The Contents of the Coffin by J. S. Fletcher

Author:J. S. Fletcher [Fletcher, J. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781440545276
Publisher: Prologue Books
Published: 2012-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

THE SEA-CAPTAIN’S SNUFF-BOX

THERE walked into the Paragon Street railway-station in Hull one morning a man of whom any close observer would have instantly noticed two things — firstly, that he was one of those who use the sea for a living; and secondly, that he had something on his mind. That he was a seafarer was evident from his nattily-cut suit of thick blue serge, his rolling gait, and the general atmosphere of wind and wave which clung all about him. Further proof of his calling might have been found in his bronzed face and gnarled, brown hands — hands and face alike bore a dye which nothing but salt-impregnated winds can give to the human skin.

He was a little, stodgy man, with sharp features, blue eyes, and a goatee beard of a ginger hue; and he wore gold rings in his ears, and more rings, silver and gold, on his stubby fingers. Something in his face, something written large all over him, suggested adventures and happenings in far corners of the earth.

That this man had something on his mind was evident from his behaviour in the station. He had bustled into it at a high rate of speed; once within the gates he pulled himself up, looked at the clock, consulted his own chronometer, and, having satisfied himself that both were in agreement, took a restless turn up and down the station.

Approaching a porter, he put some question to him; receiving the porter’s answer, he looked again at the clock and again at his chronometer. For a few moments he lingered about the bookstall, glancing without interest at the various publications offered for sale. Turning away from it, he rummaged in the inside pocket of his square-cut jacket and produced a somewhat battered cigar, which, after carefully licking all over, he proceeded to light and to smoke furiously. Then a new idea struck him — he made a bee-line for the refreshment-room, and there demanded rum.

The barmaid’s notions of what constituted a dram were not his — he motioned her to repeat the dose which she poured out. He drank off the contents of the glass, flung the money on the counter, and, speeding back to the platform entrances, wandered up and down in a state of obvious unrest. A train came in; folk began to hurry here and there; the seafarer moved about amongst them, staring at each face, searching and expectantly.

A light tap on his elbow made the seaman jump like a suddenly startled cat. He turned swiftly, to find himself looking at a little man dressed in rusty black clothes, whose ancient black hat, very tall and old-fashioned, rested at the back of his head, who carried a gamp-like umbrella, very brown with age, over his shoulder, as soldiers carry their rifles. He had a queer face and queer eyes, thought the seafaring man, and the most rigid mouth he had ever set eyes on.

“Mr. Dawe?” he said inquiringly.

“The same,” answered the little man. “Captain Peters, I suppose?”

Captain Peters took off his hat and wiped a bald head with a red silk handkerchief.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.