applicationto
business
,
when
the
first
thing
my
wife
told
me
was
that
our
back
room
on
the
second
floor
,
which
had
long
been
to
let
,
was
at
length
taken
.
She
added
that
our
new
lodger
was
a
female
of
about
eight-and-twenty
or
thirty
,
and
had
a
little
girl
of
four
years
old
.
My
wife
also
stated
that
she
was
afraid
the
poor
creature
was
in
a
dreadful
state
of
health
,
and
was
not
very
comfortably
off
,
as
all
her
own
and
her
child
's
things
were
contained
in
a
small
bundle
which
she
brought
with
her
.
When
my
wife
asked
for
a
reference
she
evaded
the
inquiry
by
paying
a
week
's
rent
in
advance
;
and
this
pittance
was
taken
from
a
purse
containing
a
very
slender
stock
of
money
.
I
inquired
if
the
new
lodger
had
given
any
name
;
but
my
wife
replied
that
she
had
not
asked
her
for
it
.
The
next
day
I
was
taken
unwell
,
and
was
compelled
to
stay
at
home
;
but
my
wife
went
out
with
our
boy
,
who
was
then
six
years
old
,
to
pass
a
few
hours
with
a
friend
.
I
was
sitting
in
the
little
parlour
all
alone
,
and
thinking
of
the
past
,
when
I
heard
a
gentle
knock
at
the
door
.
I
opened
it
,
and
saw
a
nice
little
girl
,
about
four
years
old
,
standing
in
the
passage
.
She
asked
me
to
let
my
wife
step
up
to
her
mother
,
who
was
very
ill.
I
took
the
child
in
my
arms
,
and
went
up
to
my
new
lodger
's
room
,
to
say
that
my
wife
was
out
,
but
that
if
I
could
render
any
assistance
I
should
be
most
happy
to
do
so
.
I
knocked
at
the
door
;
it
opened
—
but
the
female
who
appeared
uttered
a
piercing
scream
,
and
fell
back
senseless
on
the
floor
.
She
had
recognised
me
;
and
I
,
too
,
had
recognised
her
,
—
recognised
her
in
spite
of
her
altered
appearance
and
her
faded
beauty
.
It
was
Harriet
Wilmot
!
"
The
executioner
paused
,
averted
his
head
for
a
moment
,
and
wiped
away
a
tear
.
He
then
continued
his
narrative
.
"
I
instantly
did
my
best
to
recover
her
.
I
fetched
vinegar
,
and
bathed
her
forehead
;
and
in
a
few
minutes
she
opened
her
eyes
.
I
laid
her
upon
the
bed
;
and
she
motioned
me
to
give
her
the
child
.
This
I
did
;
and
she
pressed
it
rapturously
to
her
bosom
.
I
stood
gazing
upon
the
affecting
scene
,
with
tears
in
my
eyes
;
but
I
said
nothing
.
She
extended
her
hand
towards
me
,
and
murmured
in
a
faint
tone
,
'
Is
it
then
in
your
home
that
I
am
come
to
breathe
my
last
?
'
—
I
implored
her
to
compose
herself
,
and
assured
her
that
she
should
meet
with
every
attention
.
She
glanced
tenderly
upon
her
child
,
and
large
tears
rolled
down
her
faded
cheeks
.
Oh
!
she
was
so
altered
that
it
was
no
wonder
if
my
wife
,
who
had
known
her
years
before
at
Southampton
,
had
not
recognized
her
!
I
asked
her
if
I
should
procure
medical
attendance
.
She
could
not
answer
me
:
a
dreadful
faintness
seemed
to
come
over
her
.
I
told
her
that
I
would
return
immediately
;
and
I
hurried
for
a
doctor
.
The
medical
man
came
with
me
;
and
we
found
the
poor
creature
speechless
,
but
still
sensible
.
He
shook
his
head
with
significant
hopelessness
at
me
:
I
understood
him
—
she
was
dying
!
The
surgeon
hastened
back
home
,
and
speedily
returned
with
various
drugs
and
medicines
.
But
all
was
of
no
avail
;
the
poor
creature
was
on
the
threshold
of
the
grave
.
The
doctor
told
me
what
to
do
,
and
then
took
his
leave
,
promising
to
return
in
a
couple
of
hours
.
I
seated
myself
by
the
side
of
the
bed
,
and
anxiously
watched
the
patient
,
who
had
gradually
sunk
into
a
deep
slumber
.
I
also
amused
myself
with
,
and
pacified
the
little
girl
.
In
this
way
hour
after
hour
passed
;
and
at
length
my
wife
came
home
.
But
in
what
a
state
did
she
return
?
Her
friend
—
the
same
,
as
I
afterwards
learnt
,
who
had
before
seduced
her
away
from
the
paths
of
temperance
—
had
accomplished
this
feat
a
second
time
.
My
wife
was
in
a
disgusting
state
of
intoxication
.
Not
finding
me
in
our
sitting-room
,
she
came
up
stairs
to
search
for
me
.
The
moment
I
heard
her
,
I
stepped
out
of
Harriet
's
chamber
to
meet
her
,
and
request
her
assistance
in
behalf
of
the
dying
woman
—
for
as
yet
I
knew
not
the
state
in
which
my
wife
had
returned
.
But
when
she
saw
me
come
from
that
room
,
she
rushed
upon
me
like
a
tigress
:
her
jealousy
was
suddenly
excited
to
an
ungovernable
fit
of
passion
.
She
tore
my
face
with
her
nails
,
and
dragged
out
my
hair
by
handfuls
.
I
implored
her
to
hear
me
;
she
raved
—
she
stormed
—
she
declared
she
would
have
the
life
of
the
woman
in
whose
chamber
I
had
been
.
Then
my
own
anger
was
fearfully
roused
:
I
caught
her
by
the
throat
,
and
I
do
believe
that
I
should
have
strangled
her
,
had
not
John
—
our
boy
—
at
that
instant
caught
hold
of
my
legs
and
begun
to
kick
and
pinch
me
with
all
his
might
—
for
he
always
took
his
mother
's
part
.
I
was
now
rendered
as
infuriate
as
a
goaded
bull
:
I
hurled
my
wife
away
from
me
,
and
with
one
savage
blow
—
may
God
forgive
me
!
—
I
knocked
the
child
backwards
down
the
stairs
.
"
Here
Smithers
covered
his
face
with
his
hands
,
and
the
tears
trickled
through
his
fingers
.
"
The
lodgers
rushed
up
to
the
floor
where
this
horrible
scene
took
place
,
"
he
continued
,
after
a
long
pause
;
"
and
I
,
in
that
moment
of
my
excited
and
bewildered
senses
,
justified
my
conduct
by
declaring
that
the
woman
who
lay
dying
in
the
next
room
was
my
own
sister
.
My
wife
was
insensible
,
and
could
not
contradict
me
;
and
thus
the
tale
was
believed
.
The
lodgers
removed
my
wife
and
my
child
to
their
bed-room
;
and
the
same
surgeon
who
had
attended
upon
Harriet
was
instantly
sent
for
.
Alas
!
his
skill
was
all
in
vain
.
My
wife
never
rallied
again
,
save
to
give
way
to
dreadful
hysterical
fits
:
in
a
few
weeks
,
during
which
she
lingered
in
that
manner
,
she
breathed
her
last
;
—
and
my
son
became
deformed
,
as
you
have
seen
him
!
"
Again
the
miserable
man
paused
,
and
gave
way
to
his
emotions
.
Several
minutes
elapsed
ere
he
continued
his
narrative
;
and
Markham
also
remained
wrapped
in
a
profound
silence
.
At
length
the
executioner
proceeded
thus
:
—
"
The
condition
into
which
my
rage
had
thrown
my
wife
and
child
on
that
memorable
day
,
did
not
prevent
me
from
watching
by
the
death-bed
of
Harriet
Wilmot
.
I
even
attended
to
her
little
girl
as
if
she
had
been
my
own
.
I
felt
my
heart
yearn
towards
that
poor
woman
whom
I
had
once
known
so
beautiful
and
had
loved
so
tenderly
.
She
slept
on
,
—
slept
throughout
that
long
and
weary
night
;
and
there
I
remained
,
watching
by
her
bed-side
.
In
the
morning
the
doctor
came
:
Harriet
awoke
,
and
smiled
when
she
saw
me
.
Then
she
made
signs
that
she
wished
to
write
.
Her
powers
of
speech
had
deserted
her
.
The
medical
man
addressed
her
in
a
kind
tone
,
and
said
that
if
she
had
any
thing
to
communicate
she
had
better
do
so
,
as
she
was
very
,
very
ill.
She
thanked
him
with
a
glance
for
his
candour
,
and
for
the
delicate
manner
in
which
he
bade
her
prepare
for
death
.
I
placed
writing
materials
before
her
;
and
she
wrote
a
few
lines
,
which
were
,
however
,
so
blotted
by
tears
—
—
"
"
I
have
already
been
made
acquainted
with
the
contents
of
the
only
legible
portion
which
still
remains
of
that
letter
,
"
interrupted
our
hero
.
"
And
you
are
,
then
,
aware
,
sir
,
that
allusion
is
made
to
a
certain
Mr.
Markham
?
"
said
Smithers
.
"
Perfectly
,
"
replied
Richard
.
"
The
late
Mr.
Reginald
Tracy
communicated
that
fact
to
me
.
"
"
The
poor
creature
breathed
her
last
ere
she
could
terminate
that
letter
,
"
continued
the
executioner
.
"
She
suddenly
dropped
her
pen
,
turned
one
agonising
glance
upon
her
child
,
fell
back
,
and
expired
.
I
buried
her
as
decently
as
my
means
would
permit
;
and
I
determined
to
take
care
of
Katherine
.
I
repeated
my
original
statement
that
the
little
girl
was
my
niece
;
and
,
in
order
not
to
throw
shame
upon
the
memory
of
her
mother
,
I
represented
her
as
having
been
a
widow
when
she
came
to
my
house
.
I
have
before
said
that
my
wife
never
sufficiently
recovered
her
senses
to
contradict
this
story
;
and
my
son
John
was
too
young
at
the
time
to
be
aware
that
it
was
a
fiction
.
"
"
And
did
you
never
institute
any
inquiries
into
the
meaning
of
that
allusion
to
Mr.
Markham
in
the
letter
?
"
inquired
Richard
.
"
I
obtained
various
Directories
and
Guides
,
and
found
that
there
were
thirty
or
forty
persons
of
that
name
residing
in
London
,
and
whose
addresses
were
given
in
those
books
.
I
called
upon
several
;
but
none
knew
any
thing
of
the
business
which
took
me
to
them
.
Then
I
abandoned
the
task
as
hopeless
:
for
I
reflected
that
there
might
be
others
of
the
same
name
who
were
not
to
be
found
in
the
Directories
;
and
I
was
not
even
assured
that
the
Mr.
Markham
alluded
to
dwelt
in
London
.
"
"
Thus
you
never
obtained
any
farther
clue
to
Katharine
's
parentage
?
"
"
Never
,
"
answered
Smithers
.
"
The
little
child
herself
,
when
questioned
by
me
soon
after
her
mother
's
death
,
did
not
recollect
having
ever
seen
any
one
whom
she
called
Papa
;
and
from
all
I
could
learn
from
the
orphan
girl
,
her
mother
must
have
been
living
for
some
time
in
London
before
she
came
to
my
house
.
But
where
this
residence
was
,
I
could
not
ascertain
.
One
thing
,
however
,
I
discovered
,
which
seemed
to
proclaim
the
illegitimacy
of
Katherine
's
birth
:
she
said
that
her
mamma
's
name
was
Wilmot
.
That
was
her
maiden
name
!
"
"
Poor
Katherine
!
"
said
Richard
.
"
And
now
I
have
told
you
all
,
sir
,
that
concerns
her
early
history
—
at
least
all
that
I
know
.
Some
time
after
my
wife
's
death
,
evil
reports
got
abroad
concerning
me
.
It
was
said
that
my
brutality
had
produced
her
death
;
and
my
son
was
a
living
reproach
against
me
.
No
one
would
employ
me
—
no
one
would
lodge
in
my
house
.
It
was
then
that
I
accepted
the
office
of
Public
Executioner
,
—
to
save
myself
from
starving
,
and
to
give
bread
to
my
own
son
and
the
little
orphan
girl
.
By
degrees
my
temper
,
already
ruined
by
the
conduct
of
my
wife
,
became
confirmed
in
its
ferocity
and
cruel
callousness
.
I
grew
brutal
—
savage
—
inhuman
.
I
felt
the
degradation
of
my
calling
—
I
saw
that
I
was
shunned
by
all
the
world
.
I
was
looked
upon
as
a
monster
who
had
murdered
his
wife
and
made
his
son
deformed
;
—
but
the
provocation
and
the
circumstances
were
never
mentioned
to
palliate
the
enormity
of
that
double
crime
.
At
length
I
heard
all
the
reproaches
,
and
did
not
take
the
trouble
to
state
facts
in
order
to
justify
myself
.
But
all
this
was
enough
to
brutalize
me
,
—
especially
when
added
to
the
duties
of
my
new
calling
.
In
time
I
even
began
to
ill-treat
that
poor
orphan
girl
whom
I
had
at
first
looked
upon
as
my
own
child
.
But
,
bad
as
I
have
been
towards
her
when
I
thought
that
she
encouraged
my
son
to
thwart
my
will
,
—
shamefully
as
I
used
her
at
times
,
I
never
would
have
abandoned
her
;
—
for
when
she
thought
that
I
turned
her
out
of
my
house
the
day
she
went
to
Mr.
Tracy
's
,
it
was
only
my
brutal
way
of
letting
her
go
to
a
place
which
I
knew
would
be
creditable
to
her
,
and
which
,
by
what
she
told
me
,
I
saw
she
wished
to
take
.
Then
I
thought
within
myself
,
'
Yes
,
even
she
will
now
gladly
leave
me
;
'
—
and
,
in
order
to
conceal
what
I
felt
at
that
idea
—
and
I
did
feel
deeply
—
I
took
refuge
in
my
own
brutalized
temper
.
But
I
sent
her
round
all
her
things
in
the
evening
—
not
forgetting
her
work-box
,
which
I
knew
contained
the
fragment
that
her
poor
mother
wrote
upon
her
death-bed
.
Moreover
,
when
she
came
to
see
me
,
I
received
her
with
no
constrained
kindness
;
for
I
always
liked
her
—
even
when
I
ill-used
her
;
—
and
I
was
sorry
to
have
parted
with
her
.
"
"
The
world
,
my
good
friend
,
has
not
altogether
read
your
heart
correctly
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
Thank
you
,
sir
,
—
thank
you
for
that
assurance
,
"
exclaimed
Smithers
;
"
and
when
you
good
friend
me
,
sir
—
you
,
who
are
so
noble-hearted
,
so
generous
,
so
truly
grand
in
your
humanity
—
I
could
burst
into
tears
.
"
"
If
my
example
please
you
,
"
said
Markham
,
kindly
,
"
you
will
make
me
happy
by
profiting
by
it
.
Oh
!
you
shall
yet
live
long
to
convince
the
world
that
the
human
heart
never
can
be
so
deadened
to
all
good
feelings
as
to
be
beyond
redemption
!
"
"
I
do
not
think
I
shall
live
to
an
old
age
,
sir
,
"
observed
Smithers
,
sinking
his
voice
to
a
mysterious
whisper
:
"
I
have
already
had
one
warning
!
"
"
One
warning
!
"
repeated
Richard
,
surprised
at
this
strange
announcement
.
"
Yes
,
Mr.
Markham
.
One
night
I
was
lying
in
bed
;
—
the
candle
was
flickering
in
the
fire-place
;
—
I
happened
to
turn
my
eyes
towards
that
puppet
which
hangs
in
the
loft
where
I
used
to
sleep
until
within
the
last
few
days
,
—
and
I
saw
another
face
looking
over
its
shoulder
at
me
.
"
"
Another
face
!
"
ejaculated
Markham
:
"
what
do
you
mean
?
"
"
I
mean
,
sir
,
that
Harriet
Wilmot
's
countenance
appeared
above
the
shoulder
of
the
figure
!
"
answered
Smithers
,
with
a
shudder
.
"
My
good
friend
,
"
said
Markham
,
"
your
imagination
was
disordered
at
the
moment
.
The
days
of
spectres
and
apparitions
are
gone
by
.
The
Almighty
does
not
address
himself
to
man
by
means
of
terrors
which
nurses
use
to
frighten
children
.
I
will
show
you
,
by
a
simple
process
of
reasoning
,
that
it
is
impossible
to
see
a
ghost
—
even
if
such
a
thing
should
exist
.
You
do
not
see
with
the
eye
precisely
in
the
way
in
which
you
may
imagine
.
Strictly
speaking
,
the
eye
does
not
see
at
all
.
The
effect
is
this
:
substantial
objects
are
reflected
in
the
retina
of
the
eye
as
in
a
mirror
;
and
the
impression
is
conveyed
from
the
retina
into
the
brain
,
where
it
assumes
a
proper
and
suitable
shape
in
the
imagination
or
conception
.
But
in
order
that
objects
should
so
strike
the
retina
of
the
eye
,
they
must
be
substantial
:
they
must
have
length
,
breadth
,
and
thickness
;
—
they
must
displace
so
much
air
as
to
leave
the
void
filled
up
by
their
own
forms
.
Now
,
even
if
the
spirits
of
the
departed
be
allowed
to
revisit
this
earth
,
no
mortal
eye
can
see
them
,
because
they
are
unsubstantial
,
and
they
cannot
be
reflected
in
the
retina
of
the
eye
.
I
have
only
entered
into
this
explanation
to
convince
you
that
an
unsettled
mind
or
a
disordered
imagination
—
arising
from
either
moral
or
physical
causes
—
can
alone
conjure
up
phantoms
.
"
"
Well
,
sir
,
we
will
not
talk
any
more
upon
this
subject
,
if
you
please
,
"
said
Smithers
.
"
I
understand
what
you
say
;
and
I
thank
you
for
your
goodness
in
explaining
the
matter
to
me
.
I
now
wish
to
ask
you
whether
you
would
rather
that
I
should
communicate
all
I
have
told
you
to
Katherine
;
or
whether
you
will
yourself
?
"
"
My
good
friend
,
"
said
Richard
,
"
you
acted
so
noble
a
part
towards
her
mother
that
this
duty
will
better
become
you
.
Katherine
will
thank
you
for
your
goodness
towards
her
parent
—
especially
as
that
goodness
arose
from
no
interested
motives
;
and
you
will
rejoice
in
the
grateful
outpourings
of
the
heart
of
that
orphan
whom
you
reared
,
and
to
whom
you
gave
a
home
.
To-morrow
you
and
your
son
can
visit
her
:
the
day
after
to-morrow
,
in
the
evening
,
I
wish
both
of
you
—
yourself
and
your
son
—
to
call
upon
me
.
"
Smithers
promised
to
obey
our
hero
's
desires
in
all
respects
,
and
then
took
his
leave
,
—
wondering
how
any
human
being
could
possess
such
influence
over
the
heart
,
to
humanize
and
reclaim
it
,
as
Richard
Markham
.
CHAPTER
CLXV
.
THE
TRACE
.
In
order
to
avoid
unnecessary
details
we
shall
now
concisely
state
that
Smithers
and
his
son
paid
the
visit
agreed
upon
to
Katherine
Wilmot
.
Smithers
communicated
to
her
,
when
they
were
alone
together
for
half
an
hour
,
so
much
of
his
own
history
as
involved
all
the
particulars
with
which
he
was
acquainted
concerning
her
parentage
.
The
grateful
girl
expressed
a
deeper
sense
of
obligation
than
she
had
ever
yet
experienced
towards
the
individual
who
had
supported
her
for
so
many
years
,
although
she
had
no
claims
of
relationship
upon
him
.
After
one
of
the
most
agreeable
days
which
the
late
executioner
and
his
son
had
ever
passed
in
their
lives
,
they
took
leave
of
Katherine
and
the
worthy
people
of
the
farm
,
and
returned
to
London
.
Poor
Katherine
Wilmot
!
she
had
that
day
learnt
more
concerning
her
parentage
than
she
had
ever
known
before
;
but
she
would
have
been
happier
,
perhaps
,
had
her
original
impressions
on
that
subject
never
been
disturbed
!
Still
Markham
had
conceived
it
to
be
a
duty
which
was
owing
to
the
young
maiden
,
to
permit
Smithers
thus
to
reveal
to
her
those
circumstances
which
seemed
to
fix
her
with
the
stigma
of
illegitimacy
.
That
night
her
pillow
was
moistened
with
abundant
tears
,
as
she
lay
and
reflected
upon
her
lamented
mother
!
On
the
appointed
evening
Smithers
and
his
son
called
at
Markham
Place
.
They
were
conducted
by
Whittingham
to
a
parlour
,
where
the
table
was
spread
with
a
handsome
collation
,
places
being
arranged
for
three
persons
.
"
Sit
down
,
my
friends
,
"
said
Richard
Markham
,
who
received
them
with
a
warmth
far
more
encouraging
than
mere
courtesy
:
"
after
supper
we
will
transact
the
business
for
which
I
have
requested
your
presence
here
.
"
"
What
,
sir
!
"
ejaculated
Smithers
;
"
can
you
condescend
to
have
me
at
your
table
?
"
"
Not
as
you
lately
were
,
"
answered
Richard
:
"
I
receive
you
as
a
regenerated
man
.
"
John
Smithers
(
for
we
shall
suppress
his
nickname
of
Gibbet
,
as
his
father
had
already
done
so
)
cast
a
glance
of
profound
gratitude
upon
our
hero
,
in
acknowledgment
of
a
behaviour
that
could
not
do
otherwise
than
confirm
his
father
in
his
anxious
endeavours
to
adopt
a
course
of
mental
improvement
.
Smithers
'
confidence
increased
,
when
he
had
imbibed
a
glass
or
two
of
generous
wine
;
and
he
related
to
Markham
the
particulars
of
his
interview
with
Katharine
.
Then
was
it
for
the
first
time
the
hump-back
learnt
that
Katherine
was
not
his
cousin
.
He
said
nothing
;
but
,
as
he
drank
in
all
that
fell
from
his
father
's
lips
,
two
large
tears
rolled
down
his
cheeks
.
When
the
supper
was
over
,
Richard
addressed
Smithers
in
the
following
manner
:
—
"
The
narrative
which
you
revealed
to
me
the
day
before
yesterday
materially
alters
the
position
in
which
Katherine
stands
with
respect
to
you
.
When
I
first
proposed
that
she
should
advance
you
at
once
a
small
sum
,
I
believed
her
to
be
your
near
relative
.
But
as
she
is
in
no
way
akin
to
you
,
it
results
that
you
have
for
years
supported
one
who
had
no
claim
upon
you
.
Accident
has
made
her
rich
;
and
it
is
but
fair
and
just
that
you
should
be
adequately
rewarded
for
your
generosity
.
I
have
communicated
with
Katherine
's
trustee
upon
the
subject
;
and
we
have
agreed
to
furnish
you
with
five
hundred
pounds
at
once
,
to
enable
you
to
embark
in
a
respectable
and
substantial
line
of
business
.
This
pocket-book
,
"
proceeded
Markham
,
"
contains
that
sum
.
Take
it
,
my
worthy
friend
—
it
is
your
due
;
and
,
should
you
succeed
in
the
career
that
you
are
now
about
to
enter
upon
,
you
can
with
satisfaction
trace
your
prosperity
to
the
humanity
which
you
showed
to
a
friendless
orphan
.
"
After
some
hesitation
,
Smithers
received
the
pocket-book
.
He
and
his
son
then
took
leave
of
Richard
Markham
,
with
the
most
sincerely
felt
expressions
of
gratitude
,
and
with
a
promise
from
the
father
to
write
to
him
soon
to
state
where
and
how
they
had
settled
themselves
.
Scarcely
had
those
two
individuals
,
now
both
made
happy
,
taken
their
departure
,
when
Whittingham
informed
his
master
that
a
person
with
a
dark
complexion
,
and
who
gave
the
name
of
Morcar
,
requested
to
speak
to
him
.
Richard
ordered
the
gipsy
to
be
instantly
admitted
to
his
presence
.
Morcar
was
accordingly
shown
into
the
parlour
.
The
moment
he
found
himself
alone
with
Markham
,
he
said
in
a
low
and
somewhat
solemn
tone
,
"
We
have
traced
him
!
"
"
I
expected
as
much
,
the
moment
your
name
was
announced
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
Where
is
he
?
"
"
He
has
taken
refuge
in
a
barge
on
the
river
,
"
answered
Morcar
.
"
That
is
all
I
have
been
able
to
learn
;
but
I
am
confident
he
is
there
.
"
"
And
do
you
know
where
the
barge
is
moored
?
"
asked
Richard
.
"
Close
by
Rotherhithe
.
But
there
are
several
other
barges
off
the
same
wharf
;
and
I
cannot
single
out
which
he
is
in
.
I
,
however
,
know
that
he
is
concealed
in
one
of
them
.
"
"
It
is
important
to
discover
which
,
"
said
Markham
.
"
Were
we
to
make
our
appearance
in
that
vicinity
with
a
body
of
police
,
he
might
escape
us
altogether
.
"
"
And
therefore
it
will
be
better
to
take
him
by
means
of
stratagem
,
"
observed
Morcar
.
"
What
can
have
induced
him
to
seek
refuge
there
?
"
said
Richard
,
in
a
musing
tone
.
"
Some
new
crime
,
perhaps
?
"
"
Or
else
some
fresh
scheme
of
villany
,
"
returned
Morcar
.
"
But
perhaps
you
are
not
aware
,
sir
,
that
river
piracy
still
flourishes
to
some
extent
?
"
"
I
certainly
imagined
that
with
our
system
of
Thames
police
,
that
species
of
depredation
was
completely
ruined
.
"
"
No
such
thing
,
sir
!
"
exclaimed
Morcar
.
"
The
man
who
gave
me
the
information
about
Tidkins
,
told
me
more
than
ever
I
knew
before
on
that
subject
.
"
"
You
may
as
well
acquaint
me
with
those
particulars
,
Morcar
,
"
said
our
hero
.
"
They
may
assist
me
in
devising
some
scheme
to
entrap
the
Resurrection
Man
,
and
enable
justice
to
receive
its
due
.
"
"
River
piracy
,
sir
,
"
continued
Morcar
,
"
is
carried
on
by
a
set
of
vagabonds
who
for
the
most
part
have
been
sailors
,
or
in
some
shape
or
another
engaged
amongst
barges
and
lighters
.
They
are
all
leagued
with
the
marine-store
dealers
and
people
that
keep
old
iron
and
junk
shops
on
both
sides
of
the
river
below
London
bridge
.
The
river
pirates
usually
possess
a
barge
or
lighter
,
which
every
now
and
then
makes
a
trip
up
and
down
the
river
between
Greenwich
and
Putney
,
but
with
no
other
freight
than
bales
of
sawdust
,
old
rags
,
or
even
dung
.
This
they
do
to
keep
up
appearances
and
avoid
suspicion
.
But
all
day
long
they
maintain
a
good
look
out
in
the
pool
,
and
take
notice
of
particular
ships
which
they
think
can
be
easily
robbed
.
For
instance
,
sometimes
a
steamer
is
left
with
only
a
boy
on
board
to
take
care
of
it
;
or
else
a
lighter
has
only
one
man
to
look
after
it
.
Then
these
pirates
go
on
board
in
the
night
,
master
the
boy
or
the
man
,
and
plunder
the
steamer
or
lighter
of
any
thing
worth
carrying
away
.
"
"
I
begin
to
understand
how
these
villains
may
reap
a
profitable
harvest
in
this
manner
,
"
observed
Richard
.
"
Oh
!
you
do
n't
know
half
their
pranks
,
yet
,
"
said
Morcar
.
"
Sometimes
two
or
three
of
the
gang
will
go
and
hire
themselves
as
bargemen
or
lightermen
;
and
then
they
easily
arrange
with
their
pals
how
to
plunder
the
vessels
thus
entrusted
to
them
,
while
the
owners
never
suspect
that
their
own
men
are
at
the
bottom
of
the
robbery
.
When
times
are
bad
,
and
these
fellows
are
driven
to
desperation
,
they
think
nothing
of
cutting
away
great
pieces
of
ships
'
cables
,
or
even
weighing
the
anchors
of
small
craft
;
and
with
these
heavy
materials
they
will
get
clean
off
in
their
boats
to
their
own
barge
;
and
next
morning
they
convey
them
as
coolly
as
possible
to
the
marine
store
dealers
.
Sometimes
they
cut
lighters
adrift
,
when
the
tide
is
running
out
,
and
follow
them
in
their
boat
;
then
,
under
pretence
of
helping
those
on
board
,
they
cut
away
bales
of
cotton
or
any
other
goods
that
are
easily
thrown
into
their
boats
in
dark
nights
.
"
"
The
villain
Tidkins
has
no
doubt
transferred
his
operations
from
the
land
to
the
river
,
"
observed
Markham
;
"
seeing
that
,
by
means
of
a
little
address
and
a
great
deal
of
courage
,
such
depredations
can
be
effected
.
"
"
These
river-pirates
are
of
several
kinds
,
"
continued
Morcar
.
"
There
's
the
light-horsemen
,
or
men
who
board
the
unprotected
vessels
in
the
night
.
Then
there
's
the
heavy-horsemen
,
who
wear
an
under-dress
,
called
a
jemmy
,
which
is
covered
by
their
smocks
:
these
fellows
obtain
employment
as
lumpers
,
—
that
is
,
to
load
or
discharge
ships
in
the
pool
,
during
which
they
contrive
to
stow
away
every
thing
portable
in
the
large
pouches
or
pockets
of
their
under-dress
.
Afterwards
,
the
heavy-horsemen
,
give
information
to
their
pals
,
and
put
them
on
the
scent
which
ships
to
rob
at
night
.
Next
there
's
the
mud-larks
,
who
get
on
board
stranded
lighters
at
low
water
,
and
carry
off
what
they
can
when
the
vessels
are
unprotected
,
or
ask
some
question
to
lull
suspicion
if
they
find
any
one
on
board
.
This
mode
of
river-piracy
is
very
profitable
,
because
numbers
of
lighters
and
barges
are
often
left
for
hours
alongside
the
banks
,
without
a
soul
on
board
.
Game
lightermen
are
those
pirates
that
are
in
league
with
dishonest
mates
and
sailors
belonging
to
vessels
that
come
up
the
river
to
discharge
:
and
they
receive
at
night
from
their
pals
on
board
,
through
the
port-holes
or
over
the
quarter
,
any
thing
that
's
easy
to
move
away
in
this
manner
.
Last
of
all
there
's
the
scuffle-hunters
,
who
put
on
smocks
,
and
obtain
work
as
porters
on
the
wharfs
where
a
ship
is
loading
:
then
,
if
they
ca
n't
contrive
to
steal
any
thing
by
those
means
,
they
can
at
all
events
carry
some
useful
information
to
their
pals
—
so
that
the
ship
is
generally
robbed
in
one
way
or
another
.
"
"
With
so
well
organised
a
fraternity
and
such
means
of
operation
,
"
said
Markham
,
who
had
listened
with
interest
and
astonishment
to
these
details
,
"
Tidkins
is
capable
of
amassing
a
fortune
in
a
very
short
time
.
But
we
must
stop
him
in
his
criminal
career
.
At
the
same
time
,
let
us
do
nothing
without
mature
consideration
.
Are
you
willing
to
assist
?
Your
reward
shall
be
liberal
.
"
"
The
Zingaree
may
not
of
his
own
accord
deliver
up
any
one
to
justice
,
"
answered
Morcar
;
"
but
he
is
allowed
to
serve
an
employer
who
pays
him
.
Moreover
,
"
he
added
,
as
if
ashamed
of
that
sophistical
compromise
with
the
rules
of
his
fraternity
,
"
I
shall
gladly
help
to
punish
the
miscreant
who
treated
us
with
such
base
ingratitude
.
"
"
Then
you
consent
to
serve
me
?
"
said
Richard
.
"
I
do
,
sir
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
To-morrow
,
at
mid-day
,
I
will
meet
you
somewhere
in
the
eastern
part
of
London
,
"
continued
Richard
.
"
I
have
already
a
project
in
my
head
;
but
I
must
consider
it
more
maturely
.
"
"
Where
shall
we
meet
,
sir
?
"
asked
Morcar
.
Markham
reflected
for
a
moment
,
and
then
said
,
"
On
the
Tower
wharf
.
"
"
I
will
be
punctual
,
sir
,
"
answered
the
gipsy
;
and
he
took
his
departure
.
CHAPTER
CLXVI
.
THE
THAMES
PIRATES
.
Moored
at
a
wharf
at
the
Rotherhithe
side
of
the
river
Thames
,
nearly
opposite
Execution
Dock
,
were
several
lighters
and
barges
,
all
lying
together
.
Along
the
upper
part
of
the
buildings
belonging
to
the
wharf
were
painted
,
in
rude
but
gigantic
letters
,
the
following
words
:
—
"
Mossop
's
Wharf
,
where
Goods
are
Received
,
Housed
,
or
Carted
.
"
Mr.
Mossop
,
the
sole
proprietor
of
this
wharf
,
was
by
no
means
particular
what
goods
he
thus
received
,
whence
they
came
when
he
housed
them
,
or
whither
they
were
going
when
he
carted
them
.
He
asked
no
questions
,
so
long
as
his
commission
and
charges
were
duly
paid
.
For
the
convenience
of
his
numerous
customers
,
he
kept
his
office
constantly
open
;
and
either
himself
or
his
son
Ben
Mossop
was
in
constant
attendance
.
Indeed
,
Mr.
Mossop
did
more
business
by
night
than
by
day
.
He
was
,
however
,
a
close
man
:
he
never
put
impertinent
questions
to
any
one
who
called
to
patronise
him
;
and
thus
his
way
of
doing
business
was
vastly
convenient
for
all
those
who
used
his
wharf
or
his
store-houses
.
If
a
lighter
arrived
at
that
wharf
,
ostensibly
with
a
freight
of
hay
,
but
in
reality
with
divers
bales
of
cotton
or
other
goods
concealed
beneath
the
dried
grass
,
Mr.
Mossop
did
not
seem
to
think
that
there
was
any
thing
at
all
strange
in
this
;
and
if
next
day
he
happened
to
hear
that
a
barge
at
a
neighbouring
wharf
had
been
robbed
of
divers
bales
of
cotton
during
the
night
,
Mr.
Mossop
was
too
much
of
a
gentleman
to
question
the
integrity
of
his
customers
.
Even
if
every
wall
in
Rotherhithe
,
Horselydown
,
and
Bermondsey
,
were
covered
with
placards
announcing
the
loss
of
the
bales
,
describing
them
to
a
nicety
,
and
offering
a
reward
for
their
recovery
,
Mr.
Mossop
never
stopped
to
read
one
of
them
.
On
two
or
three
occasions
,
when
a
police-officer
called
at
his
wharf
and
politely
requested
him
just
to
honour
the
nearest
magistrate
with
a
visit
,
and
enter
into
an
explanation
how
certain
goods
happened
to
be
found
in
his
store-rooms
,
the
said
goods
having
been
lost
by
other
parties
in
an
unpleasant
manner
,
Mr.
Mossop
would
put
an
enormous
pair
of
spectacles
upon
his
nose
and
a
good
face
on
the
matter
at
the
same
time
;
and
it
invariably
happened
that
he
managed
to
convince
the
bench
of
his
integrity
,
but
without
in
any
way
compromising
those
persons
who
might
be
in
custody
on
account
of
the
said
goods
.
His
son
Ben
was
equally
prudent
and
reserved
;
and
thus
father
and
son
were
mighty
favourites
with
all
the
river
pirates
who
patronised
them
.
Moreover
,
Mossop
's
Wharf
was
most
conveniently
situate
:
the
front
looked
,
of
course
,
upon
the
river
;
the
back
opened
into
Rotherhithe
Wall
;
and
Mossop
's
carts
were
noted
for
the
celerity
with
which
they
would
convey
goods
away
from
the
warehouse
to
the
receivers
in
Blue
Anchor
Road
or
in
the
neighbourhood
of
Halfpenny
Hatch
.
The
father
and
son
were
also
famous
for
the
regularity
and
dispatch
with
which
they
executed
business
on
pressing
occasions
.
Thus
,
while
Mossop
senior
would
superintend
the
landing
of
goods
upon
the
wharf
,
Mossop
junior
was
stationed
at
the
back
gate
,
where
it
was
his
pleasing
duty
to
see
the
bales
speedily
carted
as
they
were
brought
through
the
warehouses
by
the
lumpers
employed
.
Mossop
senior
was
also
reputed
to
be
a
humane
man
;
for
if
any
of
his
best
customers
got
into
trouble
(
which
was
sometimes
the
case
)
and
were
short
of
funds
,
a
five
pound
note
in
a
blank
envelop
would
reach
them
in
prison
to
enable
them
to
employ
counsel
in
their
defence
;
and
this
sum
invariably
appeared
as
"
money
lent
"
in
Mossop
's
next
account
against
them
when
they
were
free
once
more
,
and
enabled
to
land
another
cargo
at
the
wharf
.
But
to
continue
our
narrative
.
It
was
the
evening
after
the
one
on
which
Morcar
had
called
at
Markham
Place
;
consequently
the
evening
of
that
day
when
the
gipsy
was
to
meet
our
hero
on
the
Tower
wharf
.
Over
the
particulars
of
that
meeting
we
,
however
,
pass
;
as
the
plans
then
arranged
will
presently
develop
themselves
.
It
was
now
about
nine
o'clock
.
The
evening
was
beautiful
and
moonlight
.
Myriads
of
stars
were
rocked
to
and
fro
in
the
cradle
of
the
river
's
restless
tide
;
and
the
profiles
of
the
banks
were
marked
with
thousands
of
lights
,
glancing
through
dense
forests
of
masts
belonging
to
the
shipping
that
were
crowded
along
those
shores
.
At
intervals
those
subdued
murmurs
which
denoted
that
the
river
was
as
busy
and
active
as
the
great
city
itself
,
were
absorbed
in
the
noise
of
some
steamer
ploughing
its
rapid
way
amidst
the
mazes
of
vessels
that
to
the
inexperienced
eye
appear
to
be
inextricably
entangled
together
.
Then
would
arise
those
shouts
of
warning
to
the
smaller
craft
,
—
those
rapid
commands
to
regulate
the
movements
of
the
engines
,
—
and
those
orders
to
the
helmsman
,
which
,
emanating
from
the
lips
of
the
captain
posted
on
the
paddle-box
,
proclaim
the
progress
of
the
steamer
winding
its
way
up
the
pool
.
A
wondrous
and
deeply
interesting
spectacle
,
though
only
dimly
seen
,
is
that
portion
of
the
Thames
on
a
moonlight
night
.
Then
indeed
is
it
that
even
the
most
callous
mind
is
compelled
to
contemplate
with
mingled
astonishment
and
awe
,
one
of
the
grandest
features
of
the
sovereign
city
and
world
's
emporium
of
trade
.
The
gurgling
water
,
and
the
countless
masts
,
—
the
vibration
of
mighty
engines
on
the
stream
,
and
the
myriads
of
twinkling
lights
along
the
shores
,
—
the
cheering
voices
of
the
mariners
,
and
the
dense
volumes
of
smoke
which
moving
colossal
chimneys
vomit
forth
,
—
the
metallic
grating
of
windlasses
,
and
the
glittering
of
the
spray
beneath
revolving
wheels
,
—
the
flapping
of
heavy
canvass
,
and
the
glare
from
the
oval
windows
of
steamers
,
—
the
cries
of
the
rowers
in
endangered
boats
,
and
the
flood
of
silver
lustre
which
the
moon
pours
upon
the
river
's
bosom
,
—
these
form
a
wondrous
complication
of
elements
of
interest
for
both
ear
and
eye
.
The
barge
that
was
farthest
off
from
Mossop
's
wharf
,
of
all
the
lighters
moored
there
,
and
that
could
consequently
get
into
the
stream
quicker
than
any
other
near
it
,
was
one
to
which
we
must
particularly
direct
our
readers
'
attention
.
It
was
called
the
Fairy
,
and
was
large
,
decently
painted
,
and
kept
in
pretty
good
order
.
It
had
a
spacious
cabin
abaft
,
and
a
smaller
one
,
termed
a
cuddy
,
forward
.
The
mast
,
with
its
large
brown
sail
that
seemed
as
if
it
had
been
tanned
,
was
so
fitted
as
to
be
lowered
at
pleasure
,
to
enable
the
vessel
to
pass
under
the
bridges
at
high
water
.
The
rudder
was
of
enormous
size
;
and
the
tiller
was
as
thick
and
long
as
the
pole
of
a
carriage
.
The
waist
,
or
uncovered
part
of
the
lighter
in
the
middle
,
was
now
empty
;
but
it
was
very
capacious
,
and
adapted
to
contain
an
immense
quantity
of
goods
.
On
the
evening
in
question
two
men
were
sitting
on
the
windlass
,
smoking
their
pipes
,
and
pretty
frequently
applying
themselves
to
a
can
of
grog
which
stood
upon
the
deck
near
them
.
One
was
the
Resurrection
Man
:
the
other
was
John
Wicks
,
better
known
as
the
Buffer
.
"
Well
,
Jack
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
"
this
is
precious
slow
work
.
For
the
last
four
days
we
've
done
nothing
.
"
"
What
did
I
tell
you
,
when
you
fust
come
to
me
and
proposed
to
take
to
the
river
?
"
exclaimed
the
Buffer
.
"
Did
n't
I
say
that
one
ought
to
be
bred
to
the
business
to
do
much
good
in
it
?
"
"
Oh
!
that
be
hanged
!
"
cried
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
I
can
soon
learn
any
business
that
's
to
make
money
.
Besides
,
the
land
was
too
hot
to
hold
me
till
certain
little
things
had
blown
over
.
There
's
that
fellow
Markham
who
ran
against
me
one
night
;
—
then
there
's
Crankey
Jem
.
The
first
saw
that
I
was
still
hanging
about
London
;
and
the
other
may
have
learnt
,
by
some
means
or
another
,
that
I
did
n't
die
of
the
wound
he
gave
me
.
Then
again
,
there
's
those
gipsies
whose
money
I
walked
off
with
one
fine
day
.
All
these
things
made
the
land
unsafe
;
and
so
I
thought
it
best
to
embark
the
gold
that
I
took
from
old
King
Zingary
,
in
this
barge
,
which
was
to
be
had
so
cheap
.
"
"
I
suppose
we
shall
do
better
in
time
,
Tony
,
"
said
the
Buffer
,
"
when
we
get
more
acquainted
with
them
light
and
heavy
horsemen
that
we
must
employ
,
and
them
lumpers
that
gives
the
information
.
"
"
Of
course
.
When
you
set
up
in
a
new
business
,
you
ca
n't
expect
to
succeed
directly
,
"
returned
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
The
regular
pirates
wo
n't
have
confidence
in
us
at
first
;
and
as
yet
we
do
n't
know
a
single
captain
or
mate
that
will
trust
us
with
the
job
of
robbing
their
ship
.
How
do
they
know
but
what
we
should
peach
,
if
we
got
into
trouble
,
and
tell
their
employers
that
it
was
all
done
with
their
connivance
?
But
old
Mossop
begins
to
grow
more
friendly
;
and
that
,
I
'm
sure
,
is
a
good
sign
that
he
thinks
that
we
shall
succeed
.
"
"
So
it
is
,
"
said
the
Buffer
.
"
Besides
,
this
barge
is
so
good
a
blind
,
that
business
must
come
.
What
should
you
say
to
getting
into
the
skiff
presently
,
and
taking
a
look
out
amongst
the
shipping
for
ourselves
?
"
"
Well
,
I
've
no
objection
,
"
answered
Tidkins
.
"
But
we
've
already
a
connexion
with
several
lumpers
;
and
they
have
put
us
on
to
all
that
we
have
done
up
to
the
present
time
.
P'rhaps
we
should
do
better
to
wait
for
the
information
that
they
can
give
us
.
They
begin
to
see
that
we
pay
well
;
and
so
they
'll
only
be
too
anxious
to
put
things
in
our
way
.
"
"
True
enough
,
"
observed
the
Buffer
.
At
this
period
of
the
conversation
,
a
woman
's
head
appeared
above
the
cabin
hatchway
.
"
Supper
's
ready
,
"
she
said
.
"
We
're
coming
,
Moll
,
"
returned
the
Buffer
.
The
two
villains
then
descended
into
the
cabin
,
where
a
well-spread
table
awaited
them
.
Scarcely
had
the
trio
concluded
their
repast
,
when
a
man
,
who
had
come
from
the
wharf
and
had
walked
across
the
barges
until
he
reached
the
Fairy
,
called
to
Tidkins
,
by
the
appellation
of
"
Captain
,
"
from
the
hatchway
.
"
Come
below
,
"
answered
the
Resurrection
Man
.
The
person
thus
invited
was
the
foreman
in
Mr.
Mossop
's
employment
.
He
was
short
,
stout
,
and
strongly
built
,
with
a
tremendous
rubicundity
of
visage
,
small
piercing
grey
eyes
,
no
whiskers
,
and
a
very
apoplectic
neck
.
His
age
might
be
about
fifty
;
and
he
was
dressed
in
a
light
garb
befitting
the
nature
of
his
calling
.
"
Well
,
Mr.
Swot
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
as
the
little
fat
foreman
descended
the
ladder
;
"
this
is
really
an
unusual
thing
to
have
the
honour
of
your
company
.
Sit
down
;
and
you
,
Moll
,
put
the
lush
and
the
pipes
upon
the
table
.
"
"
That
's
right
,
Captain
,
"
returned
Mr.
Swot
,
as
he
seated
himself
.
"
I
came
on
purpose
to
drink
a
social
glass
and
have
a
chat
with
you
.
In
fact
,
my
present
visit
is
not
altogether
without
an
object
.
"
"
I
'm
glad
of
that
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
We
want
something
to
do
.
It
was
only
just
now
that
I
and
my
mate
were
complaining
how
slack
business
was
.
"
"
You
know
that
Mossop
never
has
any
thing
to
do
with
any
schemes
in
which
chaps
of
your
business
choose
to
embark
,
"
continued
Mr.
Swot
:
"
he
receives
your
goods
,
and
either
keeps
them
in
warehouse
or
carts
them
for
you
as
you
like
;
but
he
never
knows
where
they
come
from
.
"
"
Perfectly
true
,
"
observed
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
But
all
that
's
no
reason
why
I
should
be
equally
partickler
,
"
proceeded
Swot
.
"
Of
course
not
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
Well
,
then
—
we
are
all
friends
here
?
"
asked
Swot
,
glancing
around
him
.
"
All
,
"
replied
Tidkins
.
"
This
is
my
mate
's
wife
;
she
answers
to
the
name
of
Moll
,
and
is
stanch
to
the
back-bone
.
"
"
Well
and
good
,
"
said
Swot
.
"
Now
I
've
as
pretty
a
little
idea
in
my
head
as
ever
was
born
there
;
but
it
requires
two
or
three
daring
—
I
may
say
desperate
fellers
to
carry
it
out
.
"
"
You
could
n't
come
to
a
better
shop
for
them
kind
of
chaps
,
"
remarked
the
Buffer
.
"
And
if
it
's
necessary
,
I
'll
deuced
soon
dress
myself
up
like
a
lighterman
and
help
you
,
"
added
Moll
.
"
I
am
very
much
pleased
with
your
pluck
,
ma'am
,
"
said
Mr.
Swot
;
"
and
I
drink
to
your
excellent
health
—
and
our
better
acquaintance
.
"
Mr.
Swot
emptied
his
mug
at
a
draught
,
lighted
a
pipe
,
and
then
continued
thus
:
—
"
But
now
,
my
fine
fellers
,
s'pose
I
was
to
start
some
scheme
which
is
about
as
dangerous
as
walking
slap
into
a
house
on
fire
to
get
the
iron
safe
that
's
full
of
gold
and
silver
?
"
"
Well
—
we
're
the
men
to
do
it
,
"
said
Tidkins
.
"
That
is
,
"
observed
the
Buffer
,
"
if
so
be
the
inducement
is
equal
to
the
risk
.
"
"
Of
course
,
"
returned
Mr.
Swot
.
"
Now
one
more
question
:
—
would
you
sleep
in
the
same
room
with
a
man
who
had
the
cholera
or
the
small-pox
,
for
instance
—
supposing
you
got
a
thousand
pounds
each
to
do
it
?
"
"
I
would
in
a
minute
,
"
answered
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
Nothing
dare
,
nothing
have
.
"
"
So
I
say
,
"
added
the
Buffer
.
"
And
you
would
n't
find
me
flinch
!
"
cried
Moll
.
"
Now
,
then
,
we
shall
soon
understand
each
other
,
"
resumed
Swot
,
helping
himself
to
another
supply
of
grog
.
"
Please
to
listen
to
me
for
a
few
minutes
.
A
very
fine
schooner
,
the
Lady
Anne
of
London
,
trades
to
the
Gold
and
Slave
Coasts
of
Guinea
.
She
takes
out
woollens
,
cottons
,
linen
,
arms
,
and
gunpowder
,
which
she
exchanges
for
gold
dust
,
ivory
,
gums
,
and
hides
.
A
few
days
since
,
as
she
was
beating
up
the
Channel
,
homeward
bound
with
a
fine
cargo
,
something
occurs
that
makes
it
necessary
for
her
to
run
for
the
Medway
,
instead
of
coming
direct
up
to
London
.
But
the
night
before
last
it
blew
great
guns
,
as
you
may
recollect
;
and
as
she
was
but
indifferently
manned
,
she
got
out
in
her
reckoning
—
for
it
was
as
dark
as
pitch
—
and
ran
ashore
between
the
mouth
of
the
Medway
and
Gravesend
.
Now
,
there
she
lies
—
and
there
she
's
likely
to
lie
.
She
got
stranded
during
spring-tide
;
and
she
does
not
float
now
even
at
high
water
.
The
gold
dust
would
be
very
acceptable
;
the
gums
,
ivory
,
hides
,
and
such
like
matters
,
may
stay
where
they
are
.
"
"
Then
the
fact
is
the
owners
have
n't
yet
moved
out
the
cargo
?
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
interrogatively
.
"
No
—
nor
do
n't
intend
to
,
neither
—
for
the
present
,
"
answered
Swot
.
"
And
what
's
more
,
there
's
a
police-boat
pulling
about
in
that
part
of
the
river
all
day
and
all
night
;
but
I
can
assure
you
that
it
gives
the
schooner
a
precious
wide
berth
.
"
"
Well
,
I
ca
n't
understand
it
yet
,
"
said
the
Buffer
.
"
The
fact
is
,
"
continued
Swot
,
"
the
Lady
Anne
was
on
its
way
to
Standgate
Creek
in
the
Medway
,
when
it
got
ashore
on
the
bank
of
the
Thames
.
Do
you
begin
to
take
?
"
"
Ca
n't
say
I
do
,
"
answered
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
Is
the
crew
on
board
still
?
"
"
The
crew
consisted
this
morning
,
when
I
heard
about
it
last
,
of
three
men
and
a
boy
,
"
returned
Swot
;
"
and
one
of
them
men
is
a
surgeon
.
But
the
Lady
Anne
has
got
the
yellow
flag
flying
;
—
and
now
do
you
comprehend
me
?
"
"
The
plague
!
"
ejaculated
the
Resurrection
Man
and
the
Buffer
in
the
same
breath
.
"
The
plague
!
"
repeated
Moll
Wicks
,
with
a
shudder
.
"
Neither
more
or
less
,
"
said
Swot
,
coolly
emptying
his
second
mug
of
grog
.
There
was
a
dead
silence
for
some
moments
.
It
seemed
as
if
the
spirits
of
those
who
had
listened
with
deep
attention
to
the
foreman
's
narrative
,
were
suddenly
damped
by
the
explanation
that
closed
it
.
"
Well
—
are
you
afraid
?
"
asked
Swot
,
at
length
breaking
silence
.
"
No
,
"
returned
the
Resurrection
Man
,
throwing
off
the
depression
which
had
fallen
upon
him
.
"
But
there
is
something
awful
in
boarding
a
plague-ship
.
"
"
Are
you
sure
the
gold
dust
is
on
board
?
"
demanded
the
Buffer
.
"
Certain
.
My
information
is
quite
correct
.
Besides
,
you
may
get
the
newspapers
and
read
all
about
it
for
yourselves
.
"
"
The
thing
is
tempting
,
"
said
Moll
.
"
Then
,
by
God
,
if
a
woman
will
dare
it
,
we
must
n't
show
the
white
feather
,
Jack
,
"
exclaimed
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
That
's
speaking
to
the
point
,
"
observed
the
foreman
.
"
You
see
there
's
a
guard
on
land
,
to
prevent
any
one
from
going
near
the
vessel
on
that
side
;
and
the
police-boat
rows
about
on
the
river
.
The
plan
would
be
,
to
get
down
to
Gravesend
to-morrow
,
then
to-morrow
night
,
to
drop
down
with
the
tide
close
under
the
bank
,
and
get
alongside
the
vessel
.
"
"
All
that
can
be
done
easy
enough
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
But
we
want
more
hands
.
Of
course
you
'll
go
with
us
?
"
"
Yes
—
I
'll
risk
it
,
"
answered
Mr.
Swot
.
"
It
's
too
good
a
thing
to
let
slip
between
one
's
fingers
.
If
you
'll
leave
it
to
me
I
'll
get
two
or
three
more
hands
;
because
we
must
be
prepared
to
master
all
that
we
may
meet
on
the
deck
of
the
schooner
,
the
very
moment
we
board
it
,
so
as
not
to
give
'
em
time
even
to
cry
out
,
or
they
'd
alarm
the
police-boat
.
"
"
Well
and
good
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
But
you
do
n't
mean
to
go
in
the
lighter
?
"
"
No
—
no
:
we
must
have
a
good
boat
with
two
sculls
,
"
answered
Swot
.
"
Leave
that
also
to
me
.
At
day-break
every
thing
shall
be
ready
for
you
;
and
I
shall
join
you
in
the
evening
at
Gravesend
.
"
"
Agreed
!
"
cried
Tidkins
.
Mr.
Swot
then
took
his
departure
;
and
the
three
persons
whom
he
left
behind
in
the
lighter
,
continued
their
carouse
.
In
this
way
the
Resurrection
Man
,
the
Buffer
,
and
Moll
Wicks
amused
themselves
until
nearly
eleven
o'clock
,
when
,
just
as
they
were
thinking
of
retiring
for
the
night
,
—
Tidkins
to
his
bed
in
the
after
cabin
where
they
were
then
seated
,
and
the
other
two
to
their
berth
in
the
cuddy
forward
,
—
the
lighter
was
suddenly
shaken
from
one
end
to
the
other
by
some
heavy
object
which
bumped
violently
against
it
.
CHAPTER
CLXVII
.
AN
ARRIVAL
AT
THE
WHARF
.
The
collision
was
so
powerful
that
the
Buffer
's
wife
was
thrown
from
her
seat
;
and
every
plank
in
the
Fairy
oscillated
with
a
crashing
sound
.
The
Buffer
and
the
Resurrection
Man
rushed
upon
the
deck
.
A
single
glance
enabled
them
to
ascertain
the
cause
of
the
sudden
alarm
.
A
lighter
,
nearly
as
large
as
the
Fairy
,
and
heavily
laden
,
had
been
so
clumsily
brought
in
against
the
barges
moored
off
the
wharf
,
that
it
came
with
the
whole
weight
of
its
broad-side
upon
the
Fairy
.
"
Now
then
,
stupids
!
"
ejaculated
the
Buffer
,
applying
this
complimentary
epithet
to
the
two
men
who
were
on
the
deck
of
the
lighter
which
was
putting
in
.
"
Hope
we
have
n't
hurt
you
,
friends
,
"
exclaimed
one
of
the
individuals
thus
addressed
.
"
More
harm
might
have
been
done
,
"
answered
the
Buffer
.
"
Who
are
you
?
"
"
The
Blossom
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Where
d'ye
come
from
?
"
demanded
Wicks
.
"
Oh
!
up
above
bridge
,
"
cried
the
man
,
speaking
in
a
surly
and
evasive
manner
.
"
Here
—
just
catch
hold
of
this
rope
,
will
you
—
and
let
us
lay
alongside
of
you
.
"
"
No
—
no
,
"
shouted
the
Buffer
.
"
You
'd
better
drop
astern
of
us
,
and
moor
alongside
that
chalk
barge
.
"
"
Well
,
so
we
will
,
"
said
the
man
.
While
the
Blossom
was
executing
this
manœuvre
,
which
it
did
in
a
most
clumsy
manner
,
as
if
the
two
men
that
worked
her
had
never
been
entrusted
with
the
care
of
a
lighter
before
,
the
Buffer
turned
towards
the
Resurrection
Man
,
and
said
in
a
whisper
,
"
We
must
remain
outside
all
the
barges
,
'
cause
of
having
room
to
run
our
boat
alongside
the
Fairy
and
get
the
things
on
board
easy
,
when
we
come
back
from
the
expedition
down
to
the
Lady
Anne
.
"
"
To
be
sure
,
"
answered
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
You
did
quite
right
to
make
those
lubbers
get
lower
down
.
I
'm
pleased
with
you
,
Jack
;
and
now
I
see
that
I
can
let
you
be
spokesman
on
all
such
occasions
without
any
fear
that
you
'll
commit
yourself
.
"
"
Why
,
if
you
want
to
keep
in
the
back-ground
as
much
as
possible
,
Tony
,
"
replied
the
Buffer
,
"
it
's
much
better
to
trust
these
little
things
to
me
.
But
,
I
say
—
I
think
there
's
something
queer
about
them
chaps
that
have
just
put
in
here
.
"
"
So
do
I
,
Jack
,
"
said
Tidkins
.
"
They
certainly
know
no
more
about
managing
a
lighter
than
you
and
I
did
when
we
first
took
to
it
.
"
"
Yes
—
but
we
had
a
regular
man
to
help
us
at
the
beginning
,
"
observed
the
Buffer
.
"
So
we
had
.
And
I
precious
soon
sent
him
about
his
business
when
he
had
taught
us
our
own
.
"
"
Well
—
p'rhaps
them
fellows
have
got
a
reg'lar
man
too
,
"
said
Wicks
.
"
But
let
'
em
be
what
and
who
they
will
,
my
idea
is
,
that
they
've
taken
to
the
same
line
as
ourselves
.
"
"
We
must
find
that
out
,
Jack
,
"
observed
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
If
they
're
what
you
think
,
they
will
of
course
be
respected
:
if
they
do
n't
belong
to
the
same
class
,
we
must
ascertain
what
they
've
got
on
board
,
and
then
make
up
our
minds
whether
any
of
their
cargo
will
suit
us
.
"
"
Well
said
,
"
returned
the
Buffer
.
"
But
in
any
case
you
must
be
the
person
to
learn
all
this
,
"
continued
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
You
see
,
I
'm
so
well
known
to
a
lot
of
different
people
that
would
show
me
no
mercy
if
they
got
hold
of
me
,
that
I
'm
compelled
to
keep
myself
as
quiet
as
possible
.
There
's
Markham
—
there
's
Crankey
Jem
—
there
's
the
gipsies
—
and
there
's
the
Rattlesnake
:
why
—
if
I
was
only
to
be
twigged
by
one
of
them
I
should
have
to
make
myself
scarce
in
a
minute
.
"
"
I
know
all
this
,
Tony
,
"
cried
the
Buffer
,
impatiently
;
"
and
therefore
the
less
you
're
seen
about
,
the
better
.
In
the
day
time
always
keep
below
,
as
you
have
been
doing
;
but
at
night
,
when
one
ca
n't
distinguish
particular
faces
,
you
can
take
the
air
;
