The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-17

mans cottage. or, better, hovel--if Ii
need be accurately described-at the
door Of which the cabby was knocking
Some little distance offshore fish.
ing boat, cat rugged and not more than
twenty feet over all, swung bobbing
ct her mooring. keen nose searching
into the wind, at sight of which Kirk.
wood gave thanks, for his adventitious
Guide had served him well, If that boat
were to be hired by any manner OF
persuasion.
But 1t was to the farther reaches Of
the estuary that he gave more prolong
ed and most anxious heed. scanning
narrowly what shipping was there to
se seen. Far out a liner was riding
the waves with serene contempt, MAX
Ing for the rivers mouth and Tilbury
dock. But single sailing vessel Of
any notable tonnage was in sight. and
when he saw her Kirkwood's heart be-
came buoyant with hope, and he began
TO trembie with nervous eagerAess. for
he believed her to be the Alethea.
There's no installing a ship brigan-
tine rugged for any other style of craft
that sails the seas.
Voices approaching brought him
back to shore. He turned, resuming
his mask Of sanity. the better to con-
fer with the owner Of the cottage and
boats. a heavy, keen eyed fellow, un.
gracious and truculent Of habit aud
chary Of his words. as he promptly
demonstrated.
"I'll hire your boat" Kirkwood told
him. ito put me aboard that brigan-
tine on to leeward. We ought to start
at once"
The fisherman shifted his quid of
tobacco from cheek to cheek. grunted
inarticulately and swung deliberately
on his heel. displaying bull neck
above pair Of heavy shoulders.
.Dirty weather." he croaked. facing
back from his survey of the eastern
skies before the American found out
whether or not he should resent his
insolence.
"How muchY Kirkwood demanded
curtly. annoyed.
The man hesitated. scowling blackly
at the heeling vessel momentarily In
creasing her distance from the shore
Then. with a crafty smile. Two pun
he declared
The American nodded. Very WELL
he agreed simply. Get out your
boat"
The fisherman turned away to sham
BILE noisily over the shingle. huge
booted heels crunching. toward one Of
the dories. To this he set his shout
der. showing ii steadily down tbs
beach until only the stern was dry.
Kirkwood looked back for the last
time. up the road TO Sheerness. Moth
Ing moved upon IT, He was rid 81
Mrs. Hallam. II face TO face with /
sterner problem. He had few penc,
over 10 shillings in his pocket and had
promised TO pay the man four times a,
much. lie would have agreed 10 ter
times the sun demanded, for the boa
he must and would have. But he hat
neglected 10 conclude his bargain. 4
come 10 an understanding as TO tn
method Of payment. and he felt NOR
than n little dubious as TO the recep
ton the fisherman would give hi
proposition. sound as he (Kirkwood
knew II to be.
In the background the cabby loi
tered. gnawed by Unsuitable curiosity.
The fisherman turned. calling DYE
his shoulder. III ye'd catch yon YES
sci. come
With one final twinge Of doubt-th'
task Of placating this surly dog wa
anything but inviting-the Americai
strobe 20 the boat and climbed in. TAX
ing the stern seat The fisherman
showed OF.
4 In time the dory lay alongside tn
catboat. the fisherman with gnarlc'
hand grasping the latter's gunwale I
hold the two together. With some diff
ficuIty Kirkwood transshipped himself
landing asprawl In the cockpit amid
tangle OF cordage slippery with scales
The skipper followed. with clumsy es
pertness bringing the dory's painte
with him and hitchlng Il 10 a ringbol
abaft the ruddcr head. Then. pausin
m Instant to stare Into the east wit
sombcr eyes. be shipped the tIller an
bent 10 the halyards. As the sail RAJ
tied up. tapping wildly. Klrkwoo
marked with relief. for Il meant $
much time saved. that Il was alread
+. close reefed.
. But when at last the boom wa
! thrashing overhead and the halyard
had been made fast 20 their cleats th
fisherman again stood erect, perrin
distrustfully at the distant wall Z
; cloud.
J Then, in two breaths. Cant do IT,
. he decided-"not at the price"
. .whyT Kirkwood stared despai
: ingly after the brigantine, that was a
I. ready drawn far ahead.
2 Danger" growled the fellow
} wind"
At loss completely, Kirkwocd foun
no words. lie dropped his head. col
: sidering.
Not at the price" the sullen voi'
I iterated. and be looked up to find Il
2 cunning gaze upon him.