lus
theear--he can wag his tongue like a lamb's tail; and Dave o' th'
Damside--he can whistle an' sing an' he's a houseful o' little barns; by
gum, I wish I wor at home wi' ahr Sarah!" The rest of the journey he
seemed to be occupied in deep thought; and when we got the tent erected
in Vicar's Croft he "broke out in open rebellion," and refused to play
the organ. "Nay," says he, "no more organ playing for me; I'm bahn ta
dissolve partnership wi' ye, an' tak t' first train ta Keighley." He
suited his words to action and returned home. Of course this rather upset
things, but Dave and I determined to go on with the business. Our visit
to Leeds brought in a few pounds. Hey then insisted on our going up in
the Lake District. I objected strongly, but had eventually to give in,
and, to make a long story short, we landed at Windermere. We did very
poor business, barely paying expenses; and such was the case when we
moved to Keswick and other places around the Lake District. We next
shifted to Morecambe, where we passed a very profitable week, and then
embarked in a fishing smack which was returning to Fleetwood. We were
overtaken by a fearful storm, and the fishermen were fully occupied in
keeping their boat right side up. Hey was down in the hold, having left
me to take care of the shark. The sea swept over the sides, and I had
great difficulty in retaining the box containing our treasure. I shouted
to Dave to come and help me, but the only answer I got was that if he was
going to be drowned he "wod dee happy." When we got to Fleetwood, some
time elapsed before we were able to land, and when we at last did set
foot on the shore, I said to myself, "No more shark showing for me." Luck
seemed to be in the way just then, for a gentleman who came in to see the
shark asked me what I would sell it for. I told him I would take 20
pounds for the whole concern--shark, tent, box organ, &c. But he said he
only wanted the shark. After much bargaining I brought the price down to
14 pounds for the lot, and he accepted this, and returned the tent, box
organ, lamps, &c., and out of these Hey and I made another sovereign. The
gentleman purchased the shark for a museum in Fleetwood. Dave o' th'
Damside and Bill o' th' Hoylus End were now rich for once in their lives,
but--I almost shrink from telling it--by the time they got to Skipton
they had spent every penny of the money, and had to walk to Keighley,
from where they had been absent about six m