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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12153 ***
+
+NIGHT WATCHES
+
+by W.W. Jacobs
+
+
+
+
+THE UNDERSTUDY
+
+The Understudy
+
+"Dogs on board ship is a nuisance," said the night-watchman, gazing
+fiercely at the vociferous mongrel that had chased him from the deck of
+the Henry William; "the skipper asks me to keep an eye on the ship, and
+then leaves a thing like that down in the cabin."
+
+He leaned against a pile of empty casks to recover his breath, shook his
+fist at the dog, and said, slowly--
+
+Some people can't make too much of 'em.  They talk about a dog's honest
+eyes and his faithful 'art.  I 'ad a dog once, and I never saw his eyes
+look so honest as they did one day when 'e was sitting on a pound o'
+beefsteak we was 'unting high and low for.
+
+I've known dogs to cause a lot of trouble in my time.  A man as used to
+live in my street told me he 'ad been in jail three times because dogs
+follered him 'ome and wouldn't go away when he told 'em to.  He said
+that some men would ha' kicked 'em out into the street, but he thought
+their little lives was far too valuable to risk in that way.
+
+Some people used to wink when 'e talked like that, but I didn't: I
+remembered a dog that took a fancy to old Sam Small and Ginger Dick and
+Peter Russet once in just the same way.
+
+It was one night in a little public-'ouse down Commercial Road way.
+They 'ad on'y been ashore a week, and, 'aving been turned out of a
+music-'all the night afore because a man Ginger Dick had punched in the
+jaw wouldn't behave 'imself, they said they'd spend the rest o' their
+money on beer instead.  There was just the three of 'em sitting by
+themselves in a cosy little bar, when the door was pushed open and a big
+black dog came in.
+
+He came straight up to Sam and licked his 'and.  Sam was eating a
+arrowroot biscuit with a bit o' cheese on it at the time.  He wasn't wot
+you'd call a partickler sort o' man, but, seeing as 'ow the dog was so
+careless that 'e licked the biscuit a'most as much as he did his 'and,
+he gave it to 'im.  The dog took it in one gulp, and then he jumped up
+on Sam's lap and wagged his tail in 'is face for joy and thankfulness.
+
+"He's took a fancy to you, Sam," ses Ginger.
+
+Sam pushed the dog off on to the floor and wiped his face.
+
+"He's a good dog, by the look of 'im," ses Peter Russet, who was country
+bred.
+
+He bought a sausage-roll, and him and the dog ate it between 'em.  Then
+Ginger Dick bought one and gave it to 'im, and by the time it was
+finished the dog didn't seem to know which one of 'em he loved the most.
+
+"Wonder who he belongs to?"  ses Ginger.  "Is there any name on the
+collar, Peter?"
+
+Peter shook his 'ead.  "It's a good collar, though," he ses.  "I wonder
+whether he's been and lost 'imself?"
+
+Old Sam, wot was always on the look-out for money, put his beer down and
+wiped 'is mouth.  "There might be a reward out for 'im," he ses. "I
+think I'll take care of 'im for a day or two, in case."
+
+"We'll all take care of 'im," ses Ginger; "and if there's a reward we'll
+go shares.  Mind that!"
+
+"I found 'im," ses Sam, very disagreeable.  "He came up to me as if he'd
+known me all 'is life."
+
+"No," ses Ginger.  "Don't you flatter yourself.  He came up to you
+because he didn't know you, Sam."
+
+"If he 'ad, he'd ha' bit your 'and," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"Instead o' washing it," ses Ginger.
+
+"Go on!"  ses Sam, 'olding his breath with passion.  "Go on!"
+
+Peter opened 'is mouth, but just then another man came into the bar,
+and, arter ordering 'is drink, turned round and patted the dog's 'ead.
+
+"That's a good dog; 'ow old is he?"  he ses to Ginger.
+
+"Two years last April," ses Ginger, without moving a eyelid.
+
+"Fifth of April," ses old Sam, very quick and fierce.
+
+"At two o'clock in the morning," ses Peter.
+
+The man took up 'is beer and looked at 'em; then 'e took a drink and
+looked at 'em again.  Arter which he 'ad another look at the dog.
+
+"I could see 'e was very valuable," he ses.  "I see that the moment I
+set eyes on 'im.  Mind you don't get 'im stole."
+
+He finished up 'is beer and went out; and he 'ad 'ardly gone afore
+Ginger took a piece o' thick string out of 'is pocket and fastened it to
+the dog's collar.
+
+"Make yourself at 'ome, Ginger," ses Sam, very nasty.
+
+"I'm going to," ses Ginger.  "That chap knows something about dogs, and,
+if we can't get a reward for 'im, p'r'aps we can sell 'im."
+
+They 'ad another arf-pint each, and then, Ginger taking 'old of the
+string, they went out into the street.
+
+"Nine o'clock," ses Peter.  "It's no good going 'ome yet, Ginger."
+
+"We can 'ave a glass or two on the way," ses Ginger; "but I sha'n't feel
+comfortable in my mind till we've got the dog safe 'ome.  P'r'aps the
+people wot 'ave lost it are looking for it now."
+
+They 'ad another drink farther on, and a man in the bar took such a
+fancy to the dog that 'e offered Ginger five shillings for it and drinks
+round.
+
+"That shows 'ow valuable it is," ses Peter Russet when they got outside.
+"Hold that string tight, Ginger.  Wot's the matter?"
+
+"He won't come," ses Ginger, tugging at the string.  "Come on, old chap!
+Good dog!  Come on!"
+
+He stood there pulling at the dog, wot was sitting down and being
+dragged along on its stummick.  He didn't know its name, but 'e called
+it a few things that seemed to ease 'is mind, and then he 'anded over
+the string to Sam, wot 'ad been asking for it, and told 'im to see wot
+he could do.
+
+"We shall 'ave a crowd round us in a minute," ses Peter.  "Mind you
+don't bust a blood-vessel, Sam."
+
+"And be locked up for stealing it, p'r'aps," ses Ginger.  "Better let it
+go, Sam."
+
+"Wot, arter refusing five bob for it?"  ses Sam.  "Talk sense, Ginger,
+and give it a shove be'ind."
+
+Ginger gave it a shove, but it was no good.  There was three or four
+people coming along the road, and Sam made up 'is mind in an instant,
+and 'eld up his 'and to a cab that was passing.
+
+It took the three of 'em to get the dog into the cab, and as soon as it
+was in the cabman told 'em to take it out agin.  They argufied with 'im
+till their tongues ached, and at last, arter paying 'im four shillings
+and sixpence afore they started, he climbed up on the box and drove off.
+
+The door was open when they got to their lodgings, but they 'ad to be
+careful because o' the landlady.  It took the three of 'em to pull and
+push that dog upstairs, and Ginger took a dislike to dogs that 'e never
+really got over.  They got 'im in the bedroom at last, and, arter they
+'ad given 'im a drink o' water out o' the wash-hand basin, Ginger and
+Peter started to find fault with Sam Small.
+
+"I know wot I'm about," ses Sam; "but, o' course, if you don't want your
+share, say so.  Wot?"
+
+"Talk sense!"  ses Ginger.  "We paid our share o' the cab, didn't we?
+And more fools us."
+
+"There won't be no share," ses Peter Russet; "but if there is, we're
+going to'ave it."
+
+They undressed themselves and got into bed, and Ginger 'adn't been in
+his five minutes afore the dog started to get in with 'im.  When Ginger
+pushed 'im off 'e seemed to think he was having a game with 'im, and,
+arter pretending to bite 'im in play, he took the end of the counterpane
+in 'is mouth and tried to drag it off.
+
+"Why don't you get to sleep, Ginger?"  ses Sam, who was just dropping
+off.  "'Ave a game with 'im in the morning."
+
+Ginger gave the dog a punch in the chest, and, arter saying a few o' the
+things he'd like to do to Sam Small, he cuddled down in 'is bed and they
+all went off to sleep.  All but the dog, that is.  He seemed uneasy in
+'is mind, and if 'e woke 'em up once by standing on his 'ind-legs and
+putting his fore-paws on their chest to see if they was still alive, he
+did arf-a-dozen times.
+
+He dropped off to sleep at last, scratching 'imself, but about three
+o'clock in the morning Ginger woke up with a 'orrible start and sat up
+in bed shivering.  Sam and Peter woke up, too, and, raising themselves
+in bed, looked at the dog, wot was sitting on its tail, with its 'ead
+back, moaning fit to break its 'art.
+
+"Wot's the matter?"  ses old Sam, in a shaky voice.  "Stop it!  Stop it,
+d'ye hear!"
+
+"P'r'aps it's dying," ses Ginger, as the dog let off a 'owl like a
+steamer coming up the river.  "Stop it, you brute!"
+
+"He'll wake the 'ouse up in a minute," ses Peter.  "Take 'im downstairs
+and kick 'im into the street, Sam."
+
+"Take 'im yourself," ses Sam.  "Hsh!  Somebody's coming upstairs.  Poor
+old doggie.  Come along, then.  Come along."
+
+The dog left off his 'owling, and went over and licked 'im just as the
+landlady and one or two more came to the door and called out to know wot
+they meant by it.
+
+"It's all right, missis," ses Sam.  "It's on'y pore Ginger.  You keep
+quiet," he ses in a whisper, turning to Ginger.
+
+"Wot's he making that row about?"  ses the landlady.  "He made my blood
+run cold."
+
+"He's got a touch o' toothache," ses Sam.  "Never mind, Ginger," 'e ses
+in a hurry, as the dog let off another 'owl; "try and bear it."
+
+"He's a coward, that's wot 'e is," ses the landlady, very fierce.  "Why,
+a child o' five wouldn't make such a fuss."
+
+"Sounds more like a dog than a 'uman being," ses another voice.  "You
+come outside, Ginger, and I'll give you something to cry for."
+
+They waited a minute or two, and then, everything being quiet, they went
+back to bed, while old Sam talked to Ginger about wot 'e called 'is
+"presence o' mind," and Ginger talked to 'im about wot he'd do to 'im if
+'e wasn't a fat old man with one foot in the grave.
+
+They was all in a better temper when they woke up in the morning, and
+while Sam was washing they talked about wot they was to do with the dog.
+
+"We can't lead 'im about all day," ses Ginger; "and if we let 'im off
+the string he'll go off 'ome."
+
+"He don't know where his 'ome is," ses Sam, very severe; "but he might
+run away, and then the pore thing might be starved or else ill-treated.
+I 'ave 'eard o' boys tying tin cans to their tails."
+
+"I've done it myself," ses Ginger, nodding.  "Consequently it's our
+dooty to look arter 'im," ses Sam.
+
+"I'll go down to the front door," ses Peter, "and when I whistle, bring
+him down."
+
+Ginger stuck his 'ead out o' the window, and by and by, when Peter
+whistled, him and Sam took the dog downstairs and out into the street.
+
+"So far so good," ses Sam; "now, wot about brekfuss?"
+
+They 'ad their brekfuss in their usual coffeeshop, and the dog took bits
+from all of them.  Unfortunately, 'e wasn't used to haddick bones, and
+arter two of the customers 'ad gorn out and two more 'ad complained to
+the landlord, they 'ad to leave their brekfusses and take 'im outside
+for a breath o' fresh air.
+
+"Now, wot are we going to do?"  ses Ginger.  "I'm beginning to be sick
+of the sight of 'im.  'Ave we got to lead 'im about all day on a bit o'
+string?"
+
+"Let's take 'im round the corner and lose 'im," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"You give me 'old o' that string," ses Sam.  "If you don't want shares,
+that's all right.  If I'm going to look arter 'im I'll 'ave it all."
+
+That made Ginger and Peter look at each other.  Direckly Sam began to
+talk about money they began to think they might be losing something.
+
+"And wot about 'aving 'im in our bedroom and keeping us awake all
+night?" ses Peter.
+
+"And putting it on to me with the toothache," ses Ginger.  "No; you can
+look arter 'im, Sam, while me and Peter goes off and enjoys ourselves;
+and if you get anything we go shares, mind."
+
+"All right," ses Sam, turning away with the dog.
+
+"And suppose Sam gets a reward or sells it, and then tells us that it
+ran away and 'e lost it?"  ses Peter.
+
+"O' course; I never thought o' that," ses Ginger.  "You've got your 'ead
+on straight, Peter."
+
+"I see 'im smile, that's why," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"You're a liar," ses Sam.
+
+"We'll stick together," ses Ginger.  "Leastways, one of us'll keep with
+you, Sam."
+
+They settled it that way at last, and while Ginger went for a walk down
+round about where they 'ad found the dog, Sam Small and Peter waited for
+him in a little public-'ouse down Limehouse way.  Their idea was that
+there would be bills up, and when Ginger came back and said there
+wasn't, they 'ad a lot to say about people wot wasn't fit to 'ave dogs
+because they didn't love 'em.
+
+They 'ad a miserable day.  When the dog got sick o' sitting in a pub 'e
+made such a noise they 'ad to take 'im out; and when 'e got tired o'
+walking about he sat down on the pavement and they 'ad to drag 'im along
+to the nearest pub agin.  At five o'clock in the arternoon Ginger Dick
+was talking about two-penn'orth o' rat-poison.
+
+"Wot are we to do with 'im till twelve o'clock to-night?"  ses Peter.
+
+"And s'pose we can't smuggle 'im into the 'ouse agin?"  ses Ginger.  "Or
+suppose he makes that noise agin in the night?"
+
+They 'ad a pint each to 'elp them to think wot was to be done.  And,
+arter a lot o' talking and quarrelling, they did wot a lot of other
+people 'ave done when they got into trouble: they came to me.
+
+I 'ad on'y been on dooty about arf an hour when the three of 'em turned
+up at the wharf with the dog, and, arter saying 'ow well I looked and
+that I seemed to get younger every time they saw me, they asked me to
+take charge of the dog for 'em.
+
+"It'll be company for you," ses old Sam.  "It must be very lonely 'ere
+of a night.  I've often thought of it."
+
+"And of a day-time you could take it 'ome and tie it up in your back-
+yard," ses Ginger.
+
+I wouldn't 'ave anything to do with it at fust, but at last I gave way.
+They offered me fourpence a day for its keep, and, as I didn't want to
+run any risk, I made 'em give me a couple o' bob to go on with.
+
+They went off as though they'd left a load o' care be'ind 'em, and arter
+tying the dog up to a crane I went on with my work.  They 'adn't told me
+wot the game was, but, from one or two things they'd let drop, I'd got a
+pretty good idea.
+
+The dog 'owled a bit at fust, but he quieted down arter a bit.  He was a
+nice-looking animal, but one dog is much the same as another to me, and
+if I 'ad one ten years I don't suppose I could pick it out from two or
+three others.
+
+I took it off 'ome with me when I left at six o'clock next morning, and
+tied it up in my yard.  My missis 'ad words about it, o' course--that's
+wot people get married for--but when she found it woke me up three times
+she quieted down and said wot a nice coat it 'ad got.
+
+The three of 'em came round next evening to see it, and they was so
+afraid of its being lost that when they stood me a pint at the Bull's
+Head we 'ad to take it with us.  Ginger was going to buy a sausage-roll
+for it, but, arter Sam 'ad pointed out that they was paying me fourpence
+a day for its keep, he didn't.  And Sam 'ad the cheek to tell me that it
+liked a nice bit o' fried steak as well as anything.
+
+A lot o' people admired that dog.  I remember, on the fourth night I
+think it was, the barge Dauntless came alongside, and arter she was made
+fast the skipper came ashore and took a little notice of it.
+
+"Where did you get 'im?" he ses.
+
+I told 'im 'ow it was, and he stood there for some time patting the dog
+on the 'ead and whistling under 'is breath.
+
+"It's much the same size as my dog," he ses; "that's a black retriever,
+too."
+
+I ses "Oh!"
+
+"I'm afraid I shall 'ave to get rid of it," he ses.  "It's on the barge
+now.  My missis won't 'ave it in the 'ouse any more cos it bit the baby.
+And o' course it was no good p'inting out to 'er that it was its first
+bite.  Even the law allows one bite, but it's no good talking about the
+law to wimmen."
+
+"Except when it's on their side," I ses.
+
+He patted the dog's 'ead agin and whistled, and a big black dog came up
+out of the cabin and sprang ashore.  It went up and put its nose to
+Sam's dog, and they both growled like thunderstorms.
+
+"Might be brothers," ses the skipper, "on'y your dog's got a better
+'eead and a better coat.  It's a good dog."
+
+"They're all alike to me," I ses.  "I couldn't tell 'em apart, not if
+you paid me."
+
+The skipper stood there a moment, and then he ses: "I wish you'd let me
+see 'ow my dog looks in your dog's collar," he ses.
+
+"Whaffor?"  I ses.
+
+"On'y fancy," he ses.  "Oh, Bill!"
+
+"Yes," I ses.
+
+"It ain't Christmas," he ses, taking my arm and walking up and down a
+bit, "but it will be soon, and then I mightn't see you.  You've done me
+one or two good turns, and I should like to make you a Christmas-box of
+three 'arf-dollars."
+
+I let 'im give 'em to me, and then, just to please 'im, I let 'im try
+the collar on 'is dog, while I swept up a bit.
+
+"It looked beautiful on 'im," he ses, when I'd finished; "but I've put
+it back agin.  Come on, Bruno.  Good-night, Bill."
+
+He got 'is dog on the barge agin arter a bit o' trouble, and arter
+making sure 'that my dog 'ad got its own collar on I went on with my
+work.
+
+The dog didn't seem to be quite 'imself next day, and he was so fierce
+in the yard that my missis was afraid to go near 'im.  I was going to
+ask the skipper about it, as 'e seemed to know more about dogs than I
+did, but when I got to the wharf the barge had sailed.
+
+It was just getting dark when there came a ring at the gate-bell, and
+afore I could answer it arf-a-dozen more, as fast as the bell could go.
+And when I opened the wicket Sam Small and Ginger and Peter Russet all
+tried to get in at once.
+
+"Where's the dog?"  ses Sam.
+
+"Tied up," I ses.  "Wot's the matter?  'Ave you all gorn mad?"
+
+They didn't answer me.  They ran on to the jetty, and afore I could turn
+round a'most they 'ad got the dog loose and was dragging it towards me,
+smiling all over their faces.
+
+"Reward," ses Ginger, as I caught 'old of 'im by the coat.  "Five pounds
+--landlord of a pub--at Bow--come on, Sam!"
+
+"Why don't you keep your mouth shut, Ginger?"  ses Sam.
+
+"Five pounds!"  I ses.  "Five pounds!  Hurrah!"
+
+"Wot are you hurraying about?"  ses Sam, very short.
+
+"Why," I ses, "I s'pose----Here, arf a moment!"
+
+"Can't stop," ses Sam, going arter the others.
+
+I watched 'em up the road, and then I locked the gate and walked up and
+down the wharf thinking wot a funny thing money is, and 'ow it alters
+people's natures.  And arter all, I thought that three arf-dollars
+earned honest was better than a reward for hiding another man's dog.
+
+I finished tidying up, and at nine o'clock I went into the office for a
+quiet smoke.  I couldn't 'elp wondering 'ow them three 'ad got on, and
+just as I was thinking about it there came the worst ringing at the
+gate-bell I 'ave ever 'eard in my life, and the noise of heavy boots
+kicking the gate.  It was so violent I 'ardly liked to go at fust,
+thinking it might be bad news, but I opened it at last, and in bust Sam
+Small, with Ginger and Peter.
+
+For five minutes they all talked at once, with their nasty fists 'eld
+under my nose.  I couldn't make lead or tail of it at fust, and then I
+found as 'ow they 'ad got the dog back with them, and that the landlord
+'ad said 'e wasn't the one.
+
+"But 'e said as he thought the collar was his," ses Sam.  "'Ow do you
+account for that?"
+
+"P'r'aps he made a mistake," I ses; "or p'r'aps he thought you'd turn
+the dog adrift and he'd get it back for nothing.  You know wot landlords
+are. Try 'im agin."
+
+"I'd pretty well swear he ain't the same dog," ses Peter Russet, looking
+in a puzzled way at Sam and Ginger.
+
+"You take 'im back to-morrow night," I ses.  "It's a nice walk to Bow.
+And then come back and beg my pardon.  I want to 'ave a word with this
+policeman here.  Goodnight."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Understudy, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12153 ***