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"His face cleared; and he shoved his pistol back. "'Excuse me, Reube, says he. 'Every man that wears that uniform is unfriends with me, with one exception and that's yourself, and he took my hand. "'It's nice to look into a pair of eyes can look back at you, he goes on, very quiet, pumping my hand. 'How are you, old mate? We're quite strangers.
"'Ullo, Reube, says he.... "That were all.... I said nawthing.... I saw his face....
"'Ah, well, says he, 'think the best you can o me. You're much the man I'd ha been, if God had been gooder to me. Good-bye, Reube, says he. 'All the luck. "And somehow he seemed a bit o choky; and somehow I felt the same myself. "So cardingly they march me away to the top o the coombe, where it's steep as a ship's side, and gave me a shove.
Might ha rose to the quarter-deck just the sort; got a way with him and that. Only one fault, sir the sailor's failin." "What's that?" "Too lovin by fur.... "It's generally always his one fault capsizes a man," the seaman continued. "And so it were with poor old Bert he warn't Black at that time o day, yo'll understand." "What's the rights o that yarn, Reube?" grumbled a deep voice.
"'Money! he snarls. 'Steady, Reube. "'What then? says I. "'Ah, says he, drawing his breath like a cat swearin. 'As I just told you, I'm a Christian; and I don't forget. "Talk o bitter! "'Well, I says, 'if it's revenge you're a'ter, sims to me you've had a belly-ful. "'Ah, I ain't begun yet, says he, breathing slow. 'That's my little private account. There's the system to settle yet.
"You've heard, then!" he said harshly. "I know!" shaped itself inaudibly on Reuben's lips. At the sight of his anguish the old man's bitterness broke. "You've come in time for the funeral," he exclaimed piteously. "Oh, Reube, if you'd stayed it might have been different!" "The Young Ravens that Call upon Him."
Boys, take him to the top o Deepdene, and give him a tilt down. Gently does it, says he. 'He's an honester man nor any o you. "So cardingly they march me away. "But I hadn't gone above a dozen steps, when I heard him comin a'ter me. "'Reube, says he, kind o shy-like, 'I suppose you won't shake with an old ship-mate? "'No, says I, 'I don't shake with no traitors. "He drops his hand.
"'Unclasp his little arms, says Diamond. 'He thinks I'm his lady-bird. "Just then a whistle sounded rithe away acrost the Weald. Another nearer took it up, and another like partridges callin on a summer's evening. "'Here he comes, says Diamond, glass to his eye. 'Reube, says he, 'there's things good kids such as you are best not seein.
"He didn't answer: kep on all the while a-squintin through the glass towards the Forest. "'No, says I, 'I'm a liberty-man from the Tremendous. "'Ah, says he, queer and quiet. 'I'm glad to hear that, Reube. Mighty glad you're not a blockade-man. "'Why for? says I, innocent-like. "'Why, says he, ''tain't healthy for blockade-chaps in these parts just now.... You heard o poor Mr. Lucy?
I knaw'd his back, and the high way with his head at first onset. It was Black Diamond. "'Hullo, Bert, says I, coming up behind. "Round he jumps, terrible dark. "I'd hardly ha know'd him toff'd out quite the officer, bits of epaulettes, waxed moustachers, pistol and all. I'd never ha beleft it! "'That Reube? says he, at last, starin properly. "'That's me, sir, says I.
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