"'You go and fetch 'im, I ses. ''Ow dare you talk like that afore my
wife!'

"'I dursen't take the responserbility,' ses the cook. 'It might mean
bloodshed.'

"'You go and fetch 'im,' ses my missis. 'Never mind about the bloodshed.
I don't. Open the door!'

"She started banging on the door agin, and arter talking among themselves
for a time they moved off to the ship. They came back in three or four
minutes, and the cook 'eld up something in front of the window.

"'The boy 'ad got it,' he ses. 'Now shall I open the door and let your
missis in, or would you rather stay where you are in peace and
quietness?'

"I saw my missis jump at the key, and Bob and the others, laughing fit to
split their sides, 'olding her back. Then I heard a shout, and the next
moment Cap'n Tarbell came up and asked 'em wot the trouble was about.

"They all started talking at once, and then the cap'n, arter one look in
at the window, threw up his 'ands and staggered back as if 'e couldn't
believe his eyesight. He stood dazed-like for a second or two, and then
'e took the key out of the cook's 'and, opened the door, and walked in.
The four men was close be'ind 'im, and, do all she could, my missis
couldn't get in front of 'em.

"'Watchman!' he ses, in a stuck-up voice, 'wot does this mean? Laura
Lamb! wot 'ave you got to say for yourself? Where 'ave you been all the