And
when I complained about the time to George 'e said I could make it
shorter if I liked by paying ten bob a week, but 'e thought the steady
five bob a week was best for both of us.
I got to 'ate the sight of 'im. Every week regular as clockwork he used
to come round to me with his 'and out, and then go and treat 'is mates to
beer with my money. If the ship came up in the day-time, at six o'clock
in the evening he'd be at the wharf gate waiting for me; and if it came
up at night she was no sooner made fast than 'e was over the side patting
my trouser-pocket and saying wot a good job it was for both of us that I
was in steady employment.
Week arter week and month arter month I went on paying. I a'most forgot
the taste o' beer, and if I could manage to get a screw o' baccy a week I
thought myself lucky. And at last, just as I thought I couldn't stand it
any longer, the end came.
I 'ad just given George 'is week's money--and 'ow I got it together that
week I don't know--when one o' the chaps came up and said the skipper
wanted to see me on board at once.
"Tell 'im if he wants to see me I'm to be found on the wharf," I ses,
very sharp.
"He wants to see you about George's money," ses the chap. "I should go
if I was you.
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