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And truly Bigley Uggleston did do his duty by my father and by me, for year by year we grew closer friends, the more so that Bob Chowne drifted away after his course of training in London, and finally became a ship's surgeon.
"If Mr Jonas Uggleston will behave, himself like a Christian, and pay his rent," said my father, "he'll go on just the same as he did under old Squire Allworth, so he has nothing to complain about whatever." "May I go and tell him that, father!" I said eagerly. "No: certainly not." "I mean after breakfast, father." "So do I, my boy," he replied. "Don't you meddle with such matters as that.
"As for you, Uggleston," cried the doctor, "I sha'n't offer you a present, for you'll want me some day to mend your head, or cut off a leg or a wing. Only, recollect I'm in your debt." "As for me, Mr Uggleston," said my father. "There there, that will do," cried old Jonas surlily. "We ar'n't such very bad friends, are we?"
"What are you laughing at?" he cried. "You've got out of your trouble now and you want to quarrel, I suppose. But I sha'n't; I don't want to fight. Only wait till we get across, you won't laugh when old Jony Uggleston comes down on you both for taking the boat. I shall say I didn't want you to, but you would. And then you've got my father and your father to talk to you after that."
"In the second bay to the westward, sir," said my father coldly; and Jonas Uggleston gave his foot a stamp, and uttered a fierce oath. "You see, he is in the business," said the lieutenant laughing. "There, Uggleston, you have betrayed yourself." I heard Bigley utter a piteous sigh, and I looked round at him to see the great drops standing on his forehead.
"What do you mean, sir? How dare you!" roared the officer turning upon Bob. "Why, I know," cried Bob. "What a game! Don't you see how it was?" "Will you say what you mean, you young idiot?" cried the lieutenant. "Oh, I say, it wasn't me who was the idiot," cried Bob bluntly. "Why, you let smuggler Uggleston dodge back in the night.
"'Live last night," said Jonas, digging great pieces of the salmon off with a silver spoon, and supplying our plates. "You catch him, father?" said Bigley. "Yes, Big. Weir." "Weir," I thought to myself. "Weir? What does he mean by weir?" "Eat away, my lads," cried Jonas Uggleston. "Big: have off some bread."
"No, father," I said; "I was out all day with Doctor Chowne's boy and young Uggleston." "Rather a queer companion for you, my boy, eh? Uggleston is a sad smuggler, they say; but let's see, his boy goes to your school?" "Yes, father, and he's such a good fellow. We went to his house down in the Gap, and had dinner, and Mr Uggleston was very civil to me, all but " "Well, speak out, Sep.
Jonas Uggleston nodded his head and exchanged a peculiar look with the Frenchman. "Let's get ashore," he said. "You, Bill, I'll come out again by and by. Get her fast to the buoy." Binnacle Bill growled and crept behind us boys to watch his opportunity, and give us each a nod, a wink, and a furtive shake of the hand.
Just then there was a tap as of some one's knuckles at the door, and in obedience to a look from my father I got up and opened it, to turn quite red in the face, for there stood my old school-fellow about whom so much had been said Bigley Uggleston. "Who is it?" said my father. "Bigley Uggleston," I replied, feeling very awkward.
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