“‘We went to look for you,’ ses Miss Lamb, very quick.  ’He said you were at the music-’all, and as you ’adn’t got my letter I thought it was very likely.’

“‘But I did get your letter,’ ses the cap’n.

“‘He said you didn’t,’ ses Miss Lamb.

“’Look ‘ere,’ I ses.  ’Why don’t you keep quiet and let me explain?  I can explain everything.’

“‘I’m glad o’ that, for your sake, my man,’ ses the cap’n, looking at me very hard.  ’I ’ope you will be able to explain ’ow it was you came to leave the wharf for three hours.’

“I saw it all then.  If I split about Mrs. Plimmer, he’d split to the guv’nor about my leaving my dooty, and I should get the sack.  I thought I should ha’ choked, and, judging by the way they banged me on the back, Bob and the cook thought so too.  They ’elped me to a chair when I got better, and I sat there ’elpless while the cap’n went on talking.

“‘I’m no mischief-maker,’ he ses; ’and, besides, p’r’aps he’s been punished enough.  And as far as I’m concerned he can take this lady to a music-’all every night of the week if ‘e likes.  I’ve done with her.’

“There was an eggsterrordinary noise from where my missis was standing; like the gurgling water makes sometimes running down the kitchen sink at ’ome, only worse.  Then they all started talking together, and ’arf-a-dozen times or more Miss Lamb called me to back ’er up in wot she was saying, but I only shook my ’ead, and at last, arter tossing her ’ead at Cap’n Tarbell and telling ’im she wouldn’t ’ave ’im if he’d got fifty million a year, the five of ’em ’eld my missis while she went off.

“They gave ‘er ten minutes’ start, and then Cap’n Tarbell, arter looking at me and shaking his ’ead, said he was afraid they must be going.

“’And I ‘ope this night’ll be a lesson to you,’ he ses.  ’Don’t neglect your dooty again.  I shall keep my eye on you, and if you be’ave yourself I sha’n’t say anything.  Why, for all you know or could ha’ done the wharf might ha’ been burnt to the ground while you was away!’

“He nodded to his crew, and they all walked out laughing and left me alone—­with the missis.”

[Illustration:  Mr. Chase, with his friend in his powerful grasp, was doing his best, as he expressed it, to shake the life out of him]

FAIRY GOLD

“Come and have a pint and talk it over,” said Mr. Augustus Teak.  “I’ve got reasons in my ’ead that you don’t dream of, Alf.”

Mr. Chase grunted and stole a side-glance at the small figure of his companion.  “All brains, you are, Gussie,” he remarked.  “That’s why it is you’re so well off.”

“Come and have a pint,” repeated the other, and with surprising ease pushed his bulky friend into the bar of the “Ship and Anchor.”  Mr. Chase, mellowed by a long draught, placed his mug on the counter and eyeing him kindly, said—­