standing near by. "Don't startle 'im." +</p> +<p> + "He always looks like that," ses the landlord. +</p> +<p> + I stood looking at 'im. I could speak then, but I couldn't think of any + words good enough; not with a policeman standing by with a notebook in + 'is pocket. +</p> +<p> + "Wot was you ringing my bell for?" I ses, at last. +</p> +<p> + "Why didn't you answer it before?" ses the landlord. "D'you think I've + got nothing better to do than to stand ringing your bell for three- + quarters of an hour? Some people would report you." +</p> +<p> + "I know my dooty," I ses; "there's no craft up to-night, and no reason + for anybody to come to my bell. If I was to open the gate every time a + parcel of overgrown boys rang my bell I should 'ave enough to do." +</p> +<p> + "Well, I'll overlook it this time, seeing as you're an old man and + couldn't get another sleeping-in job," he ses, looking at the policeman + for him to see 'ow clever 'e was. "Wot about that tanner? That's wot + I've come for." +</p> +<p> + "You be off," I ses, starting to shut the wicket. "You won't get no + tanner out of me." +</p> +<p> + "All right," he ses, "I shall stand here and go on ringing the bell till + you pay up, that's all." +</p> +<p> + He gave it another tug, and the policeman instead of locking 'im up for + it stood there laughing. +</p> +<p> + I gave 'im the tanner. It was no use standing there arguing over a + tanner, with a purse of twelve quid waiting for me in the dock, but I + told 'im wot people thought of 'im. +</p> +<p> + "Arf a second, watchman," ses the policeman, as I started to shut the + wicket agin. "You didn't see anything of that pickpocket, did you?" +</p> +<p> + "I did not," I ses. +</p> +<p> + "'Cos this gentleman thought he might 'ave come in here," ses the + policeman. +</p> +<p> + "'Ow could he 'ave come in here without me knowing it?" I ses, firing + up. +</p> +<p> + "Easy," ses the landlord, "and stole your boots into the bargain" +</p> +<p> + "He might 'ave come when your back was turned," ses the policeman, "and + if so, he might be 'iding there now. I wonder whether you'd mind me + having a look round?" +</p> +<p> + "I tell you he ain't 'ere," I ses, very short, "but, to ease your mind, + I'll 'ave a look round myself arter you've gorn." +</p> +<p> + The policeman shook his 'ead. "Well, o' course, I can't come in without + your permission," he ses, with a little cough, "but I 'ave an idea, that + if it was your guv'nor 'ere instead of you he'd ha' been on'y too pleased + to do anything 'e could to help the law. I'll beg his pardon tomorrow + for asking you, in case he might object." +</p> +<p> + That settled it. That's the police all over, and that's 'ow they get + their way and do as they like. I could see 'im in my mind's eye talking + to the guv'nor, and letting out little things about broken glasses and + such-like by accident. I drew back to let 'im pass, and I was so upset + that when that little rat of a landlord follered 'im I didn't say a word. +</p> +<p> + I stood and watched them poking and prying about the wharf as if it + belonged to 'em, with the light from the policeman's lantern flashing + about all over the place. I was shivering with cold and temper. The mud + was drying on me. +</p> +<p> + "If you've finished 'unting for the pickpocket I'll let you out and get + on with my work," I ses, drawing myself up. +</p> +<p> + "Good night," ses the policeman, moving off. "Good night, dear," ses the + landlord. "Mind you tuck yourself up warm." +</p> +<p> + I lost my temper for the moment and afore I knew wot I was doing I 'ad + got hold of him and was shoving 'im towards the gate as 'ard as I could + shove. He pretty near got my coat off in the struggle, and next moment + the police-man 'ad turned his lantern on me and they was both staring at + me as if they couldn't believe their eyesight. +</p> +<p> + "He—he's turning black!" ses the landlord. +</p> +<p> + "He's turned black!" ses the policeman. +</p> +<p> + They both stood there looking at me with their mouths open, and then + afore I knew wot he was up to, the policeman came close up to me and + scratched my chest with his finger-nail. +</p> +<p> + "It's mud!" he ses. +</p> +<p> + "You keep your nails to yourself," I ses. "It's nothing to do with you." + and I couldn't 'elp noticing the smell of it. Nobody could. And wot was + worse than all was, that the tide 'ad turned and was creeping over the + mud in the dock. +</p> +<p> + They got tired of it at last and came back to where I was and stood there + shaking their 'eads at me. +</p> +<p> + "If he was on the wharf 'e must 'ave made his escape while you was in the + Bear's Head," ses the policeman. +</p> +<p> + "He was in my place a long time," ses the landlord. +</p> +<p> + "Well, it's no use crying over spilt milk," ses the policeman. "Funny + smell about 'ere, ain't there?" he ses, sniffing, and turning to the + landlord. "Wot is it?" +</p> +<p> + "I dunno," ses the landlord. "I noticed it while we was talking to 'im + at the gate. It seems to foller 'im about." +</p> +<p> + "I've smelt things I like better," ses the policeman, sniffing agin. + "It's just like the foreshore when somebody 'as been stirring the mud up + a bit." +</p> +<p> + "Unless it's a case of 'tempted suicide," he ses, looking at me very + 'ard. +</p> +<p> + "Ah!" ses the landlord. +</p> +<p> + "There's no mud on 'is clothes," ses the policeman, looking me over with + his lantern agin. +</p> +<p> + "He must 'ave gone in naked, but I should like to see 'is legs to make— + All right! All right! Keep your 'air on." +</p> +<p> + "You look arter your own legs, then," I ses, very sharp, "and mind your + own business." +</p> +<p> + "It is my business," he ses, turning to the landlord. "Was 'e strange in + his manner at all when 'e was in your place to-night?" +</p> +<p> + "He smashed one o' my best glasses," ses the landlord. +</p> +<p> + "So he did," ses the policeman. "So he did. I'd forgot that. Do you + know 'im well?" +</p> +<p> + "Not more than I can 'elp," ses the landlord. "He's been in my place a + good bit, but I never knew of any reason why 'e should try and do away + with 'imself. If he's been disappointed in love, he ain't told me + anything about it." +</p> +<p> + I suppose that couple o' fools 'ud 'ave stood there talking about me all + night if I'd ha' let 'em, but I had about enough of it. +</p> +<p> + "Look 'ere," I ses, "you're very clever, both of you, but you needn't + worry your 'eads about me. I've just been having a mud-bath, that's + all." +</p> +<p> + "A mud-bath!" ses both of 'em, squeaking like a couple o' silly parrots. +</p> +<p> + "For rheumatics," I ses. "I 'ad it some-thing cruel to-night, and I + thought that p'r'aps the mud 'ud do it good. I read about it in the + papers. There's places where you pay pounds and pounds for 'em, but, + being a pore man, I 'ad to 'ave mine on the cheap." +</p> +<p> + The policeman stood there looking at me for a moment, and then 'e began + to laugh till he couldn't stop 'imself. +</p> +<p> + "Love-a-duck!" he ses, at last, wiping his eyes. "I wish I'd seen it." +</p> +<p> + "Must ha' looked like a fat mermaid," ses the landlord, wagging his silly + 'ead at me. "I can just see old Bill sitting in the mud a-combing his + 'air and singing." +</p> +<p> + They 'ad some more talk o' that sort, just to show each other 'ow funny + they was, but they went off at last, and I fastened up the gate and went + into the office to clean myself up as well as I could. One comfort was + they 'adn't got the least idea of wot I was arter, and I 'ad a fancy that + the one as laughed last would be the one as got that twelve quid. +</p> +<p> + I was so tired that I slept nearly all day arter I 'ad got 'ome, and I + 'ad no sooner got back to the wharf in the evening than I see that the + landlord 'ad been busy. If there was one silly fool that asked me the + best way of making mud-pies, I should think there was fifty. Little + things please little minds, and the silly way some of 'em went on made me + feel sorry for my sects. +</p> +<p> + By eight o'clock, 'owever, they 'ad all sheered off, and I got a broom + and began to sweep up to 'elp pass the time away until low-water. On'y + one craft 'ad come up that day—a ketch called the Peewit—and as she was + berthed at the end of the jetty she wasn't in my way at all. +</p> +<p> + Her skipper came on to the wharf just afore ten. Fat, silly old man 'e + was, named Fogg. Always talking about 'is 'ealth and taking medicine to + do it good. He came up to me slow like, and, when 'e stopped and asked + me about the rheumatics, the broom shook in my 'and. +</p> +<p> + "Look here," I ses, "if you want to be funny, go and be funny with them + as likes it. I'm fair sick of it, so I give you warning." +</p> +<p> + "Funny?" he ses, staring at me with eyes like a cow. "Wot d'ye mean? + There's nothing funny about rheumatics; I ought to know; I'm a martyr to + it. Did you find as 'ow the mud did you any good?" +</p> +<p> + I looked at 'im hard, but 'e stood there looking at me with his fat baby- + face, and I knew he didn't mean any harm; so I answered 'im perlite and + wished 'im good night. +</p> +<p> + "I've 'ad pretty near everything a man can have," he ses, casting anchor + on a empty box, "but I think the rheumatics was about the worst of 'em + all. I even tried bees for it once." +</p> +<p> + "Bees!" I ses. "<i>Bees!</i>" +</p> +<p> + "Bee-stings," he ses. "A man told me that if I could on'y persuade a few + bees to sting me, that 'ud cure me. I don't know what 'e meant by + persuading! they didn't want no persuading. I took off my coat and shirt + and went and rocked one of my neighbour's bee-hives next door, and I + thought my last hour 'ad come." +</p> +<p> + He sat on that box and shivered at the memory of it. +</p> +<p> + "Now I take Dr. Pepper's pellets instead," he ses. "I've got a box in my + state-room, and if you'd like to try 'em you're welcome." +</p> +<p> + He sat there talking about the complaints he had 'ad and wot he 'ad done + for them till I thought I should never have got rid of 'im. He got up at + last, though, and, arter telling me to always wear flannel next to my + skin, climbed aboard and went below. +</p> +<p> + I knew the hands was aboard, and arter watching 'is cabin-skylight until + the light was out, I went and undressed. Then I crept back on to the + jetty, and arter listening by the Peewit to make sure that they was all + asleep, I went back and climbed down the ladder. +</p> +<p> + It was colder than ever. The cold seemed to get into my bones, but I + made up my mind to 'ave that twelve quid if I died for it. I trod round + and round the place where I 'ad seen that purse chucked in until I was + tired, and the rubbish I picked up by mistake you wouldn't believe. +</p> +<p> + I suppose I 'ad been in there arf an hour, and I was standing up with my + teeth clenched to keep them from chattering, when I 'appened to look + round and see something like a white ball coming down the ladder. My + 'art seemed to stand still for a moment, and then it began to beat as + though it would burst. The white thing came down lower and lower, and + then all of a sudden it stood in the mud and said, "Ow!" +</p> +<p> + "Who is it?" I ses. "Who are you?" "Halloa, Bill!" it ses. "Ain't it + perishing cold?" +</p> +<p> + It was the voice o' Cap'n Fogg, and if ever I wanted to kill a fellow- + creetur, I wanted to then. +</p> +<p> + "'Ave you been in long, Bill?" he ses. "About ten minutes," I ses, + grinding my teeth. +</p> +<p> + "Is it doing you good?" he ses. +</p> +<p> + I didn't answer 'im. +</p> +<p> + "I was just going off to sleep," he ses, "when I felt a sort of hot pain + in my left knee. O' course, I knew what it meant at once, and instead o' + taking some of the pellets I thought I'd try your remedy instead. It's a + bit nippy, but I don't mind that if it does me good." +</p> +<p> + He laughed a silly sort o' laugh, and then I'm blest if 'e didn't sit + down in that mud and waller in it. Then he'd get up and come for'ard two + or three steps and sit down agin. +</p> +<p> + "Ain't you sitting down, Bill?" he ses, arter a time. +</p> +<p> + "No," I ses, "I'm not." +</p> +<p> + "I don't think you can expect to get the full benefit unless you do," he + ses, coming up close to me and sitting down agin. "It's a bit of a shock + at fust, but Halloa!" +</p> +<p> + "Wot's up?" I ses. +</p> +<p> + "Sitting on something hard," he ses. "I wish people 'ud be more + careful." +</p> +<p> + He took a list to port and felt under the star-board side. Then he + brought his 'and up and tried to wipe the mud off and see wot he 'ad got. +</p> +<p> + "Wot is it?" I ses, with a nasty sinking sort o' feeling inside me. +</p> +<p> + "I don't know," he ses, going on wiping. "It's soft outside and 'ard + inside. It——" +</p> +<p> + "Let's 'ave a look at it," I ses, holding out my 'and. +</p> +<p> + "It's nothing," he ses, in a queer voice, getting up and steering for the + ladder. "Bit of oyster-shell, I think." +</p> +<p> + He was up that ladder hand over fist, with me close behind 'im, and as + soon as he 'ad got on to the wharf started to run to 'is ship. +</p> +<p> + "Good night, Bill," he ses, over 'is shoulder. +</p> +<p> + "Arf a moment." I ses, follering 'im. +</p> +<p> + "I must get aboard," he ses; "I believe I've got a chill," and afore I + could stop 'im he 'ad jumped on and run down to 'is cabin. +</p> +<p> + I stood on the jetty for a minute or two, trembling all over with cold + and temper. Then I saw he 'ad got a light in 'is cabin, and I crept + aboard and peeped down the skylight. And I just 'ad time to see some + sovereigns on the table, when he looked up and blew out the light. +</p> + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dirty Work, by W.W. 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