Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-10-22
CHAPTER XXI.


"Oh ay, knows Con'sea we'll And
what might you be wantin at Con-
sea?" The brown-faced fisherman
spat on the ground and sucked
thoughtfully at his empty pipe He
Of a shed on the edge of Gorehaven
quay. The wind blew fiercely from
the nor'east, and the waters of the
harbor were ruffled into tiny white.
capped waves. Farther away down
the short wide creek which led to the
open sea long rollers went westwards
in thin lines of foam.
81 want your boat" said Tankerlane,
"and men to manage her-men who
know the creeks well. l may want
her for week"
The man peered round the corner
of the shed to windward.
II don't like the looks of it, he
said gruffly twill be worse afore
it's better, I'm thinkin'. The glass is
terrible low this mornin' 'Tain't no
weather for yachtin'."
We'll, must have boat and she
must go out regardless of the weather.
/ reckon you've often been out fishing
in a worse blow than this"
ooh ay," the man replied, we've
our livin' to earn. This be nothin'
much, but. it's what's a-comin' I'm
.afeard Of
'1'll give you fifty pounds for the
use OF your boat for a week, and if
want her for more than a week, I'll
pay you FIVE pounds day."
The mans eyes sparkled, and he
looked at Tankerlane as though he
scarcely dared to believe that he had
heard him Alright.
Fifty poun' did zee say, sir? Did I
understan' ZEE to say fifty poun' and
i've pound day afterwards"
Yes. But must start at once
within an hour from now
| The fisherman looked at the clock
which faced the harbor.
"Tfs now bout ten. sir. I'll find
my mate and we'll take you aboard
at half-past, II you'll come down to
the hard Ask for Bill Yardley of
the Hope and Glory. Will you order
she food, sir, OF will you leave it to
As?''
It'll order it, Tankerlane replied
Il have nothing to do till we start"
It'd buy thick Jersey or summat
OF that sort, sir, If I were you We
can find oilskins, but doubt if you'd
care to wear our old jerseys
"Haf-past ten sharp" said Tanker
lane, as he turned away into the little
town.
He spent the next half hour in pur
chasing everything that obsequious
shopmen could persuade him to buy
He knew nothing of provisioning a
boat for a weeks cruise, and was In
the hands Of those who were aware
of his ignorance. Gorehaven is a small
place, but it possesses one shop where
almost anything that has ever beer
put into tins or glass jars can be pur
chased Tankerlane ordered small
cartload of delicacies to be sent dowr
to the 'hard", and was not even al
lowed to forget the more necessary
articles, such as bread, butter. eggs
tea and bacon. He also ordered three
dozen large bottles of beer and half {
dozen bottles of whisky
At half-past ten to the minute {
small army of errand boys and shoI
assistants loaded up the large dinghy
of the Hope and Glory with boxes anC
parcels. Bill Yardley grinned as h.
saw the food that had been purchased
for his consumption, but he frowneC
and bit his lip as he caught sight q
the whisky.
I'D rather ZEE hadn't fetched tha
drink aboard, sir he said respectful,
as they' pushed off from the quay
Nonsense said Tankerlane, sharr
ly. Il must really ask you to let n
eat and drink what ] like Your de
partment is the sailing of the boat
hope YOU don't think | shall take to
much"
Begin your pardon, sir" the ma,
replied. 1T don't matter sir" the ma
drunk as an owl, and I'd be the las