"So have I," said Abe, and seemed to be pondering to himself. "She'll
be a woman growed by this time," he went on.
"Turnin' twenty-seven," Billy agreed.
"That's of it," said Abe. "I've been thinking about her, constant."
"Well, look'ee here," spoke up Billy, "our little agreement holds, don't
it?--that is, if we ever get out of this here mess, and Selina hasn't
gone and taken a husband. Play fair, leave it to the maid, and let the
best man win; that's what we shook hands over. If that holds, seemin'
to me the rest can wait."
"True, true," says Abe; but after a bit he asks rather sly-like:
"And s'posin' you're the lucky one, how do'ee reckon you're going to
maintain her?"
"Why, on seaman's wages, I suppose; or else at the shoe-mending.
I learnt a little of that trade in Jivvy, as you d'know."
"Well," says Abe, "I was reckonin' to set up school and teach
navigation. Back in Ardevora I can make between seventy and eighty
pounds a year at that game easy."
Bosistow scratched his head. "You've been making the most of your time.
Now I've been busy in my way, too, but seemin' to me the only trade I've
learned is prison-breakin'. Not much to keep a wife on, as you say.
Still, a bargain's a bargain."
"Oh, sutt'nly," says Abe; "that is if your conscience allows it."
"I reckon I'll risk that," answers Billy, and no more passed.
From Tours the prisoners tramped south-east again, to a town called
Riou, in the middle of France, and reached it in a snowstorm on March 1.
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