"Nothing," I ses. "I didn't ask 'im to let me mind the box. He done it
of 'is own free will. It's got nothing to do with me."

"Oh, hasn't it?" ses the skipper, drawing 'imself up. "I don't want to
be too 'ard on you, but at the same time I can't let my man suffer. I'll
make it as easy as I can, and I order you to pay 'im five shillings a
week till the twenty-five pounds is cleared off."

I laughed; I couldn't 'elp it. I just stood there and laughed at 'im.

"If you don't," ses the skipper, "then I shall lay the facts of the case
afore the guv'nor. Whether he'll object to you being in a pub a mile
away, taking care of a box of gold while you was supposed to be taking
care of the wharf, is his bisness. My bisness is to see that my man 'as
'is rights."

"'Ear, 'ear !" ses the crew.

"You please yourself, watchman," ses the skipper. "You're such a clever
man that no doubt you could get a better job to-morrow. There must be
'eaps of people wanting a man like you. It's for you to decide. That's
all I've got to say--five bob a week till pore George 'as got 'is money
back, or else I put the case afore the guv'nor. Wot did you say?"

I said it agin, and, as 'e didn't seem to understand, I said it once
more.

"Please yourself," 'e ses, when I 'ad finished. "You're an old man, and
five bob a week can't be much loss to you. You've got nothing to spend
it on, at your time o' life. And you've got a very soft job 'ere. Wot?"