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"Then, good day, " and to the boatman's profound and audible
disgust we set off at once in the other direction.
Our next stoppage was at the Jolly Manner's Arms. Did they
keep beds? Yes, they kept beds. We then proceeded to the chemist's.
Did he keep a galvanic battery? Once again the answer was in the
affirmative, and with a satisfied smile Tom Crabbe headed for home
once more, leaving some very angry people behind him.
That evening, over a bowl of punch, he revealed his plan —
and the council of three revised it, modified it, and ended by adopting
it, with the immediate result that I at once changed my quarters to the
Brisport Hotel.
I was wakened next day by the sun streaming in at my bedroom
window. It was a glorious morning. I sprang out of the bed and
looked at my watch. It was nearly nine o'clock. "Only an hour, " I
muttered, "and nearly a mile to walk, " and proceeded to dress with
all the haste I could. "Well, " I soliloquized as I sharpened my razor,
"if old Tom Crabbe doesn't get his name in the papers today, it isn't
my fault. I wonder if any friend would do as much for me! " I
finished my toilet, swallowed a cup of coffee and sallied out.
Brisport seemed unusually lively this morning. The streets were
crowded with people. I wormed my way down Waterloo Street,
through the old Square and past Crabbe's house. The cathedral bells
were chiming ten o'clock as I reached the above-mentioned little dock
with the iron swinging bridge. A man was standing on the bridge
leaning over the balustrades. There was no mistaking the heart-
broken hat rim and the spectacles of Thomas Waterhouse Crabbe, M.
B.
I passed him without sign of recognition, dawdled a little on the
quay, and then sauntered down to the boat-house. Our friend of
yesterday was standing at the door with a short pipe in his mouth.
"Could I have a boat for an hour? " I asked.
He beamed all over. "One minute, sir, " he said, "and I'll get the
sculls. Would you want me to row you, sir? "
"Yes, you'd better, " I replied.
He bustled about, and in a short time managed to launch a
leaky-looking old tub, into which he stepped, while I squatted down
in the sheets.
"Take me round the docks, " I said. "I want to have a look at
the shipping. "