Meanwhile, Mr. Toley and
his companion had each taken a fowling piece and gone away with the
landlord. Bulger winked at his companions, and when the sportsmen were
out of earshot he broke into a guffaw.
"Rare sport they'll have! I wouldn't be in Mr. Toley's shoes for
something. What's a cock-eyed man want with a gun in his hand, eh,
mateys?"
Desmond felt somewhat out of his element in his present company; but
having reasons of his own for making himself pleasant, he said, by way of
opening a conversation:
"You seem pleased at the idea of going to sea again, Mr. Bulger."
"Well, we are and we en't, eh, mateys? The Waterman's Rest en't exactly
the kind of place to spend shore leave; it en't a patch on Wapping or
Rotherhithe. And to tell 'ee true, we're dead sick of it. But there's
reasons; there mostly is; and the whys and wherefores, therefores and
becauses, I dessay you know, young gen'lman, acomin' from Captain
Barker."
"The press gang?"
"Ay, the press is hot in these days. Cap'n sent us here to be out o' the
way, and the orficers to look arter us. Not but what 'tis safer for them
too; for if Mr. Sunman showed his cock-eyes anywhere near the Pool, he'd
be nabbed by the bailiffs, sure as he's second mate o' the Good Intent.
Goin' to sea's bad enough, but the Waterman's Rest and holdin' on the
slack here's worse, eh, mateys?"
"Ay, you're right there, Bulger."
"But why don't you like going to sea?" asked Desmond.
"Why? You're a landlubber, sir--meanin' no offense--or you wouldn't axe
sich a foolish question.
Pages:
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78