“’And I’ll ‘ave it now,’ he ses, ‘to prevent mistakes.’

“’No, ‘Arry,’ I ses, very firm.  ‘Besides, it ain’t my money, you see.’

“‘You mean to say you don’t trust me,’ ’e ses, firing up.

“‘I’d trust you with untold gold,’ I ses, ’but not with a real quid; you’re too fond of a joke, ‘Arry.’

“We ’ad another long argyment about it, and I had to tell ’im plain at last that when I wanted to smell ’is fist, I’d say so.

“‘You turn up at the wharf at five minutes to seven,’ I ses, ’and I’ll give you ten bob of it; arter you’ve done your business I’ll give you the other.  Come along quiet, and you’ll see me waiting at the gate for you.’

“He gave way arter a time, and, fust going ‘ome for a cup o’ tea, I went on to the wharf to tell the skipper ’ow things stood.

“’It couldn’t ’ave ‘appened better,’ he ses.  ’Uncle Dick is sure to be aboard at that time, ’cos ’e’s going acrost the water at eight o’clock to pay ‘er a visit.  And all the hands’ll be away.  I’ve made sure of that.’

“He gave me the money for Artful ’Arry in two ’arf-suverins, and then we went over to the ‘Albion’ for a quiet glass and a pipe, and to wait for seven o’clock.

“I left ’im there at ten minutes to, and at five minutes to, punctual to the minute, I see ’Arry coming along swinging a thick stick with a knob on the end of it.

“’Where’s the ‘arf thick-un?’ he ses, looking round to see that the coast was clear.

“I gave it to ’im, and arter biting it in three places and saying it was a bit short in weight he dropped it in ’is weskit-pocket and said ’e was ready.

“I left ’im there for a minute while I went and ’ad a look round.  The deck of the Snipe was empty, but I could ’ear Uncle Dick down in the cabin singing; and, arter listening for a few seconds to make sure that it was singing, I went back and beckoned to ’Arry.

“‘He’s down in the cabin,’ I ses, pointing.  ’Don’t overdo it, ’Arry, and at the same time don’t underdo it, as you might say.’

“‘I know just wot you want,’ ses ’Arry, ’and if you’d got the ’art of a man in you, you’d make it two quids.’

“He climbed on board and stood listening for a moment at the companion, and then ’e went down, while I went off outside the gate, so as to be out of earshot in case Uncle Dick called for me.  I knew that I should ’ear all about wot went on arterwards—­and I did.

“Artful ’Arry went down the companion-ladder very quiet, and then stood at the foot of it looking at Uncle Dick.  He looked ’im up and down and all over, and then ’e gave a fierce, loud cough.

“‘Good-evening,’ he ses.

“‘Good-evening,’ ses Uncle Dick, staring at ’im.  ’Did you want to see anybody?’

“‘I did,’ ses ’Arry.  ’I do.  And when I see ’im I’m going to put my arms round ’im and twist ’is neck; then I’m going to break every bone in ’is body, and arter that I’m going to shy ’im overboard to pison the fishes with.’