Old Gold | Page 2

found a hotter. I dessay it is worse in our cook's oven, but I never tried that."
He looked first at one and then at the other, as if he expected them to laugh; but as they did not he screwed up his face, coughed unnecessarily, and then said:
"Yes, it is hot, gentlemen. Wants to be if you mean to grow sugar."
"And coffee, captain," said the second personage; and just then there was a dismal creaking sound made by a windlass, a musical yo-yo-ingcame from a vessel moored to the wharf, and a big sugar hogshead was wound up to a certain height, the crane which bore it was swung round, and as the wheels creaked the great hogshead began to descend slowly towards a gaping hole in the vessel's deck, while the captain swung himself round as if bound to follow the motion of the crane and the cask of sugar, and then lowered himself imitatively by bending his back till the cask disappeared, when he started upright, banged the table with his fist, and exclaimed sharply:
"I don't believe they're using a bit of dunnage, and if they don't the first storm they get those hogsheads'll be rempaging about in that hold, and if they don't mind that vessel'll sink, to the bottom of the sea, the sea. She'll sink to the bottom of the sea!"
He half sang the latter words, with a merry look upon his face; but it did not sound like singing, for his voice was not musical, and he turned then to his young companion.
"Know that song, squire?" he said.
"No," said the lad, smiling in turn. "Is it a song?"
"Yes, and a good one too. That's `The Mermaid,' that is."
"But we did not come here to breakfast and discuss old songs, captain," said the second personage.
"That's a true word, sir; and we--Hullo! there you are again, are you? Anyone would think you wanted to know. See that chap, sir?"
"Oh, yes, I've seen him several times; and he does seem as if he wanted to know something. He has been watching me about ever since my brother and I have been here."
"So he has me, sir. He's one of those chaps who take a lot more interest in other persons' affairs than they do in their own, and if he comes poking his long thin sharp nose in my business he'll be getting himself into trouble."
It was a long thin nose, and on either side was a very sharp black beady eye, which did not set off or improve a thin, wrinkled yellow face, as the owner sauntered by with a roughly-made cigar in his mouth, the smoking of which seemed to necessitate the sucking in of the smoker's cheeks, as he gazed eagerly at the seated party and went on.
"He's a slave-driver; that's what he is, for a guinea," said the captain sourly. "So that's your brother, is it, sir?"
"Yes, this is my brother," was the reply.
"Thought he was. Be just like you when he's a dozen years older."
"I doubt it, captain. You don't suppose I shall stand still during the next twelve years?"
"No, of course not, sir."
"But this is not business, captain."
"No, sir, it isn't," said that individual angrily; "and if I'd known that I was going to be played such an unbusinesslike trick you wouldn't have caught me off Johnstown in my brig, I can tell you. I was as good as promised a full cargo of sugar back to Bristol, and I'm thrown overboard for the sake of saving a few dirty pounds by the agents here. But it ain't my business."
"And my proposal is, captain?"
"Well, I dunno, sir. You've come to me in a very pleasant, straightforward sort o' way to make me what sounds like a good offer. But, you see, we're strangers; I don't know you."
"And I did not know you till yesterday, when I was making enquiries about a vessel."
"That's right, sir. Well, you see, I'm a business man, and I always speak out straight what I mean."
"Speak out then, captain."
"Who may you be?"
"There is my card," was the reply, and a slip was taken out of a pocket-book and pushed across the table, to be picked up by the captain, who read:
"`Sir Humphrey Leigh, Pioneers' Club, Pall Mall.' Humph! Pall Mall's in London, isn't it, sir?"
"Yes."
"Then now I know your name, sir. But do you know anyone here, sir?"
"The bankers will be my reference, and, what will suit you better, captain, credit your account with any sum you and I agree shall be paid to you for the use of your ship."
"Yes, sir, that's all very straightforward and nice; but, you see, before I close with you there's the what for!"
"What for?"
"Yes, sir; I can't go blindfold into a bargain like this. I want to know who you