ding him
closely with his little bloodshot eyes; "you're trying to do me out o'my
three pounds--me what's took you in and 'id you."

The incensed skipper made no reply, but, passing upstairs, turned
the bed-room topsy-turvy in a wild search for his property. It was
unsuccessful, and he came down with a look in his face which made his
respected host get close to his wife.

"Are you going to give me my money?" demanded he, striding up to him.

"I've not got your money," snarled the other, "I'm an honest man."

He started back in alarm, and his wife gave a faint scream as Flower
caught him by the collar, and, holding him against the wall, went
through his pockets.

"Don't hurt him," cried the old woman; "he's only a little old man."

"If you were younger and bigger," said the infuriated skipper, as he
gave up the fruitless search, "I'd thrash you till you gave it up."

"I'm an honest man," said the other, recovering himself as he saw that
his adversary intended no violence; "if you think I've stole your money,
you know what you can do."

"What?" demanded Flower.

"Go to the police," said the old man, his little slit of a mouth twisted
into a baleful grin; "if you think I've stole your money, go and tell
the police."

"Let 'em come and search the house," said the old woman, plucking up
spirit. "I've been married forty-two years and 'ad seven children. Go
and fetch the police."

Flower stared at them in wrathful concern. Threats were of no use,
and violence was out of the question. He went to the door, and leaning
against it, stood there deep in thought until, after a time, the old
woman, taking courage from his silence, began to prepare breakfast. Then
he turned, and drawing his chair up to the table, ate silently.

He preserved this silence all day despite the occasional suggestion of
the old man that he should go for the police, and the aggrieved refrain
of the old woman as to the length of her married life and the number of
her offspring.

He left at night without a word. The old man smiled almost amiably
to see him go; and the old woman, who had been in a state of nervous
trepidation all day, glanced at her husband with a look in which wifely
devotion and admiration were almost equally blended.

Flower passed slowly through the wood, and after pausing to make sure
that he was not followed, struck across the fields, and, with his
sailor's knowledge of the stars, steered by them in the direction of
Londo