cular," he replied, "being as you want
to go. Between you and me, I'm gettin' fat and lazy since you came.
There ain't enough work for two, and that's all there is to it, and
being as you're young and active, why, I've left it to you, and look at
my arms."

He held them up.

"Used to be all muscle, now they're nothin' but bloomin' pap. And no'
but two glasses of beer a day extra have I drunk, just to pass the time.
You can stay if you will, young man, but you can go out fishin' and
leave me the work, and I'll pay you just the same, for I'm not saying
that I don't like your company. Or you can go when you please, and
that's the end of it."

Matthew Nicholls spat upon the stones and replaced his pipe in his
mouth. Tavernake came in and sat down by his side.

"Look here," he said, "I believe you are right. I'll stay another week
but I'll take things easy. You get on with the boat now. I'll sit here
and have a smoke."

Nicholls grunted but obeyed, and for the next few days Tavernake loafed.
On his return one afternoon from a long walk, he saw a familiar figure
sitting upon the sea wall in front of the workshop, a familiar figure
but a strange one in these parts. It was Mr. Pritchard, in an American
felt hat, and smoking a very black cigar. He leaned over and nodded to
Tavernake, who was staring at him aghast.

"Hallo, old man!" he called out. "Run you to earth, you see!"

"Yes, I see!" Tavernake exclaimed.

"Come right along up here and let's talk," Pritchard continued.

Tavernake obeyed. Pritchard looked him over approvingly. Tavernake was
roughly dressed in those days, but as a man he had certainly developed.

"Say, you're looking fine," his visitor remarked. "What wouldn't I give
for that color and those shoulders!"

"It is a healthy life," Tavernake admitted. "Do you mean that you've
come down here to see me?"

"That's so," Pritchard announced; "down here to see you, and for no
other reason. Not but that the scenery isn't all it should be, and that
sort of thing," he went on, "but I am not putting up any bluff about
it. It's you I am here to talk to. Are you ready? Shall I go straight
ahead?"

"If you please," Tavernake said, slowly filling his pipe.

"You dropped out of things pretty sudden," Pritchard continued. "It
didn't take me much guessing to reckon up why. Between you and me, you
are not the first man who's been up against it on account of that young
woman. Don't stop me," he begged. "I know ho