'"
While this narrative had been in progress, Desmond was walking with
Bulger and his mates back towards the river.
"How was it you happened to be hereabouts so early?" asked Desmond. "I
didn't expect to see you till tomorrow."
Bulger winked.
"You wouldn't axe if you wasn't a landlubber, meanin' no offense," he
said. "'Tis last night ashore. We sailor men has had enough o' Waterman's
Rests an' such like. To tell you the truth, we gave Mr. Toley the slip,
and now we be goin' to have a night at the Crown an' Anchor."
"What about the press gang?"
"We takes our chance. They won't press me, sartin sure, 'cos o' my
tenterhook here, and I'll keep my weather eye open, trust me for that."
Here they parted company. Desmond watched the jolly crew as they turned
into the Minories, and heard their rollicking chorus:
"Ho! when the cargo's shipped,
An the anchor's neatly tripped,
An' the gals are weepin' bucketfuls o' sorrer,
Why, there's the decks to swab,
An' we en't a-goin' to sob,
S'pose the sharks do make a meal of us tomorrer."
At the Goat and Compasses Diggle was awaiting him.
"Ha! my friend, you did it as prettily as a man could wish. Solitudo
aliquid adjuvat, as Tully somewhere hath it, not foreseeing my case,
when solitude would have been my undoing. I thank thee."
"Was the fellow attacking you?" asked Desmond.
"That to be sure was his intention. I was in truth in the very article of
peril; I was blown; my breath was near gone, when at the critical moment
up comes a gallant youth--subvenisti homini jam perdito--and with
dexterous hand stays the enemy in his course.
Pages:
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96