by W. W. Jacobs
Strength and good-nature--said the night-watchman, musingly, as he felthis biceps--strength and good-nature always go together. Sometimes youfind a strong man who is not good-natured, but then, as everybody hecomes in contack with is, it comes to the same thing.
The strongest and kindest-'earted man I ever come across was a man o'the name of Bill Burton, a ship-mate of Ginger Dick's. For that matter'e was a shipmate o' Peter Russet's and old Sam Small's too. Not overand above tall; just about my height, his arms was like another man'slegs for size, and 'is chest and his back and shoulders might ha' beenmade for a giant. And with all that he'd got a soft blue eye like agal's (blue's my favourite colour for gals' eyes), and a nice, soft,curly brown beard. He was an A.B., too, and that showed 'ow good-naturedhe was, to pick up with firemen.
He got so fond of 'em that when they was all paid off from the OceanKing he asked to be allowed to join them in taking a room ashore. Itpleased every-body, four coming cheaper than three, and Bill being thatgood-tempered that 'e'd put up with anything, and when any of the threequarrelled he used to act the part of peacemaker.
The only thing about 'im that they didn't like was that 'e was ateetotaler. He'd go into public-'ouses with 'em, but he wouldn't drink;leastways, that is to say, he wouldn't drink beer, and Ginger used tosay that it made 'im feel uncomfortable to see Bill put away a bottle o'lemonade every time they 'ad a drink. One night arter 'e had 'adseventeen bottles he could 'ardly got home, and Peter Russet, who knew alot about pills and such-like, pointed out to 'im 'ow bad it was for hisconstitushon. He proved that the lemonade would eat away the coats o'Bill's stomach, and that if 'e kept on 'e might drop down dead at anymoment.
That frightened Bill a bit, and the next night, instead of 'avinglemonade, 'e had five bottles o' stone ginger-beer, six of differentkinds of teetotal beer, three of soda-water, and two cups of coffee. I'mnot counting the drink he 'ad at the chemist's shop arterward, becausehe took that as medicine, but he was so queer in 'is inside next morningthat 'e began to be afraid he'd 'ave to give up drink altogether.
He went without the next night, but 'e was such a generous man that 'ewould pay every fourth time, and there was no pleasure to the otherchaps to see 'im pay and 'ave nothing out of it. It spoilt theirevening, and owing to 'aving only about 'arf wot they was accustomed tothey all got up very disagreeable next morning.
"Why not take just a little beer, Bill?" asks Ginger.
Bill 'ung his 'ead and looked a bit silly. "I'd rather not, mate," heses, at last. "I've been teetotal for eleven months now."
"Think of your 'ealth, Bill," ses Peter Russet; "your 'ealth is moreimportant than the pledge. Wot made you take it?"
Bill coughed. "I 'ad reasons," he ses, slowly. "A mate o' mine wished meto."
"He ought to ha' known better," ses Sam. "He 'ad 'is reasons," ses Bill.
"Well, all I can say is, Bill," ses Ginger, "all I can say is, it's verydisobligin' of you."
"Disobligin'?" ses Bill, with a start; "don't say that, mate."
"I must say it," ses Ginger, speaking very firm.
"You needn't take a lot, Bill," ses Sam; "nobody wants you to do that.Just drink in moderation, same as wot we do."
"It gets into my 'ead," ses Bill, at last.
"Well, and wot of it?" ses Ginger; "it gets into everybody's 'eadoccasionally. Why, one night old Sam 'ere went up behind a policeman andtickled 'im under the arms; didn't you, Sam?"
"I did nothing o' the kind," ses Sam, firing up.
"Well, you was fined ten bob for it next morning, that's all I know,"ses Ginger.
"I was fined ten bob for punching 'im," ses old Sam, very wild. "I nevertickled a policeman in my life. I never thought o' such a thing. I'd nomore tickle a policeman than I'd fly. Anybody that ses I did is a liar.Why should I? Where does the sense come in? Wot should I want to do itfor?"
"All right, Sam," ses Ginger, sticking 'is fingers in 'is ears, "youdidn't, then."
"No, I didn't," ses Sam, "and don't you forget it. This ain't the fusttime you've told that lie about me. I can take a joke with any man; butanybody that goes and ses I tickled--"
"All right," ses Ginger and Peter Russet together. "You'll 'ave tickledpoliceman on the brain if you ain't careful, Sam," ses Peter.
Old Sam sat down growling, and Ginger Dick turned to Bill agin. "It getsinto everybody's 'ead at times," he ses, "and where's the 'arm? It's wotit was meant for."
Bill shook his 'ead, but when Ginger called 'im disobligin' agin he gaveway and he broke the pledge that very evening with a pint o' six 'arf.
Ginger was surprised to see the way 'e took his liquor. Arter three orfour pints he'd expected to see 'im turn a bit silly, or sing, or dosomething o' the kind, but Bill kept on as if 'e was drinking water.
"Think of the 'armless pleasure you've been losing all these months,Bill," ses Ginger, smiling at him.
Bill said it wouldn't bear thinking of, and, the next place they came tohe said some rather 'ard things of the man who'd persuaded 'im to takethe pledge. He 'ad two or three more there, and then they began to seethat it was beginning to have an effect on 'im. The first one thatnoticed it was Ginger Dick. Bill 'ad just lit 'is pipe, and as he threwthe match down he ses: "I don't like these 'ere safety matches," he ses.
"Don't you, Bill?" ses Ginger. "I do, rather."
"Oh, you do, do you?" ses Bill, turning on 'im like lightning; "well,take that for contradictin'," he ses, an' he gave Ginger a smack thatnearly knocked his 'ead off.
It was so sudden that old Sam and Peter put their beer down and staredat each other as if they couldn't believe their eyes. Then they stoopeddown and helped pore Ginger on to 'is legs agin and began to brush 'imdown.
"Never mind about 'im, mates," ses Bill, looking at Ginger very wicked."P'r'aps he won't be so ready to give me 'is lip next time. Let's cometo another pub and enjoy ourselves."
Sam and Peter followed 'im out like lambs, 'ardly daring to look overtheir shoulder at Ginger, who was staggering arter them some distancebehind a 'olding a handerchief to 'is face.
"It's your turn to pay, Sam," ses Bill, when they'd got inside the nextplace. "Wot's it to be? Give it a name."
"Three 'arf pints o' four ale, miss," ses Sam, not because 'e was mean,but because it wasn't 'is turn. "Three wot?" ses Bill, turning on 'im.
"Three pots o' six ale, miss," ses Sam, in a hurry.
"That wasn't wot you said afore," ses Bill. "Take that," he ses, givingpore old Sam a wipe in the mouth and knocking 'im over a stool; "takethat for your sauce."
Peter Russet stood staring at Sam and wondering wot Bill ud be like whenhe'd 'ad a little more. Sam picked hisself up arter a time and wentoutside to talk to Ginger about it, and then Bill put 'is arm roundPeter's neck and began to cry a bit and say 'e was the only pal he'd gotleft in the world. It was very awkward for Peter, and more awkward stillwhen the barman came up and told 'im to take Bill outside.
"Go on," he ses, "out with 'im."
"He's all right," ses Peter, trembling; "we's the truest-'artedgentleman in London. Ain't you, Bill?"
Bill said he was, and 'e asked the barman to go and hide 'is facebecause it reminded 'im of a little dog 'e had 'ad once wot 'ad died.
"You get outside afore you're hurt," ses the bar-man.
Bill punched at 'im over the bar, and not being able to reach 'im threwPeter's pot o' beer at 'im. There was a fearful to-do then, and thelandlord jumped over the bar and stood in the doorway, whistling for thepolice. Bill struck out right and left, and the men in the bar went downlike skittles, Peter among them. Then they got outside, and Bill, artergiving the landlord a thump in the back wot nearly made him swallow thewhistle, jumped into a cab and pulled Peter Russet in arter 'im.
"I'll talk to you by-and-by," he ses, as the cab drove off at a gallop;"there ain't room in this cab. You wait, my lad, that's all. You justwait till we get out, and I'll knock you silly."
"Wot for, Bill?" ses Peter, staring.
"Don't you talk to me," roa
rs Bill. "If I choose to knock you aboutthat's my business, ain't it? Besides, you know very well."
He wouldn't let Peter say another word, but coming to a quiet place nearthe docks he stopped the cab and pulling 'im out gave 'im such adressing down that Peter thought 'is last hour 'ad arrived. He let 'imgo at last, and after first making him pay the cab-man took 'im alongtill they came to a public-'ouse and made 'im pay for drinks.
They stayed there till nearly eleven o'clock, and then Bill set off home'olding the unfortunit Peter by the scruff o' the neck, and wonderingout loud whether 'e ought to pay 'im a bit more or not. Afore 'e couldmake up 'is mind, however, he turned sleepy, and, throwing 'imself downon the bed which was meant for the two of 'em, fell into a peacefulsleep.
Sam and Ginger Dick came in a little while arterward, both badly markedwhere Bill 'ad hit them, and sat talking to Peter in whispers as to wotwas to be done. Ginger, who 'ad plenty of pluck, was for them all to seton to 'im, but Sam wouldn't 'ear of it, and as for Peter he was so sorehe could 'ardly move.
They all turned in to the other bed at last, 'arf afraid to move forfear of disturbing Bill, and when they woke up in the morning and see'im sitting up in 'is bed they lay as still as mice.
"Why, Ginger, old chap," ses Bill, with a 'earty smile, "wot are you allthree in one bed for?"
"We was a bit cold," ses Ginger.
"Cold?" ses Bill. "Wot, this weather? We 'ad a bit of a spree lastnight, old man, didn't we? My throat's as dry as a cinder."
"It ain't my idea of a spree," ses Ginger, sitting up and looking at'im.
"Good 'eavens, Ginger!" ses Bill, starting back, "wotever 'ave you beena-doing to your face? Have you been tumbling off of a 'bus?"
Ginger couldn't answer; and Sam Small and Peter sat up in bed alongsideof 'im, and Bill, getting as far back on 'is bed as he could, satstaring at their pore faces as if 'e was having a 'orrible dream.
"And there's Sam," he ses. "Where ever did you get that mouth, Sam?"
"Same place as Ginger got 'is eye and pore Peter got 'is face," ses Sam,grinding his teeth.
"You don't mean to tell me," ses Bill, in a sad voice--"you don't meanto tell me that I did it?"
"You know well enough," ses Ginger.
Bill looked at 'em, and 'is face got as long as a yard measure.
"I'd 'oped I'd growed out of it, mates," he ses, at last, "but drinkalways takes me like that. I can't keep a pal."
"You surprise me," ses Ginger, sarcastic-like. "Don't talk like that,Ginger," ses Bill, 'arf crying.
"It ain't my fault; it's my weakness. Wot did I do it for?"
"I don't know," ses Ginger, "but you won't get the chance of doing itagin, I'll tell you that much."
"I daresay I shall be better to-night, Ginger," ses Bill, very humble;"it don't always take me that way.
"Well, we don't want you with us any more," ses old Sam, 'olding his'ead very high.
"You'll 'ave to go and get your beer by yourself, Bill," ses PeterRusset, feeling 'is bruises with the tips of 'is fingers.
"But then I should be worse," ses Bill. "I want cheerful company whenI'm like that. I should very likely come 'ome and 'arf kill you all inyour beds. You don't 'arf know what I'm like. Last night was nothing,else I should 'ave remembered it."
"Cheerful company?" ses old Sam. "'Ow do you think company's going to becheerful when you're carrying on like that, Bill? Why don't you go awayand leave us alone?"
"Because I've got a 'art," ses Bill. "I can't chuck up pals in thatfree-and-easy way. Once I take a liking to anybody I'd do anything for'em, and I've never met three chaps I like better than wot I do you.Three nicer, straight-forrad, free-'anded mates I've never met afore."
"Why not take the pledge agin, Bill?" ses Peter Russet.
"No, mate," ses Bill, with a kind smile; "it's just a weakness, and Imust try and grow out of it. I'll tie a bit o' string round my littlefinger to-night as a re-minder."
He got out of bed and began to wash 'is face, and Ginger Dick, who wasdoing a bit o' thinking, gave a whisper to Sam and Peter Russet.
"All right, Bill, old man," he ses, getting out of bed and beginning toput his clothes on; "but first of all we'll try and find out 'ow thelandlord is."
"Landlord?" ses Bill, puffing and blowing in the basin. "Wot landlord?"
"Why, the one you bashed," ses Ginger, with a wink at the other two. "He'adn't got 'is senses back when me and Sam came away."
Bill gave a groan and sat on the bed while 'e dried himself, and Gingertold 'im 'ow he 'ad bent a quart pot on the landlord's 'ead, and 'ow thelandlord 'ad been carried upstairs and the doctor sent for. He began totremble all over, and when Ginger said he'd go out and see 'ow the landlay 'e could 'ardly thank 'im enough.
He stayed in the bedroom all day, with the blinds down, and wouldn't eatanything, and when Ginger looked in about eight o'clock to find outwhether he 'ad gone, he found 'im sitting on the bed clean shaved, and'is face cut about all over where the razor 'ad slipped.
Ginger was gone about two hours, and when 'e came back he looked sosolemn that old Sam asked 'im whether he 'ad seen a ghost. Ginger didn'tanswer 'im; he set down on the side o' the bed and sat thinking.
"I s'pose--I s'pose it's nice and fresh in the streets this morning?"ses Bill, at last, in a trembling voice.
Ginger started and looked at 'im. "I didn't notice, mate," he ses. Then'e got up and patted Bill on the back, very gentle, and sat down again.
"Anything wrong, Ginger?" asks Peter Russet, staring at 'im.
"It's that landlord," ses Ginger; "there's straw down in the roadoutside, and they say that he's dying. Pore old Bill don't know 'is ownstrength. The best thing you can do, old pal, is to go as far away asyou can, at once."
"I shouldn't wait a minnit if it was me," ses old Sam.
Bill groaned and hid 'is face in his 'ands, and then Peter Russet wentand spoilt things by saying that the safest place for a murderer to 'idein was London. Bill gave a dreadful groan when 'e said murderer, but 'eup and agreed with Peter, and all Sam and Ginger Dick could do wouldn'tmake 'im alter his mind. He said that he would shave off 'is beard andmoustache, and when night came 'e would creep out and take a lodgingsomewhere right the other end of London.
"It'll soon be dark," ses Ginger, "and your own brother wouldn't knowyou now, Bill. Where d'you think of going?"
Bill shook his 'ead. "Nobody must know that, mate," he ses. "I must gointo hiding for as long as I can--as long as my money lasts; I've onlygot six pounds left."
"That'll last a long time if you're careful," ses Ginger.
"I want a lot more," ses Bill. "I want you to take this silver ring as akeepsake, Ginger. If I 'ad another six pounds or so I should feel muchsafer. 'Ow much 'ave you got, Ginger?"
"Not much," ses Ginger, shaking his 'ead.
"Lend it to me, mate," ses Bill, stretching out his 'and. "You can easyget another ship. Ah, I wish I was you; I'd be as 'appy as 'appy if Ihadn't got a penny."
"I'm very sorry, Bill," ses Ginger, trying to smile, "but I've alreadypromised to lend it to a man wot we met this evening. A promise is apromise, else I'd lend it to you with pleasure."
"Would you let me be 'ung for the sake of a few pounds, Ginger?" sesBill, looking at 'im reproach-fully. "I'm a desprit man, Ginger, and Imust 'ave that money."
Afore pore Ginger could move he suddenly clapped 'is hand over 'is mouthand flung 'im on the bed. Ginger was like a child in 'is hands, althoughhe struggled like a madman, and in five minutes 'e was laying there witha towel tied round his mouth and 'is arms and legs tied up with the cordoff of Sam's chest.
"I'm very sorry, Ginger," ses Bill, as 'e took a little over eightpounds out of Ginger's pocket. "I'll pay you back one o' these days, ifI can. If you'd got a rope round your neck same as I 'ave you'd do thesame as I've done."
He lifted up the bedclothes and put Ginger inside and tucked 'im up.Ginger's face was red with passion and 'is eyes starting out of his'ead.
"Eight and six is fifteen
," ses Bill, and just then he 'eard somebodycoming up the stairs. Ginger 'eard it, too, and as Peter Russet cameinto the room 'e tried all 'e could to attract 'is attention by rolling'is 'ead from side to side.
"Why, 'as Ginger gone to bed?" ses Peter. "Wot's up, Ginger?"
"He's all right," ses Bill; "just a bit of a 'eadache."
Peter stood staring at the bed, and then 'e pulled the clothes off andsaw pore Ginger all tied up, and making awful eyes at 'im to undo him.
"I 'ad to do it, Peter," ses Bill. "I wanted some more money to escapewith, and 'e wouldn't lend it to me. I 'aven't got as much as I wantnow. You just came in in the nick of time. Another minute and you'd ha'missed me. 'Ow much 'ave you got?"
"Ah, I wish I could lend you some, Bill," ses Peter Russet, turningpale, "but I've 'ad my pocket picked; that's wot I came back for, to getsome from Ginger."
Bill didn't say a word.
"You see 'ow it is, Bill," ses Peter, edging back toward the door;"three men laid 'old of me and took every farthing I'd got."
"Well, I can't rob you, then," ses Bill, catching 'old of 'im."Whoever's money this is," he ses, pulling a handful out o' Peter'spocket, "it can't be yours. Now, if you make another sound I'll knockyour 'ead off afore I tie you up."
"Don't tie me up, Bill," ses Peter, struggling.
"I can't trust you," ses Bill, dragging 'im over to the washstand andtaking up the other towel; "turn round."
Peter was a much easier job than Ginger Dick, and arter Bill 'ad done'im 'e put 'im in alongside o' Ginger and covered 'em up, arter firsttying both the gags round with some string to prevent 'em slipping.
"Mind, I've only borrowed it," he ses, standing by the side o' the bed;"but I must say, mates, I'm disappointed in both of you. If either ofyou 'ad 'ad the misfortune wot I've 'ad, I'd have sold the clothes offmy back to 'elp you. And I wouldn't 'ave waited to be asked neither."
He stood there for a minute very sorrowful, and then 'e patted boththeir 'eads and went downstairs. Ginger and Peter lay listening for abit, and then they turned their pore bound-up faces to each other andtried to talk with their eyes.
Then Ginger began to wriggle and try and twist the cords off, but 'emight as well 'ave tried to wriggle out of 'is skin. The worst of it wasthey couldn't make known their intentions to each other, and when PeterRusset leaned over 'im and tried to work 'is gag off by rubbing it upagin 'is nose, Ginger pretty near went crazy with temper. He bangedPeter with his 'ead, and Peter banged back, and they kept it up tillthey'd both got splitting 'eadaches, and at last they gave up in despairand lay in the darkness waiting for Sam.
And all this time Sam was sitting in the Red Lion, waiting for them. Hesat there quite patient till twelve o'clock and then walked slowly 'ome,wondering wot 'ad happened and whether Bill had gone.
Ginger was the fust to 'ear 'is foot on the stairs, and as he came intothe room, in the darkness, him an' Peter Russet started shaking theirbed in a way that scared old Sam nearly to death. He thought it was Billcarrying on agin, and 'e was out o' that door and 'arf-way downstairsafore he stopped to take breath. He stood there trembling for about tenminutes, and then, as nothing 'appened, he walked slowly upstairs aginon tiptoe, and as soon as they heard the door creak Peter and Gingermade that bed do everything but speak.
"Is that you, Bill?" ses old Sam, in a shaky voice, and standing readyto dash downstairs agin.
There was no answer except for the bed, and Sam didn't know whether Billwas dying or whether 'e 'ad got delirium trimmings. All 'e did know wasthat 'e wasn't going to sleep in that room. He shut the door gently andwent downstairs agin, feeling in 'is pocket for a match, and, notfinding one, 'e picked out the softest stair 'e could find and, leaninghis 'ead agin the banisters, went to sleep.
It was about six o'clock when 'e woke up, and broad daylight. He wasstiff and sore all over, and feeling braver in the light 'e steppedsoftly upstairs and opened the door. Peter and Ginger was waiting for'im, and as he peeped in 'e saw two things sitting up in bed with their'air standing up all over like mops and their faces tied up withbandages. He was that startled 'e nearly screamed, and then 'e steppedinto the room and stared at 'em as if he couldn't believe 'is eyes.
"Is that you, Ginger?" he ses. "Wot d'ye mean by making sights ofyourselves like that? 'Ave you took leave of your senses?"
Ginger and Peter shook their 'eads and rolled their eyes, and then Samsee wot was the matter with 'em. Fust thing 'e did was to pull out 'isknife and cut Ginger's gag off, and the fust thing Ginger did was tocall 'im every name 'e could lay his tongue to.
"You wait a moment," he screams, 'arf crying with rage. "You wait till Iget my 'ands loose and I'll pull you to pieces. The idea o' leaving uslike this all night, you old crocodile. I 'eard you come in. I'll payyou."
Sam didn't answer 'im. He cut off Peter Russet's gag, and Peter Russetcalled 'im 'arf a score o' names without taking breath.
"And when Ginger's finished I'll 'ave a go at you," he ses. "Cut offthese lines."
"At once, d'ye hear?" ses Ginger. "Oh, you wait till I get my 'ands onyou."
Sam didn't answer 'em; he shut up 'is knife with a click and then 'e satat the foot o' the bed on Ginger's feet and looked at 'em. It wasn't thefust time they'd been rude to 'im, but as a rule he'd 'ad to put up withit. He sat and listened while Ginger swore 'imself faint.
"That'll do," he ses, at last; "another word and I shall put thebedclothes over your 'ead. Afore I do anything more I want to know wotit's all about."
Peter told 'im, arter fust calling 'im some more names, because Gingerwas past it, and when 'e'd finished old Sam said 'ow surprised he was atthem for letting Bill do it, and told 'em how they ought to 'aveprevented it. He sat there talking as though 'e enjoyed the sound of 'isown voice, and he told Peter and Ginger all their faults and said wotsorrow it caused their friends. Twice he 'ad to throw the bedclothesover their 'eads because o' the noise they was making.
"Are you going--to undo--us?" ses Ginger, at last.
"No, Ginger," ses old Sam; "in justice to myself I couldn't do it. Arterwot you've said--and arter wot I've said--my life wouldn't be safe.Besides which, you'd want to go shares in my money."
He took up 'is chest and marched downstairs with it, and about 'arf anhour arterward the landlady's 'usband came up and set 'em free. As soonas they'd got the use of their legs back they started out to look forSam, but they didn't find 'im for nearly a year, and as for Bill, theynever set eyes on 'im again.
LAWYER QUINCE