Dixon's Return Read online

as them for anothernight. Am I to go?"

  "Please yourself," ses 'is wife. "I don't mind your staying 'ere so longas you behave yourself, but the others won't go; you can make your mindeasy on that."

  "I'll go and look for another ship, then," ses Dixon, taking up 'is cap."I'm not wanted here. P'r'aps you wouldn't mind 'aving some clothespacked into a chest for me so as I can go away decent."

  He looked round at 'is wife, as though 'e expected she'd ask 'im not togo, but she took no notice, and he opened the door softly and went out,while old Burge, who 'ad come into the room and 'eard what he was saying,trotted off upstairs to pack 'is chest for 'im.

  In two hours 'e was back agin and more cheerful than he 'ad been since he'ad come 'ome. Bob was in the bar and the others were just sitting downto tea, and a big chest, nicely corded, stood on the floor in the cornerof the room.

  "That's right," he ses, looking at it; "that's just wot I wanted."

  "It's as full as it can be," ses old Burge. "I done it for you myself.'Ave you got a ship?"

  "I 'ave," ses Dixon. "A jolly good ship. No more hardships for me thistime. I've got a berth as captain."

  "Wot?" ses 'is wife. "Captain? You!"

  "Yes," ses Dixon, smiling at her. "You can sail with me if you like."

  "Thankee," ses Mrs. Dixon, "I'm quite comfortable where I am."

  "Do you mean to say you've got a master's berth?" ses Charlie, staring at'im.

  "I do," ses Dixon; "master and owner."

  Charlie coughed. "Wot's the name of the ship?" he asks, winking at theothers.

  "The BLUE LION," ses Dixon, in a voice that made 'em all start. "I'mshipping a new crew and I pay off the old one to-night. You first, mylad."

  "Pay off," ses Charlie, leaning back in 'is chair and staring at 'im in apuzzled way. "Blue Lion?"

  "Yes," ses Dixon, in the same loud voice. "When I came 'ome the otherday I thought p'r'aps I'd let bygones be bygones, and I laid low for abit to see whether any of you deserved it. I went to sea to gethardened--and I got hard. I've fought men that would eat you at a meal.I've 'ad more blows in a week than you've 'ad in a lifetime, youfat-faced land-lubber."

  He walked to the door leading to the bar, where Bob was doing 'is best toserve customers and listen at the same time, and arter locking it put thekey in 'is pocket. Then 'e put his 'and in 'is pocket and slapped somemoney down on the table in front o' Charlie.

  "There's a month's pay instead o' notice," he ses. "Now git."

  "George!" screams 'is wife. "'Ow dare you? 'Ave you gone crazy?"

  "I'm surprised at you," ses old Burge, who'd been looking on with 'ismouth wide open, and pinching 'imself to see whether 'e wasn't dreaming.

  "I don't go for your orders," ses Charlie, getting up. "Wot d'ye mean bylocking that door?"

  "Wot!" roars Dixon. "Hang it! I mustn't lock a door without asking mybarman now. Pack up and be off, you swab, afore I start on you."

  Charlie gave a growl and rushed at 'im, and the next moment 'e was downon the floor with the 'ardest bang in the face that he'd ever 'ad in 'islife. Mrs. Dixon screamed and ran into the kitchen, follered by oldBurge, who went in to tell 'er not to be frightened. Charlie got up andwent for Dixon agin; but he 'ad come back as 'ard as nails and 'ad arushing style o' fighting that took Charlie's breath away. By the timeBob 'ad left the bar to take care of itself, and run round and got in theback way, Charlie had 'ad as much as 'e wanted and was lying on thesea-chest in the corner trying to get 'is breath.

  "Charlie had 'ad as much as 'e wanted and was lying on thesea-chest."]

  "Yes? Wot d'ye want?" ses Dixon, with a growl, as Bob came in at thedoor.

  He was such a 'orrible figure, with the blood on 'is face and 'is beardsticking out all ways, that Bob, instead of doing wot he 'ad come roundfor, stood in the doorway staring at 'im without a word.

  "I'm paying off," ses Dixon. "'Ave you got any-thing to say agin it?"

  "No," ses Bob, drawing back.

  "You and Charlie'll go now," ses Dixon, taking out some money. "The oldman can stay on for a month to give 'im time to look round. Don't lookat me that way, else I'll knock your 'ead off."

  He started counting out Bob's money just as old Burge and Mrs. Dixon,hearing all quiet, came in out of the kitchen.

  "Don't you be alarmed on my account, my dear," he ses, turning to 'iswife; "it's child's play to wot I've been used to. I'll just see thesetwo mistaken young fellers off the premises, and then we'll 'ave a cup o'tea while the old man minds the bar."

  Mrs. Dixon tried to speak, but 'er temper was too much for 'er. Shelooked from her 'usband to Charlie and Bob and then back at 'im agin andcaught 'er breath.

  "That's right," ses Dixon, nodding his 'ead at her. "I'm master andowner of the Blue Lion and you're first mate. When I'm speaking you keepquiet; that's dissipline."

  I was in that bar about three months arterward, and I never saw sucha change in any woman as there was in Mrs. Dixon. Of all thenice-mannered, soft-spoken landladies I've ever seen, she was the best,and on'y to 'ear the way she answered her 'usband when he spoke to 'erwas a pleasure to every married man in the bar.

  "The way she answered her 'usband was a pleasure to everymarried man in the bar."]