The Guardian Angel Read online

  Produced by David Widger

  SHIP'S COMPANY

  By W.W. Jacobs

  THE GUARDIAN ANGEL

  "The lodger was standing at the foot o' Ginger's bed,going through 'is pockets."]

  The night-watchman shook his head. "I never met any of these phil--philantherpists, as you call 'em," he said, decidedly. "If I 'ad theywouldn't 'ave got away from me in a hurry, I can tell you. I don't say Idon't believe in 'em; I only say I never met any of 'em. If people doyou a kindness it's generally because they want to get something out ofyou; same as a man once--a perfick stranger--wot stood me eight'arf-pints becos I reminded 'im of his dead brother, and then borreredfive bob off of me.

  "O' course, there must be some kind-'arted people in the world--all menwho get married must 'ave a soft spot somewhere, if it's only in the'ead--but they don't often give things away. Kind-'artedness is oftenonly another name for artfulness, same as Sam Small's kindness to GingerDick and Peter Russet.

  "It started with a row. They was just back from a v'y'ge and 'ad taken anice room together in Wapping, and for the fust day or two, wot with'aving plenty o' money to spend and nothing to do, they was like threebrothers. Then, in a little, old-fashioned public-'ouse down Poplar way,one night they fell out over a little joke Ginger played on Sam.

  "It was the fust drink that evening, and Sam 'ad just ordered a pot o'beer and three glasses, when Ginger winked at the landlord and offered tobet Sam a level 'arf-dollar that 'e wouldn't drink off that pot o' beerwithout taking breath. The landlord held the money, and old Sam, with a'appy smile on 'is face, 'ad just taken up the mug, when he noticed theodd way in which they was all watching him. Twice he took the mug up andput it down agin without starting and asked 'em wot the little game was,but they on'y laughed. He took it up the third time and started, and he'ad just got about 'arf-way through when Ginger turns to the landlord andses--

  "'Did you catch it in the mouse-trap,' he ses, 'or did it die of poison?'

  "Pore Sam started as though he 'ad been shot, and, arter getting rid ofthe beer in 'is mouth, stood there 'olding the mug away from 'im andmaking such 'orrible faces that they was a'most frightened.

  "'Wot's the matter with him? I've never seen 'im carry on like that overa drop of beer before,' ses Ginger, staring.

  "'He usually likes it,' ses Peter Russet.

  "'Not with a dead mouse in it,' ses Sam, trembling with passion.

  "'Mouse?' ses Ginger, innercent-like. 'Mouse? Why, I didn't say it wasin your beer, Sam. Wotever put that into your 'ead?'

  "'And made you lose your bet,' ses Peter.

  "Then old Sam see 'ow he'd been done, and the way he carried on when thelandlord gave Ginger the 'arf-dollar, and said it was won fair andhonest, was a disgrace. He 'opped about that bar 'arf crazy, until atlast the landlord and 'is brother, and a couple o' soldiers, and ahelpless cripple wot wos selling matches, put 'im outside and told 'im tostop there.

  "He stopped there till Ginger and Peter came out, and then, drawing'imself up in a proud way, he told 'em their characters and wot hethought about 'em. And he said 'e never wanted to see wot they calledtheir faces agin as long as he lived.

  "'I've done with you,' he ses, 'both of you, for ever.'

  "'All right,' ses Ginger moving off. 'Ta-ta for the present. Let's 'opehe'll come 'ome in a better temper, Peter.'

  "'Ome?' ses Sam, with a nasty laugh, "'ome? D'ye think I'm coming back tobreathe the same air as you, Ginger? D'ye think I want to besuffocated?'

  "He held his 'ead up very 'igh, and, arter looking at them as if they wasdirt, he turned round and walked off with his nose in the air to spendthe evening by 'imself.

  "His temper kept him up for a time, but arter a while he 'ad to own up to'imself that it was very dull, and the later it got the more he thoughtof 'is nice warm bed. The more 'e thought of it the nicer and warmer itseemed, and, arter a struggle between his pride and a few 'arf-pints, hegot 'is good temper back agin and went off 'ome smiling.

  "The room was dark when 'e got there, and, arter standing listening amoment to Ginger and Peter snoring, he took off 'is coat and sat down on'is bed to take 'is boots off. He only sat down for a flash, and then hebent down and hit his 'ead an awful smack against another 'ead wot 'adjust started up to see wot it was sitting on its legs.

  "He thought it was Peter or Ginger in the wrong bed at fust, but afore hecould make it out Ginger 'ad got out of 'is own bed and lit the candle.Then 'e saw it was a stranger in 'is bed, and without saying a word helaid 'old of him by the 'air and began dragging him out.

  "'Here, stop that!' ses Ginger catching hold of 'im. 'Lend a hand 'ere,Peter.'

  "Peter lent a hand and screwed it into the back o' Sam's neck till hemade 'im leave go, and then the stranger, a nasty-looking little chapwith a yellow face and a little dark moustache, told Sam wot he'd like todo to him.

  "'Who are you?' ses Sam, 'and wot are you a-doing of in my bed?'

  "'It's our lodger,' ses Ginger.

  "'Your wot?' ses Sam, 'ardly able to believe his ears.

  "'Our lodger,' ses Peter Russet. 'We've let 'im the bed you said youdidn't want for sixpence a night. Now you take yourself off.'

  "Old Sam couldn't speak for a minute; there was no words that he knew badenough, but at last he licks 'is lips and he ses, 'I've paid for that bedup to Saturday, and I'm going to have it.'

  "He rushed at the lodger, but Peter and Ginger got hold of 'im agin andput 'im down on the floor and sat on 'im till he promised to be'avehimself. They let 'im get up at last, and then, arter calling themselvesnames for their kind-'artedness, they said if he was very good he mightsleep on the floor.

  "Sam looked at 'em for a moment, and then, without a word, he took off'is boots and put on 'is coat and went up in a corner to be out of thedraught, but, wot with the cold and 'is temper, and the hardness of thefloor, it was a long time afore 'e could get to sleep. He dropped off atlast, and it seemed to 'im that he 'ad only just closed 'is eyes when itwas daylight. He opened one eye and was just going to open the otherwhen he saw something as made 'im screw 'em both up sharp and peepthrough 'is eyelashes. The lodger was standing at the foot o' Ginger'sbed, going through 'is pockets, and then, arter waiting a moment and'aving a look round, he went through Peter Russet's. Sam lay still mousewhile the lodger tip-toed out o' the room with 'is boots in his 'and, andthen, springing up, follered him downstairs.

  "He caught 'im up just as he 'ad undone the front door, and, catchinghold of 'im by the back o' the neck, shook 'im till 'e was tired. Thenhe let go of 'im and, holding his fist under 'is nose, told 'im to handover the money, and look sharp about it.

  "'Ye--ye--yes, sir,' ses the lodger, who was 'arf choked.

  "Sam held out his 'and, and the lodger, arter saying it was only a littlebit o' fun on 'is part, and telling 'im wot a fancy he 'ad taken to 'imfrom the fust, put Ginger's watch and chain into his 'ands and eighteenpounds four shillings and sevenpence. Sam put it into his pocket, and,arter going through the lodger's pockets to make sure he 'adn't forgotanything, opened the door and flung 'im into the street. He stopped onthe landing to put the money in a belt he was wearing under 'is clothes,and then 'e went back on tip-toe to 'is corner and went to sleep with oneeye open and the 'appiest smile that had been on his face for years.

  "He shut both eyes when he 'eard Ginger wake up, and he slept like achild through the 'orrible noise that Peter and Ginger see fit to makewhen they started to put their clothes on. He got tired of it afore theydid, and, arter opening 'is eyes slowly and yawning, he asked Ginger wothe meant by it.

  "'You'll wake your lodger up if you ain't careful, making that noise,' heses. 'Wot's the matter?'

  "'Sam,' ses Ginger, in a very different v
oice to wot he 'ad used thenight before, 'Sam, old pal, he's taken all our money and bolted.'

  "'Wot?' ses Sam, sitting up on the floor and blinking, 'Nonsense!'

  "'Robbed me and Peter,' ses Ginger, in a trembling voice; 'taken everypenny we've got, and my watch and chain.'

  "'You're dreaming,' ses Sam.

  "'I wish I was,' ses Ginger.

  "'But surely, Ginger,' ses Sam, standing up, 'surely you didn't take alodger without a character?'

  "'He seemed such a nice chap,' ses Peter. 'We was only saying wot a muchnicer chap he was than--than----'

  "'Go on, Peter,' ses Sam, very perlite.

  "'Than he might ha' been,' ses Ginger, very quick.

  "'Well, I've 'ad a wonderful escape,' ses Sam. 'If it hadn't ha' beenfor sleeping in my clothes I suppose he'd ha' 'ad my money as well.'

  "He felt in 'is pockets anxious-like, then he smiled, and stood thereletting 'is money fall through 'is fingers into his pocket over and overagin.

  "'Pore chap,' he ses; 'pore chap; p'r'aps he'd got a starving wife andfamily. Who knows? It ain't for us to judge 'im, Ginger.'

  "He stood a little while longer chinking 'is money, and when he took offhis coat to wash Ginger Dick poured the water out for im and Peter Russetpicked up the soap, which 'ad fallen on the floor. Then they startedpitying themselves, looking very 'ard at the back of old Sam while theydid it.

  "'I s'pose we've got to starve, Peter,' ses Ginger, in, a sad voice.

  "'Looks like it,' ses Peter, dressing hisself very slowly.

  "'There's nobody'll mourn for me, that's one comfort,' ses Ginger.

  "'Or me,' ses Peter.

  "'P'r'aps Sam'll miss us a bit,' ses Ginger, grinding 'is teeth as oldSam went on washing as if he was deaf. 'He'ss the only real pal we ever'ad.'

  "'Wot are you talking about?' ses Sam, turning round with the soap inhis eyes, and feeling for the towel. 'Wot d'ye want to starve for? Whydon't you get a ship?'

  "'I thought we was all going to sign on in the Cheaspeake agin, Sam,' sesGinger, very mild.

  "'She won't be ready for sea for pretty near three weeks,' ses Sam. 'Youknow that.'

  "'P'r'aps Sam would lend us a trifle to go on with, Ginger,' ses PeterRusset. 'Just enough to keep body and soul together, so as we can holdout and 'ave the pleasure of sailing with 'im agin.'

  "'P'r'aps he wouldn't,' ses Sam, afore Ginger could open his mouth.'I've just got about enough to last myself; I 'aven't got any to lend.Sailormen wot turns on their best friends and makes them sleep on thecold 'ard floor while their new pal is in his bed don't get money lent to'em. My neck is so stiff it creaks every time I move it, and I've gotthe rheumatics in my legs something cruel.'

  "He began to 'um a song, and putting on 'is cap went out to get somebrekfuss. He went to a little eating-'ouse near by, where they was inthe 'abit of going, and 'ad just started on a plate of eggs and baconwhen Ginger Dick and Peter came into the place with a pocket-'ankercherof 'is wot they 'ad found in the fender.

  "'We thought you might want it, Sam,' ses Peter.

  "'So we brought it along,' ses Ginger. 'I 'ope you're enjoying of yourbrekfuss, Sam.'

  "Sam took the 'ankercher and thanked 'em very perlite, and arter standingthere for a minute or two as if they wanted to say something theycouldn't remember, they sheered off. When Sam left the place 'arf-an-hour afterwards they was still hanging about, and as Sam passed Gingerasked 'im if he was going for a walk.

  "'Walk?' ses Sam. 'Cert'nly not. I'm going to bed; I didn't 'ave a goodnight's rest like you and your lodger.'

  "He went back 'ome, and arter taking off 'is coat and boots got into bedand slept like a top till one o'clock, when he woke up to find Gingershaking 'im by the shoulders.

  "'Wot's the matter?' he ses. 'Wot are you up to?'

  "'It's dinner-time,' ses Ginger. 'I thought p'r'aps you'd like to know,in case you missed it.'

  "'You leave me alone,' ses Sam, cuddling into the clothes agin. 'I don'twant no dinner. You go and look arter your own dinners.'

  "He stayed in bed for another 'arf-hour, listening to Peter and Gingertelling each other in loud whispers 'ow hungry they was, and then he gotup and put 'is things on and went to the door.

  "'I'm going to get a bit o' dinner,' he ses. 'And mind, I've got mypocket 'ankercher.'

  "He went out and 'ad a steak and onions and a pint o' beer, but, althoughhe kept looking up sudden from 'is plate, he didn't see Peter or Ginger.It spoilt 'is dinner a bit, but arter he got outside 'e saw them standingat the corner, and, pretending not to see them, he went off for a walkdown the Mile End Road.

  "'We thought you might want it, Sam,' ses Peter"]

  "He walked as far as Bow with them follering'im, and then he jumped on abus and rode back as far as Whitechapel. There was no sign of 'em whenhe got off, and, feeling a bit lonesome, he stood about looking in shop-windows until 'e see them coming along as hard as they could come.

  "'Why, halloa!' he ses. 'Where did you spring from?'

  "'We--we--we've been--for a bit of a walk,' ses Ginger Dick, puffing andblowing like a grampus.

  "'To-keep down the 'unger,' ses Peter Russet.

  "Old Sam looked at 'em very stern for a moment, then he beckoned 'em tofoller 'im, and, stopping at a little public-'ouse, he went in andordered a pint o' bitter.

  "'And give them two pore fellers a crust o' bread and cheese and 'arf-a-pint of four ale each,' he ses to the barmaid.

  "Ginger and Peter looked at each other, but they was so hungry theydidn't say a word; they just stood waiting.

  "'Put that inside you my pore fellers,' ses Sam, with a oily smile. 'Ican't bear to see people suffering for want o' food,' he ses to thebarmaid, as he chucked down a sovereign on the counter.

  "The barmaid, a very nice gal with black 'air and her fingers covered allover with rings, said that it did 'im credit, and they stood theretalking about tramps and beggars and such-like till Peter and Gingernearly choked. He stood there watching 'em and smoking a threepennycigar, and when they 'ad finished he told the barmaid to give 'em asausage-roll each, and went off.

  "Peter and Ginger snatched up their sausage-rolls and follered 'im, andat last Ginger swallowed his pride and walked up to 'im and asked 'im tolend them some money.

  "'You'll get it back agin,' he ses. 'You know that well enough.'

  "'Cert'nly not,' ses Sam; 'and I'm surprised at you asking. Why, a childcould rob you. It's 'ard enough as it is for a pore man like me to 'aveto keep a couple o' hulking sailormen, but I'm not going to give youmoney to chuck away on lodgers. No more sleeping on the floor for me!Now I don't want none o' your langwidge, and I don't want you folleringme like a couple o' cats arter a meat-barrer. I shall be 'aving a cup o'tea at Brown's coffee-shop by and by, and if you're there at five sharpI'll see wot I can do for you. Wot did you call me?'

  "Ginger told 'im three times, and then Peter Russet dragged 'im away.They turned up outside Brown's at a quarter to five, and at ten past sixSam Small strolled up smoking a cigar, and, arter telling them that he'ad forgot all about 'em, took 'em inside and paid for their teas. Hetold Mr. Brown 'e was paying for 'em, and 'e told the gal wot served 'em'e was paying for 'em, and it was all pore Ginger could do to stop'imself from throwing his plate in 'is face.

  "Sam went off by 'imself, and arter walking about all the evening withouta ha'penny in their pockets, Ginger Dick and Peter went off 'ome to bedand went to sleep till twelve o'clock, when Sam came in and woke 'em upto tell 'em about a music-'all he 'ad been to, and 'ow many pints he had'ad. He sat up in bed till past one o'clock talking about 'imself, andtwice Peter Russet woke Ginger