With one hand resting on a rail, and a bag in the other, she watched

the men as they drove the cattle up the gangways or lowered huge casks

and bales into the hold. A big, fat man, with a slouch hat on the back

of his head and a pipe in the corner of his mouth--which did not

prevent him shouting and bawling at the men and the animals--lurched

here and there like one of the casks, and in the midst of his shouting

and bawling, he every now and then glanced at a watch of the frying-pan

order.

It was evident even to the inexperienced Ida, that the vessel was about

to start; the sailors were rushing about on deck in the haste and

excitement of ordered disorder, chains were clanking, and ropes and

pulleys were shrieking; and a steam whistle shrieked at intervals and

added to the multitudinous noises.

"Poor sheep, poor bulls!" murmured Ida, as the last of the beasts were

driven up the gangway and disappeared. "Perhaps you have come from

another Herondale! Do you remember, do you look back, as I do?"

She drew back, for the big man suddenly lurched in her direction, and,

indeed, almost, against her.

"Beg pardon, miss," he said, touching his slouch hat. "Anything I can

do for you, anybody you're looking for?"

"No, oh, no!" said Ida, blushing and turning away. Mr. Joffler, for it

was that genial Australian, nodded and stretched his moon-like face in

a smile.

"Thought you'd come to say 'good-bye' to someone, p'raps. Wish it was

me! Though, if it was, I've an idea that I should stay on--air or no

air--and I'm blest if there ain't precious little about this morning!

Hi, there! All ready? Bless it all, we'll be too late for the tide if

he don't come," he said to the captain, who stood with one foot on the

taffrail, an expression of impatience on his weather-beaten face.

"Like enough he ain't comin', Mr. Joffler," he said. "Them kind o'

gents is always slippery."

"I dessay. Though I didn't think as this one was one of that kind. Too

much grit about him--ah, and I was not mistaken! Here he is! Get ready

there!"

He turned, and Ida, instinctively turning with him, saw a tall figure

clad in a serge suit making its way quickly through the crowd of busy

dock-men and idly lounging spectators. He came straight to the big, fat

man, who greeted him jovially and loudly, and they passed side by side

on to the vessel.




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