ing that 'ad frightened 'im. I've seen him myself take on men twice
'is size just for the love of the thing, and, arter knocking them silly,
stand 'em a pint out of 'is own pocket. When I asked 'im whether he was
afraid of ghosts he laughed so 'ard that the landlord came from the other
end of the bar to see wot was the matter.

I stood Ted a pint, and arter he 'ad finished it I told 'im just how
things was. I didn't say anything about the watch and chain, because
there was no need to, and when we came outside agin I 'ad engaged an
assistant-watchman for ninepence a night.

"All you've got to do," I ses, "is to keep me company. You needn't turn
up till eight o'clock of a night, and you can leave 'arf an hour afore me
in the morning."

"Right-o!" ses Ted. "And if I see the ghost I'll make it wish it 'ad
never been born."

It was a load off my mind, and I went 'ome and ate a tea that made my
missis talk about the work-'ouse, and orstritches in 'uman shape wot would
eat a woman out of 'ouse and 'ome if she would let 'em.

I got to the wharf just as it was striking six, and at a quarter to seven
the wicket was pushed open gentle and the ugly 'ead of Mr. Joe Peel was
shoved inside.

"Hullo!" I ses. "Wot do you want?"

"I want to save your life," he ses, in a solemn voice. "You was within a
inch of death last night, watchman."

"Oh!" I ses, careless-like. "'Ow do you know!"

"The ghost o' Sam Bullet told me," ses Joe. "Arter it 'ad chased you up
the wharf screaming for 'elp, it came round and told me all about it."

"It seems fond of you," I ses. "I wonder why?"

"It was in a terrible temper," ses Joe, "and its face was awful to look
at. 'Tell the watchman,' it ses, 'that if he don't give you the watch
and chain I shall appear to 'im agin and kill 'im.'"

"All right," I ses, looking behind me to where three of the 'ands of the
Daisy was sitting on the fo'c'sle smoking. "I've got plenty of company
to-night."

"Company won't save you," ses Joe. "For the last time, are you going to
give me that watch and chain, or not? Here's your fifteen bob."

"No," I ses; "even if I 'ad got it I shouldn't give it to you; and it's
no use giving' it to the ghost, because, being made of air, he 'asn't got
anywhere to put it."

"Very good," ses Joe, giving me a black look. "I've done all I can to
save you, but if you won't listen to sense, you won't. You'll see Sam
Bullet agin, and you'll not on'y lose the watch a