The Scarecrow Rides by Russell Thorndike

Author:Russell Thorndike. [Thorndike., Russell]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2013-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIX. Dr Syn and Mr. Mipps Come to an Understanding

Reluctantly the housekeeper withdrew, leaving, however, the door communicating with the kitchen open in case she could hear any further conversation connected with the jewels. But Dr. Syn had taken the precaution of closing his study door behind the visitor.

"And what have you got in the chest, my god Mipps, that you hug it so tightly. The gold bar?"

Mipps shook his head. "No, Captain."

"Don't call me 'captain'—'vicar'," said Dr. Syn sharply.

"Yes, Vicar. No, Vicar," replied Mipps, putting the chest down on to the floor. "The gold bar got turned into guineas, and the guineas got turned into different things what disappeared, such as drink, food and lodging. Then there come a sort of longing to be quit of travel, and I thought of home. I had no money for a passage, and merchantmen only employed men they knew, owing to fear of pirates, so I shanghaied a ship's carpenter in the Royal Navy and applied for his post for the voyage home. Had to get home, you see, Vicar, just as they had to have a carpenter. And what's more, Vicar, they got a better man than the one I detained, as the captain told me so."

"And how did you enjoy your time with the Royal Navy?" asked the doctor.

"A well-run ship it was, Vicar, and the discipline good. Put me in mind of your old Imogene. So long as everything was just so and spitted and polished, all was happy. I only had one unpleasantness the whole voyage, and that come of contradicting the captain before his lieutenant. They was arguing about Clegg, you see, and the captain said he'd seen him. Had him pointed out to him in a tavern in San Juan, and then, if you please, he starts describing him as tall, thin, handsome and elegant, till I come all over in a cold sweat and said: 'Well, that weren't Clegg, sir,' I says, 'and your informant didn't know what he was talking about.' Then I told 'ow I'd been captured by this Clegg, and got treated quite well till I was put ashore. I described him as a great barrel of a man, thick-set, rough and ready, with great brass rings in his ears, arms and chest covered with obscene tattooin's, and a vocabulary unbeaten even in the British Navy. A real savage, I made him out, but on the whole a jolly savage. In plain words, sir, I described your enemy."

Dr. Syn nodded. "That was good. That was clever. You were always the man for me, and I believe still will be if you care to play a very different game."

"I'm game for anything, Cap—Vicar," replied Mipps.

"Aye, but you may be game for too much," warned the doctor. "In other words, you may be too game to settle down."

"But it's just what I want," replied Mipps. "I never relished dying violent like most of 'em. A quiet settle down and a good long solitary chuckle about old days.

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