SAILORS' KNOTS

By W.W. Jacobs


1909



PRIZE MONEY


The old man stood by the window, gazing at the frozen fields beyond. The
sign of the Cauliflower was stiff with snow, and the breath of a pair of
waiting horses in a wagon beneath ascended in clouds of steam.

[Illustration: "The sign of the Cauliflower was stiff with snow."]

"Amusements" he said slowly, as he came back with a shiver and, resuming
his seat by the tap-room fire, looked at the wayfarer who had been idly
questioning him. "Claybury men don't have much time for amusements.
The last one I can call to mind was Bill Chambers being nailed up in a
pig-sty he was cleaning out, but there was such a fuss made over that
--by Bill--that it sort o' disheartened people."

He got up again restlessly, and, walking round the table, gazed long and
hard into three or four mugs.

"Sometimes a little gets left in them," he explained, meeting the
stranger's inquiring glance. The latter started, and, knocking on the