Captains All | Page 2

long that at last 'e lost 'is temper, and, arter
wondering wot Ginger's father and mother could ha' been a-thinking
about, and saying that he believed Peter Russet 'ad been changed at
birth for a sea-sick monkey, he put on 'is cap and went out. Both of 'em
follered 'im sharp, but when he led 'em to a mission-hall, and actually
went inside, they left 'im and went off on their own.
They talked it over that night between themselves, and next evening
they went out fust and hid themselves round the corner. Ten minutes
arterwards old Sam came out, walking as though 'e was going to catch a
train; and smiling to think 'ow he 'ad shaken them off. At the corner of
Commercial Road he stopped and bought 'imself a button-hole for 'is
coat, and Ginger was so surprised that 'e pinched Peter Russet to make
sure that he wasn't dreaming.
Old Sam walked straight on whistling, and every now and then looking
down at 'is button-hole, until by-and-by he turned down a street on the
right and went into a little shop. Ginger Dick and Peter waited for 'im at
the corner, but he was inside for so long that at last they got tired o'
waiting and crept up and peeped through the winder.
It was a little tobacconist's shop, with newspapers and penny toys and
such-like; but, as far as Ginger could see through two rows o' pipes and
the Police News, it was empty. They stood there with their noses
pressed against the glass for some time, wondering wot had 'appened to
Sam, but by-and-by a little boy went in and then they began to 'ave an
idea wot Sam's little game was.
As the shop-bell went the door of a little parlour at the back of the shop
opened, and a stout and uncommon good-looking woman of about forty
came out. Her 'ead pushed the Police News out o' the way and her 'and
came groping into the winder arter a toy.
Ginger 'ad a good look at 'er out o' the corner of one eye, while he
pretended to be looking at a tobacco-jar with the other. As the little boy
came out 'im and Peter Russet went in.

"I want a pipe, please," he ses, smiling at 'er; "a clay pipe--one o' your
best." The woman handed 'im down a box to choose from, and just then
Peter, wot 'ad been staring in at the arf-open door at a boot wot wanted
lacing up, gave a big start and ses, "Why! Halloa!"
"Wot's the matter?" ses the woman, looking at 'im.
"I'd know that foot anywhere," ses Peter, still staring at it; and the
words was hardly out of 'is mouth afore the foot 'ad moved itself away
and tucked itself under its chair. "Why, that's my dear old friend Sam
Small, ain't it?"
"Do you know the captin?" ses the woman, smiling at 'im.
"Cap----?" ses Peter. "Cap----? Oh, yes; why, he's the biggest friend I've
got." "'Ow strange!" ses the woman.
"We've been wanting to see 'im for some time," ses Ginger. "He was
kind enough to lend me arf a crown the other day, and I've been
wanting to pay 'im."
"Captin Small," ses the woman, pushing open the door, "here's some
old friends o' yours."
Old Sam turned 'is face round and looked at 'em, and if looks could ha'
killed, as the saying is, they'd ha' been dead men there and then.
"Oh, yes," he ses, in a choking voice; "'ow are you?"
"Pretty well, thank you, captin," ses Ginger, grinning at 'im; "and 'ow's
yourself arter all this long time?"
He held out 'is hand and Sam shook it, and then shook 'ands with Peter
Russet, who was grinning so 'ard that he couldn't speak.
"These are two old friends o' mine, Mrs. Finch," ses old Sam, giving
'em a warning look; "Captin Dick and Captin Russet, two o' the oldest
and best friends a man ever 'ad."

"Captin Dick 'as got arf a crown for you," ses Peter Russet, still
grinning.
"There now," ses Ginger, looking vexed, "if I ain't been and forgot it;
I've on'y got arf a sovereign."
"I can give you change, sir," ses Mrs. Finch. "P'r'aps you'd like to sit
down for five minutes?"
Ginger thanked 'er, and 'im and Peter Russet took a chair apiece in front
o' the fire and began asking old Sam about 'is 'ealth, and wot he'd been
doing since they saw 'im last.
"Fancy your reckernizing his foot," ses Mrs. Finch, coming in with the
change.
"I'd know it anywhere," ses Peter, who was watching Ginger pretending
to give Sam Small the 'arf-dollar, and Sam pretending in a most lifelike
manner to take it.
Ginger Dick