CHAPTER XV
_In Which Bad-Weather Tom West's Curious Financial Predicament is Explained_
"Well, now," said Doctor Luke, continuing his tale, "Bad-Weather TomWest, of Ragged Run, has a conscience, too. But 'tis just a commonconscience. Most men have that kind. It is not like Skinflint Sam'sconscience. Nothing 'useful' ever comes of it. It is like yours andmine, Billy. It troubles Tom West to be honest and it keeps him poor.All Tom West's conscience ever aggravates him to do"--Doctor Luke wasspeaking in gentle irony now--"is just to live along in a religious sortof fashion, and rear his family, and be decently stowed away in thegraveyard when his time is up if the sea doesn't catch him first.
"But 'tis a busy conscience for all that--and as sharp as a fish-prong.There is no rest for Tom West if he doesn't fatten his wife and crew oflittle lads and maids. There is no peace of mind for Tom if he doesn'tlabour! And so Tom labours, and labours, and labours. Dawn to dusk, inseason, his punt is on the grounds off Lack-a-Day Head, taking fish fromthe sea to be salted and dried and passed into Skinflint Sam'sstorehouses.
"The tale began long ago, Billy. When Tom West was about fourteen yearsold, his father died. 'Twas of a Sunday afternoon, Tom says, that theystowed him away. He remembers the time: spring weather and a fair day,with the sun low, and the birds twittering in the alders just beforeturning in.
"Skinflint Sam caught up with young Tom on the road home from the littlegraveyard on Sunset Hill.
"'Well, lad,' said he, 'the old skipper's gone.'
"'Ay, sir, he's dead an' buried.'
"'A fine man,' said Skinflint. 'None finer.'
"With that young Tom broke out crying. 'He were a kind father t' we,'says he. 'An' now he's dead!'
"'You lacked nothin' in your father's life-time,' said Sam.
"'An' now he's dead!'
"'Well, well, you've no call t' be afeared o' goin' hungry on thataccount,' said Sam, putting an arm over the lad's shoulder. 'No; nornone o' the little crew over t' your house. Take up the fishin' whereyour father left it off, lad,' said he, 'an' you'll find smalldifference. I'll cross out your father's name on the books an' put downyour own in its stead.'"
Billy Topsail interrupted.
"That was kind!" he snorted, in anger. "What a kind man this Skinflintis!"
And Doctor Luke continued:
"'I'm fair obliged,' said Tom. 'That's kind, sir.'
"'Nothin' like kindness t' ease sorrow,' said Skinflint Sam. 'Yourfather died in debt, lad.'
"'Ay, sir?'
"'Deep.'
"'How much, sir?'
"'I'm not able t' tell offhand,' said Sam. ''Twas deep enough. But neveryou care. You'll be able t' square it in course o' time. You're youngan' hearty. An' I'll not be harsh. _I'm_ no skinflint!'
"'That's kind, sir.'
"'You--you--_will_ square it?'
"'I don't know, sir.'
"'_What?_' cried Sam. '_What!_ You're not _knowin'_, eh? That's saucytalk. Didn't you have them there supplies?'
"'I 'low, sir.'
"'An' you guzzled your share, I'll be bound!'
"'Yes, sir.'
"'An' your mother had her share?'
"'Yes, sir.'
"'An' you're not knowin' whether you'll pay or not! Ecod! What is you? Ascoundrel? A dead beat? A rascal? A thief? A jail-bird?'
"'No, sir.'
"''Tis for the likes o' you that jails was made.'
"'Oh, no, sir!'
"'Doesn't you go t' church? Is that what they learns you there? I'mthinkin' the parson doesn't earn what I pays un. Isn't you got noconscience?'
"'Twas just a little too much for young Tom. You see, Tom West _had_ aconscience--a conscience as fresh and as young as his years. And Tom hadloved his father well. And Tom honoured his father's name. And so whenhe had brooded over Skinflint Sam's words for a time--and when he hadlain awake in the night thinking of his father's goodness--he went overto Skinflint's office and said that he would pay his father's debt.
"Skinflint gave him a clap on the back.
"'You are an honest lad, Tom West!' said he. 'I knowed you was. I'mproud t' have your name on my books!'
"And after that Tom kept hacking away on his father's debt.
"In good years Skinflint would say:
"'She's comin' down, Tom. I'll just apply the surplus.'
"And in bad he'd say:
"'You isn't quite cotched up with your own self this season, b'y. Alittle less pork this season, Tom, an' you'll square this here littlebalance afore next. I wisht this whole harbour was as honest as you. Notrouble, then,' said he, 't' do business in a businesslike way.'
"When Tom got over the hill--fifty and more--his father's debt, withinterest, according to Skinflint's figures, which Tom had no learning todispute, was more than it ever had been; and his own was as much as heever could hope to pay. And by that time Skinflint Sam was rich andBad-Weather Tom was gone sour. One of these days--and not long, now--Ishall make it my business to settle with Skinflint Sam. And I shouldhave done so before, had I known of it."
"When did you find out, sir?"
"Bad-Weather Tom," Doctor Luke replied, "came to consult me about twomonths ago. He is in a bad way. I--well, I had to tell him so. And thenhe told me what I have told you--all about Skinflint Sam and hisdealings with him. It was an old story, Billy. I have--well, attended tosuch matters before, in my own poor way. Bad-Weather Tom did not want meto take this up. 'You leave it to me,' said he; 'an' I'll fix itmeself.' I wish he might be able to 'fix' it to his satisfaction."
"I hopes he does!" said Billy.
"Well, well," Doctor Luke replied, "it is Bad-Weather Tom's maid who isin need of us at Ragged Run."
Billy liked that "Us"!
Billy Topsail, M.D.: A Tale of Adventure With Doctor Luke of the Labrador Page 17