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. My opinion is he wants to do you a good turn."

I 'ung fire for a bit, and then, arter sweeping up for a little while
deliberate-like, I put down my broom and stepped aboard to see the
skipper, wot was sitting on the cabin skylight purtending to read a
newspaper.

He put it down when 'e see me, and George and the others, wot 'ad been
standing in a little bunch for'ard, came aft and stood looking on.

"I wanted to see you about this money, watchman," ses the skipper,
putting on 'is beastly frills agin. "O' course, we all feel that to a
pore man like you it's a bit of a strain, and, as George ses, arter all
you have been more foolish than wicked."

"Much more," ses George.