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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12212 ***
+
+ODD CRAFT
+
+By W.W. Jacobs
+
+
+
+THE THIRD STRING
+
+Love?  said the night-watchman, as he watched in an abstracted fashion
+the efforts of a skipper to reach a brother skipper on a passing barge
+with a boathook.  Don't talk to me about love, because I've suffered
+enough through it.  There ought to be teetotalers for love the same as
+wot there is for drink, and they ought to wear a piece o' ribbon to show
+it, the same as the teetotalers do; but not an attractive piece o'
+ribbon, mind you.  I've seen as much mischief caused by love as by drink,
+and the funny thing is, one often leads to the other.  Love, arter it is
+over, often leads to drink, and drink often leads to love and to a man
+committing himself for life afore it is over.
+
+[Illustration: "Don't talk to me about love, because I've suffered enough
+through it."]
+
+Sailormen give way to it most; they see so little o' wimmen that
+they naturally 'ave a high opinion of 'em.  Wait till they become
+night-watchmen and, having to be at 'ome all day, see the other side of
+'em.  If people on'y started life as night-watchmen there wouldn't be one
+'arf the falling in love that there is now.
+
+I remember one chap, as nice a fellow as you could wish to meet, too.
+He always carried his sweet-heart's photograph about with 'im, and it was
+the on'y thing that cheered 'im up during the fourteen years he was cast
+away on a deserted island.  He was picked up at last and taken 'ome, and
+there she was still single and waiting for 'im; and arter spending
+fourteen years on a deserted island he got another ten in quod for
+shooting 'er because she 'ad altered so much in 'er looks.
+
+Then there was Ginger Dick, a red-'aired man I've spoken about before.
+He went and fell in love one time when he was lodging in Wapping 'ere
+with old Sam Small and Peter Russet, and a nice mess 'e made of it.
+
+They was just back from a v'y'ge, and they 'adn't been ashore a week
+afore both of 'em noticed a change for the worse in Ginger.  He turned
+quiet and peaceful and lost 'is taste for beer.  He used to play with 'is
+food instead of eating it, and in place of going out of an evening with
+Sam and Peter took to going off by 'imself.
+
+"It's love," ses Peter Russet, shaking his 'ead, "and he'll be worse
+afore he's better."
+
+"Who's the gal?" ses old Sam.
+
+Peter didn't know, but when they came 'ome that night 'e asked.  Ginger,
+who was sitting up in bed with a far-off look in 'is eyes, cuddling 'is
+knees, went on staring but didn't answer.
+
+"Who is it making a fool of you this time, Ginger?" ses old Sam.
+
+"You mind your bisness and I'll mind mine," ses Ginger, suddenly waking
+up and looking very fierce.
+
+"No offence, mate," ses Sam, winking at Peter.  "I on'y asked in case I
+might be able to do you a good turn."
+
+"Well, you can do that by not letting her know you're a pal o' mine," ses
+Ginger, very nasty.
+
+Old Sam didn't understand at fust, and when Peter explained to 'im he
+wanted to hit 'im for trying to twist Ginger's words about.
+
+"She don't like fat old men," ses Ginger.
+
+"Ho!" ses old Sam, who couldn't think of anything else to say.  "Ho!
+don't she?  Ho!  Ho! indeed!"
+
+He undressed 'imself and got into the bed he shared with Peter, and kept
+'im awake for hours by telling 'im in a loud voice about all the gals
+he'd made love to in his life, and partikler about one gal that always
+fainted dead away whenever she saw either a red-'aired man or a monkey.
+
+Peter Russet found out all about it next day, and told Sam that it was a
+barmaid with black 'air and eyes at the Jolly Pilots, and that she
+wouldn't 'ave anything to say to Ginger.
+
+He spoke to Ginger about it agin when they were going to bed that night,
+and to 'is surprise found that he was quite civil.  When 'e said that he
+would do anything he could for 'im, Ginger was quite affected.
+
+"I can't eat or drink," he ses, in a miserable voice; "I lay awake all
+last night thinking of her.  She's so diff'rent to other gals; she's
+got--If I start on you, Sam Small, you'll know it.  You go and make that
+choking noise to them as likes it."
+
+"It's a bit o' egg-shell I got in my throat at break-fast this morning,
+Ginger," ses Sam.  "I wonder whether she lays awake all night thinking of
+you?"
+
+"I dare say she does," ses Peter Russet, giving 'im a little push.
+
+"Keep your 'art up, Ginger," ses Sam; "I've known gals to 'ave the most
+ext'ordinary likings afore now."
+
+"Don't take no notice of 'im," ses Peter, holding Ginger back.  "'Ow are
+you getting on with her?"
+
+Ginger groaned and sat down on 'is bed and looked at the floor, and Sam
+went and sat on his till it shook so that Ginger offered to step over and
+break 'is neck for 'im.
+
+"I can't 'elp the bed shaking," ses Sam; "it ain't my fault.  I didn't
+make it.  If being in love is going to make you so disagreeable to your
+best friends, Ginger, you'd better go and live by yourself."
+
+"I 'eard something about her to-day, Ginger," ses Peter Russet.  "I met a
+chap I used to know at Bull's Wharf, and he told me that she used to keep
+company with a chap named Bill Lumm, a bit of a prize-fighter, and since
+she gave 'im up she won't look at anybody else."
+
+"Was she very fond of 'im, then?" asks Ginger.
+
+"I don't know," ses Peter; "but this chap told me that she won't walk out
+with anybody agin, unless it's another prize-fighter.  Her pride won't
+let her, I s'pose."
+
+"Well, that's all right, Ginger," ses Sam; "all you've got to do is to go
+and be a prize-fighter."
+
+"If I 'ave any more o' your nonsense--" ses Ginger, starting up.
+
+"That's right," ses Sam; "jump down anybody's throat when they're trying
+to do you a kindness.  That's you all over, Ginger, that is.  Wot's to
+prevent you telling 'er that you're a prize-fighter from Australia or
+somewhere?  She won't know no better."
+
+He got up off the bed and put his 'ands up as Ginger walked across the
+room to 'im, but Ginger on'y wanted to shake 'ands, and arter he 'ad done
+that 'e patted 'im on the back and smiled at 'im.
+
+"I'll try it," he ses.  "I'd tell any lies for 'er sake.  Ah! you don't
+know wot love is, Sam."
+
+"I used to," ses Sam, and then he sat down agin and began to tell 'em all
+the love-affairs he could remember, until at last Peter Russet got tired
+and said it was 'ard to believe, looking at 'im now, wot a perfick terror
+he'd been with gals, and said that the face he'd got now was a judgment
+on 'im.  Sam shut up arter that, and got into trouble with Peter in the
+middle o' the night by waking 'im up to tell 'im something that he 'ad
+just thought of about his face.
+
+The more Ginger thought o' Sam's idea the more he liked it, and the very
+next evening 'e took Peter Russet into the private bar o' the Jolly
+Pilots.  He ordered port wine, which he thought seemed more 'igh-class
+than beer, and then Peter Russet started talking to Miss Tucker and told
+her that Ginger was a prize-fighter from Sydney, where he'd beat
+everybody that stood up to 'im.
+
+The gal seemed to change toward Ginger all in a flash, and 'er beautiful
+black eyes looked at 'im so admiring that he felt quite faint.  She
+started talking to 'im about his fights at once, and when at last 'e
+plucked up courage to ask 'er to go for a walk with 'im on Sunday
+arternoon she seemed quite delighted.
+
+"It'll be a nice change for me," she ses, smiling.  "I used to walk out
+with a prize-fighter once before, and since I gave 'im up I began to
+think I was never going to 'ave a young man agin.  You can't think 'ow
+dull it's been."
+
+"Must ha' been," ses Ginger.
+
+"I s'pose you've got a taste for prize-fighters, miss," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"No," ses Miss Tucker; "I don't think that it's that exactly, but, you
+see, I couldn't 'ave anybody else.  Not for their own sakes."
+
+[Illustration: "Miss Tucker."]
+
+"Why not?" ses Ginger, looking puzzled.
+
+"Why not?" ses Miss Tucker.  "Why, because o' Bill.  He's such a 'orrid
+jealous disposition.  After I gave 'im up I walked out with a young
+fellow named Smith; fine, big, strapping chap 'e was, too, and I never
+saw such a change in any man as there was in 'im after Bill 'ad done with
+'im.  I couldn't believe it was 'im.  I told Bill he ought to be ashamed
+of 'imself."
+
+"Wot did 'e say?"  asks Ginger.
+
+"Don't ask me wot 'e said," ses Miss Tucker, tossing her 'ead.  "Not
+liking to be beat, I 'ad one more try with a young fellow named Charlie
+Webb."
+
+"Wot 'appened to 'im?" ses Peter Russet, arter waiting a bit for 'er to
+finish.
+
+"I can't bear to talk of it," ses Miss Tucker, holding up Ginger's glass
+and giving the counter a wipe down.  "He met Bill, and I saw 'im six
+weeks afterward just as 'e was being sent away from the 'ospital to a
+seaside home.  Bill disappeared after that."
+
+"Has he gone far away?" ses Ginger, trying to speak in a off-'and way.
+
+"Oh, he's back now," ses Miss Tucker.  "You'll see 'im fast enough, and,
+wotever you do, don't let 'im know you're a prize-fighter."
+
+"Why not?" ses pore Ginger.
+
+"Because o' the surprise it'll be to 'im," ses Miss Tucker.  "Let 'im
+rush on to 'is doom.  He'll get a lesson 'e don't expect, the bully.
+Don't be afraid of 'urting 'im.  Think o' pore Smith and Charlie Webb."
+
+"I am thinkin' of 'em," ses Ginger, slow-like.  "Is--is Bill--very quick
+--with his 'ands?"
+
+"Rather," ses Miss Tucker; "but o' course he ain't up to your mark; he's
+on'y known in these parts."
+
+She went off to serve a customer, and Ginger Dick tried to catch Peter's
+eye, but couldn't, and when Miss Tucker came back he said 'e must be
+going.
+
+"Sunday afternoon at a quarter past three sharp, outside 'ere," she ses.
+"Never mind about putting on your best clothes, because Bill is sure to
+be hanging about.  I'll take care o' that."
+
+She reached over the bar and shook 'ands with 'im, and Ginger felt a
+thrill go up 'is arm which lasted 'im all the way 'ome.
+
+He didn't know whether to turn up on Sunday or not, and if it 'adn't ha'
+been for Sam and Peter Russet he'd ha' most likely stayed at home.  Not
+that 'e was a coward, being always ready for a scrap and gin'rally
+speaking doing well at it, but he made a few inquiries about Bill Lumm
+and 'e saw that 'e had about as much chance with 'im as a kitten would
+'ave with a bulldog.
+
+Sam and Peter was delighted, and they talked about it as if it was a
+pantermime, and old Sam said that when he was a young man he'd ha' fought
+six Bill Lumms afore he'd ha' given a gal up.  He brushed Ginger's
+clothes for 'im with 'is own hands on Sunday afternoon, and, when Ginger
+started, 'im and Peter follered some distance behind to see fair play.
+
+The on'y person outside the Jolly Pilots when Ginger got there was a man;
+a strong-built chap with a thick neck, very large 'ands, and a nose which
+'ad seen its best days some time afore.  He looked 'ard at Ginger as 'e
+came up, and then stuck his 'ands in 'is trouser pockets and spat on the
+pavement.  Ginger walked a little way past and then back agin, and just
+as he was thinking that 'e might venture to go off, as Miss Tucker 'adn't
+come, the door opened and out she came.
+
+"I couldn't find my 'at-pins," she ses, taking Ginger's arm and smiling
+up into 'is face.
+
+Before Ginger could say anything the man he 'ad noticed took his 'ands
+out of 'is pockets and stepped up to 'im.
+
+"Let go o' that young lady's arm," he ses.  "Sha'n't," ses Ginger,
+holding it so tight that Miss Tucker nearly screamed.
+
+"Let go 'er arm and put your 'ands up," ses the chap agin.
+
+[Illustration: "'Let go o' that young lady's arm,' he ses."]
+
+"Not 'ere," ses Ginger, who 'ad laid awake the night afore thinking wot
+to do if he met Bill Lumm.  "If you wish to 'ave a spar with me, my lad,
+you must 'ave it where we can't be interrupted.  When I start on a man I
+like to make a good job of it."
+
+"Good job of it!" ses the other, starting.  "Do you know who I am?"
+
+"No, I don't," ses Ginger, "and, wot's more, I don't care."
+
+"My name," ses the chap, speaking in a slow, careful voice, "is Bill
+Lumm."
+
+"Wot a 'orrid name!" ses Ginger.
+
+"Otherwise known as the Wapping Basher," ses Bill, shoving 'is face into
+Ginger's and glaring at 'im.
+
+"Ho!" ses Ginger, sniffing, "a amatoor."
+
+"_Amatoor?_"  ses Bill, shouting.
+
+"That's wot we should call you over in Australia," ses Ginger; "my name
+is Dick Duster, likewise known as the Sydney Puncher.  I've killed three
+men in the ring and 'ave never 'ad a defeat."
+
+"Well, put 'em up," ses Bill, doubling up 'is fists and shaping at 'im.
+
+"Not in the street, I tell you," ses Ginger, still clinging tight to Miss
+Tucker's arm.  "I was fined five pounds the other day for punching a man
+in the street, and the magistrate said it would be 'ard labour for me
+next time.  You find a nice, quiet spot for some arternoon, and I'll
+knock your 'ead off with pleasure."
+
+"I'd sooner 'ave it knocked off now," ses Bill; "I don't like waiting for
+things."
+
+"Thursday arternoon," ses Ginger, very firm; "there's one or two
+gentlemen want to see a bit o' my work afore backing me, and we can
+combine bisness with pleasure."
+
+He walked off with Miss Tucker, leaving Bill Lumm standing on the
+pavement scratching his 'ead and staring arter 'im as though 'e didn't
+quite know wot to make of it.  Bill stood there for pretty near five
+minutes, and then arter asking Sam and Peter, who 'ad been standing by
+listening, whether they wanted anything for themselves, walked off to ask
+'is pals wot they knew about the Sydney Puncher.
+
+Ginger Dick was so quiet and satisfied about the fight that old Sam and
+Peter couldn't make 'im out at all.  He wouldn't even practise punching
+at a bolster that Peter rigged up for 'im, and when 'e got a message from
+Bill Lumm naming a quiet place on the Lea Marshes he agreed to it as
+comfortable as possible.
+
+"Well, I must say, Ginger, that I like your pluck," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"I always 'ave said that for Ginger; 'e's got pluck," ses Sam.
+
+Ginger coughed and tried to smile at 'em in a superior sort o' way.  "I
+thought you'd got more sense," he ses, at last.  "You don't think I'm
+going, do you?"
+
+"Wot?" ses old Sam, in a shocked voice.
+
+"You're never going to back out of it, Ginger?"  ses Peter.
+
+"I am," ses Ginger.  "If you think I'm going to be smashed up by a
+prize-fighter just to show my pluck you're mistook."
+
+"You must go, Ginger," ses old Sam, very severe.  "It's too late to back
+out of it now.  Think of the gal.  Think of 'er feelings."
+
+"For the sake of your good name," ses Peter.
+
+"I should never speak to you agin, Ginger," ses old Sam, pursing up 'is
+lips.
+
+"Nor me neither," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"To think of our Ginger being called a coward," ses old Sam, with a
+shudder, "and afore a gal, too."
+
+"The loveliest gal in Wapping," ses Peter.
+
+"Look 'ere," ses Ginger, "you can shut up, both of you.  I'm not going,
+and that's the long and short of it.  I don't mind an ordinary man, but I
+draw the line at prize-fighters."
+
+Old Sam sat down on the edge of 'is bed and looked the picture of
+despair.  "You must go, Ginger," he ses, "for my sake."
+
+"Your sake?"  ses Ginger, staring.
+
+"I've got money on it," ses Sam, "so's Peter.  If you don't turn up all
+bets'll be off."
+
+"Good job for you, too," ses Ginger.  "If I did turn up you'd lose it, to
+a dead certainty."
+
+Old Sam coughed and looked at Peter, and Peter 'e coughed and looked at
+Sam.
+
+"You don't understand, Ginger," said Sam, in a soft voice; "it ain't
+often a chap gets the chance o' making a bit o' money these 'ard times."
+
+"So we've put all our money on Bill Lumm," ses Peter.  "It's the safest
+and easiest way o' making money I ever 'eard of.  You see, we know you're
+not a prize-fighter and the others don't."
+
+Pore Ginger looked at 'em, and then 'e called 'em all the names he could
+lay 'is tongue to, but, with the idea o' the money they was going make,
+they didn't mind a bit.  They let him 'ave 'is say, and that night they
+brought 'ome two other sailormen wot 'ad bet agin Ginger to share their
+room, and, though they 'ad bet agin 'im, they was so fond of 'im that it
+was evident that they wasn't going to leave 'im till the fight was over.
+
+Ginger gave up then, and at twelve o'clock next day they started off to
+find the place.  Mr. Webson, the landlord of the Jolly Pilots, a short,
+fat man o' fifty, wot 'ad spoke to Ginger once or twice, went with 'em,
+and all the way to the station he kept saying wot a jolly spot it was for
+that sort o' thing.  Perfickly private; nice soft green grass to be
+knocked down on, and larks up in the air singing away as if they'd never
+leave off.
+
+They took the train to Homerton, and, being a slack time o' the day, the
+porters was surprised to see wot a lot o' people was travelling by it.
+So was Ginger.  There was the landlords of 'arf the public-'ouses in
+Wapping, all smoking big cigars; two dock policemen in plain clothes, wot
+'ad got the arternoon off--one with a raging toothache and the other with
+a baby wot wasn't expected to last the day out.  They was as full o' fun
+as kittens, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots pointed out to Ginger
+wot reasonable 'uman beings policemen was at 'art.  Besides them there
+was quite a lot o' sailormen, even skippers and mates, nearly all of 'em
+smoking big cigars, too, and looking at Ginger out of the corner of one
+eye and at the Wapping Basher out of the corner of the other.
+
+"Hit 'ard and hit straight," ses the landlord to Ginger in a low voice,
+as they got out of the train and walked up the road.  "'Ow are you
+feeling?"
+
+"I've got a cold coming on," ses pore Ginger, looking at the Basher, who
+was on in front, "and a splitting 'eadache, and a sharp pain all down my
+left leg.  I don't think----"
+
+"Well, it's a good job it's no worse," ses the land-lord; "all you've got
+to do is to hit 'ard.  If you win it's a 'undered pounds in my pocket,
+and I'll stand you a fiver of it.  D'ye understand?"
+
+They turned down some little streets, several of 'em going diff'rent
+ways, and arter crossing the River Lea got on to the marshes, and, as the
+landlord said, the place might ha' been made for it.
+
+A little chap from Mile End was the referee, and Bill Lumm, 'aving
+peeled, stood looking on while Ginger took 'is things off and slowly and
+carefully folded 'em up.  Then they stepped toward each other, Bill
+taking longer steps than Ginger, and shook 'ands; immediately arter which
+Bill knocked Ginger head over 'eels.
+
+[Illustration: "Bill Lumm, 'aving peeled, stood looking on while Ginger
+took 'is things off."]
+
+"Time!" was called, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was nursing
+Ginger on 'is knee, said that it was nothing at all, and that bleeding at
+the nose was a sign of 'ealth.  But as it happened Ginger was that mad 'e
+didn't want any encouragement, he on'y wanted to kill Bill Lumm.
+
+He got two or three taps in the next round which made his 'ead ring, and
+then he got 'ome on the mark and follered it up by a left-'anded punch on
+Bill's jaw that surprised 'em both--Bill because he didn't think Ginger
+could hit so 'ard, and Ginger because 'e didn't think that prize-fighters
+'ad any feelings.
+
+They clinched and fell that round, and the land-lord patted Ginger on the
+back and said that if he ever 'ad a son he 'oped he'd grow up like 'im.
+
+Ginger was surprised at the way 'e was getting on, and so was old Sam and
+Peter Russet, and when Ginger knocked Bill down in the sixth round Sam
+went as pale as death.  Ginger was getting marked all over, but he stuck,
+to 'is man, and the two dock policemen, wot 'ad put their money on Bill
+Lumm, began to talk of their dooty, and say as 'ow the fight ought to be
+stopped.
+
+At the tenth round Bill couldn't see out of 'is eyes, and kept wasting
+'is strength on the empty air, and once on the referee.  Ginger watched
+'is opportunity, and at last, with a terrific smash on the point o'
+Bill's jaw, knocked 'im down and then looked round for the landlord's
+knee.
+
+Bill made a game try to get up when "Time!"  was called, but couldn't;
+and the referee, who was 'olding a 'andkerchief to 'is nose, gave the
+fight to Ginger.
+
+It was the proudest moment o' Ginger Dick's life.  He sat there like a
+king, smiling 'orribly, and Sam's voice as he paid 'is losings sounded to
+'im like music, in spite o' the words the old man see fit to use.  It was
+so 'ard to get Peter Russet's money that it a'most looked as though there
+was going to be another prize-fight, but 'e paid up at last and went off,
+arter fust telling Ginger part of wot he thought of 'im.
+
+There was a lot o' quarrelling, but the bets was all settled at last, and
+the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was in 'igh feather with the money
+he'd won, gave Ginger the five pounds he'd promised and took him 'ome in
+a cab.
+
+"You done well, my lad," he ses.  "No, don't smile.  It looks as though
+your 'ead's coming off."
+
+"I 'ope you'll tell Miss Tucker 'ow I fought," ses Ginger.
+
+"I will, my lad," ses the landlord; "but you'd better not see 'er for
+some time, for both your sakes."
+
+"I was thinking of 'aving a day or two in bed," ses Ginger.
+
+"Best thing you can do," ses the landlord; "and mind, don't you ever
+fight Bill Lumm agin.  Keep out of 'is way."
+
+"Why?  I beat 'im once, an' I can beat 'im agin," ses Ginger, offended.
+
+"Beat 'im?" ses the landlord.  He took 'is cigar out of 'is mouth as
+though 'e was going to speak, and then put it back agin and looked out
+of the window.
+
+"Yes, beat 'im," ses Ginger'.  "You was there and saw it."
+
+"He lost the fight a-purpose," ses the landlord, whispering.  "Miss
+Tucker found out that you wasn't a prize-fighter--leastways, I did for
+'er--and she told Bill that, if 'e loved 'er so much that he'd 'ave 'is
+sinful pride took down by letting you beat 'im, she'd think diff'rent of
+'im.  Why, 'e could 'ave settled you in a minute if he'd liked.  He was
+on'y playing with you."
+
+Ginger stared at 'im as if 'e couldn't believe 'is eyes.  "Playing?"  he
+ses, feeling 'is face very gently with the tips of his fingers.
+
+"Yes," ses the landlord; "and if he ever hits you agin you'll know I'm
+speaking the truth."
+
+Ginger sat back all of a heap and tried to think.  "Is Miss Tucker going
+to keep company with 'im agin, then?"  he ses, in a faint voice.
+
+"No," ses the landlord; "you can make your mind easy on that point."
+
+"Well, then, if I walk out with 'er I shall 'ave to fight Bill all over
+agin," ses Ginger.
+
+The landlord turned to 'im and patted 'im on the shoulder.  "Don't you
+take up your troubles afore they come, my lad," he ses, kindly; "and mind
+and keep wot I've told you dark, for all our sakes."
+
+He put 'im down at the door of 'is lodgings and, arter shaking 'ands with
+'im, gave the landlady a shilling and told 'er to get some beefsteak and
+put on 'is face, and went home.  Ginger went straight off to bed, and the
+way he carried on when the landlady fried the steak afore bringing it up
+showed 'ow upset he was.
+
+[Illustration: "The way he carried on when the landlady fried the steak
+showed 'ow upset he was."]
+
+It was over a week afore he felt 'e could risk letting Miss Tucker see
+'im, and then at seven o'clock one evening he felt 'e couldn't wait any
+longer, and arter spending an hour cleaning 'imself he started out for
+the Jolly Pilots.
+
+He felt so 'appy at the idea o' seeing her agin that 'e forgot all about
+Bill Lumm, and it gave 'im quite a shock when 'e saw 'im standing outside
+the Pilots.  Bill took his 'ands out of 'is pockets when he saw 'im and
+came toward 'im.
+
+"It's no good to-night, mate," he ses; and to Ginger's great surprise
+shook 'ands with 'im.
+
+"No good?" ses Ginger, staring.
+
+"No," ses Bill; "he's in the little back-parlour, like a whelk in 'is
+shell; but we'll 'ave 'im sooner or later."
+
+"Him?  Who?"  ses Ginger, more puzzled than ever.
+
+"Who?" ses Bill; "why, Webson, the landlord.  You don't mean to tell me
+you ain't heard about it?"
+
+"Heard wot?" ses Ginger.  "I haven't 'card any-thing.  I've been indoors
+with a bad cold all the week."
+
+"Webson and Julia Tucker was married at eleven o'clock yesterday
+morning," ses Bill Lumm, in a hoarse voice.  "When I think of the way
+I've been done, and wot I've suffered, I feel 'arf crazy.  He won a
+'undered pounds through me, and then got the gal I let myself be
+disgraced for.  I 'ad an idea some time ago that he'd got 'is eye on
+her."
+
+Ginger Dick didn't answer 'im a word.  He staggered back and braced
+'imself up agin the wall for a bit, and arter staring at Bill Lumm in a
+wild way for pretty near three minutes he crawled back to 'is lodgings
+and went straight to bed agin.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Third String, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12212 ***
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+<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
+<html>
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type"
+    content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Odd Craft
+    By W. W. Jacobs: Part 12
+</title>
+
+<style type="text/css">
+    <!--
+    P { text-indent:   1em;
+	      margin:        15%;
+        margin-top:    .75em;
+        text-align:    justify;
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+    H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; }
+    HR  { width: 33%; }
+    PRE { font-family: cursive}
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+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Third String, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Third String
+       Odd Craft, Part 12.
+
+Author: W.W. Jacobs
+
+Release Date: April 30, 2004 [EBook #12212]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: US-ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THIRD STRING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<br><br>
+<center>
+<img alt="title (42K)" src="title.jpg" height="658" width="479" />
+</center>
+<br><br>
+<br /><br />
+<h2>
+    1909
+</h2>
+
+<center>
+<h3>PART 12.</h3>
+</center>
+
+<br /><br />
+<hr>
+<br /><br />
+
+
+<h2>List of Illustrations</h2>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-58">
+"Don't Talk to Me About Love, Because I've Suffered Enough
+Through It."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-59">
+"Miss Tucker."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-60">
+"'Let Go O' That Young Lady's Arm,' he Ses."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-61">
+"Bill Lumm, 'aving Peeled, Stood Looking on While Ginger
+Took 'is Things Off."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-62">
+"The Way he Carried on when the Landlady Fried The Steak
+Showed 'ow Upset he Was."
+</a></p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<br /><br />
+<hr>
+<br /><br />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<a name="2H_4_12"><!-- H2 anchor --></a>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h2>
+    THE THIRD STRING
+</h2>
+<p>
+    Love?  said the night-watchman, as he watched in an abstracted fashion
+    the efforts of a skipper to reach a brother skipper on a passing barge
+    with a boathook.  Don't talk to me about love, because I've suffered
+    enough through it.  There ought to be teetotalers for love the same as
+    wot there is for drink, and they ought to wear a piece o' ribbon to show
+    it, the same as the teetotalers do; but not an attractive piece o'
+    ribbon, mind you.  I've seen as much mischief caused by love as by drink,
+    and the funny thing is, one often leads to the other.  Love, arter it is
+    over, often leads to drink, and drink often leads to love and to a man
+    committing himself for life afore it is over.
+</p>
+<a name="image-58"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="058.jpg" height="335" width="548"
+alt="'don't Talk to Me About Love, Because I've Suffered Enough
+Through It.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    Sailormen give way to it most; they see so little o' wimmen that
+    they naturally 'ave a high opinion of 'em.  Wait till they become
+    night-watchmen and, having to be at 'ome all day, see the other side of
+    'em.  If people on'y started life as night-watchmen there wouldn't be one
+    'arf the falling in love that there is now.
+</p>
+<p>
+    I remember one chap, as nice a fellow as you could wish to meet, too.
+    He always carried his sweet-heart's photograph about with 'im, and it was
+    the on'y thing that cheered 'im up during the fourteen years he was cast
+    away on a deserted island.  He was picked up at last and taken 'ome, and
+    there she was still single and waiting for 'im; and arter spending
+    fourteen years on a deserted island he got another ten in quod for
+    shooting 'er because she 'ad altered so much in 'er looks.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Then there was Ginger Dick, a red-'aired man I've spoken about before.
+    He went and fell in love one time when he was lodging in Wapping 'ere
+    with old Sam Small and Peter Russet, and a nice mess 'e made of it.
+</p>
+<p>
+    They was just back from a v'y'ge, and they 'adn't been ashore a week
+    afore both of 'em noticed a change for the worse in Ginger.  He turned
+    quiet and peaceful and lost 'is taste for beer.  He used to play with 'is
+    food instead of eating it, and in place of going out of an evening with
+    Sam and Peter took to going off by 'imself.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It's love," ses Peter Russet, shaking his 'ead, "and he'll be worse
+    afore he's better."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Who's the gal?" ses old Sam.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Peter didn't know, but when they came 'ome that night 'e asked.  Ginger,
+    who was sitting up in bed with a far-off look in 'is eyes, cuddling 'is
+    knees, went on staring but didn't answer.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Who is it making a fool of you this time, Ginger?" ses old Sam.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You mind your bisness and I'll mind mine," ses Ginger, suddenly waking
+    up and looking very fierce.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No offence, mate," ses Sam, winking at Peter.  "I on'y asked in case I
+    might be able to do you a good turn."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, you can do that by not letting her know you're a pal o' mine," ses
+    Ginger, very nasty.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Old Sam didn't understand at fust, and when Peter explained to 'im he
+    wanted to hit 'im for trying to twist Ginger's words about.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "She don't like fat old men," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Ho!" ses old Sam, who couldn't think of anything else to say.  "Ho!
+    don't she?  Ho!  Ho! indeed!"
+</p>
+<p>
+    He undressed 'imself and got into the bed he shared with Peter, and kept
+    'im awake for hours by telling 'im in a loud voice about all the gals
+    he'd made love to in his life, and partikler about one gal that always
+    fainted dead away whenever she saw either a red-'aired man or a monkey.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Peter Russet found out all about it next day, and told Sam that it was a
+    barmaid with black 'air and eyes at the Jolly Pilots, and that she
+    wouldn't 'ave anything to say to Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He spoke to Ginger about it agin when they were going to bed that night,
+    and to 'is surprise found that he was quite civil.  When 'e said that he
+    would do anything he could for 'im, Ginger was quite affected.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I can't eat or drink," he ses, in a miserable voice; "I lay awake all
+    last night thinking of her.  She's so diff'rent to other gals; she's
+    got&mdash;If I start on you, Sam Small, you'll know it.  You go and make that
+    choking noise to them as likes it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It's a bit o' egg-shell I got in my throat at break-fast this morning,
+    Ginger," ses Sam.  "I wonder whether she lays awake all night thinking of
+    you?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I dare say she does," ses Peter Russet, giving 'im a little push.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Keep your 'art up, Ginger," ses Sam; "I've known gals to 'ave the most
+    ext'ordinary likings afore now."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Don't take no notice of 'im," ses Peter, holding Ginger back.  "'Ow are
+    you getting on with her?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger groaned and sat down on 'is bed and looked at the floor, and Sam
+    went and sat on his till it shook so that Ginger offered to step over and
+    break 'is neck for 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I can't 'elp the bed shaking," ses Sam; "it ain't my fault.  I didn't
+    make it.  If being in love is going to make you so disagreeable to your
+    best friends, Ginger, you'd better go and live by yourself."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I 'eard something about her to-day, Ginger," ses Peter Russet.  "I met a
+    chap I used to know at Bull's Wharf, and he told me that she used to keep
+    company with a chap named Bill Lumm, a bit of a prize-fighter, and since
+    she gave 'im up she won't look at anybody else."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Was she very fond of 'im, then?" asks Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I don't know," ses Peter; "but this chap told me that she won't walk out
+    with anybody agin, unless it's another prize-fighter.  Her pride won't
+    let her, I s'pose."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, that's all right, Ginger," ses Sam; "all you've got to do is to go
+    and be a prize-fighter."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "If I 'ave any more o' your nonsense&mdash;" ses Ginger, starting up.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's right," ses Sam; "jump down anybody's throat when they're trying
+    to do you a kindness.  That's you all over, Ginger, that is.  Wot's to
+    prevent you telling 'er that you're a prize-fighter from Australia or
+    somewhere?  She won't know no better."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He got up off the bed and put his 'ands up as Ginger walked across the
+    room to 'im, but Ginger on'y wanted to shake 'ands, and arter he 'ad done
+    that 'e patted 'im on the back and smiled at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I'll try it," he ses.  "I'd tell any lies for 'er sake.  Ah! you don't
+    know wot love is, Sam."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I used to," ses Sam, and then he sat down agin and began to tell 'em all
+    the love-affairs he could remember, until at last Peter Russet got tired
+    and said it was 'ard to believe, looking at 'im now, wot a perfick terror
+    he'd been with gals, and said that the face he'd got now was a judgment
+    on 'im.  Sam shut up arter that, and got into trouble with Peter in the
+    middle o' the night by waking 'im up to tell 'im something that he 'ad
+    just thought of about his face.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The more Ginger thought o' Sam's idea the more he liked it, and the very
+    next evening 'e took Peter Russet into the private bar o' the Jolly
+    Pilots.  He ordered port wine, which he thought seemed more 'igh-class
+    than beer, and then Peter Russet started talking to Miss Tucker and told
+    her that Ginger was a prize-fighter from Sydney, where he'd beat
+    everybody that stood up to 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The gal seemed to change toward Ginger all in a flash, and 'er beautiful
+    black eyes looked at 'im so admiring that he felt quite faint.  She
+    started talking to 'im about his fights at once, and when at last 'e
+    plucked up courage to ask 'er to go for a walk with 'im on Sunday
+    arternoon she seemed quite delighted.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It'll be a nice change for me," she ses, smiling.  "I used to walk out
+    with a prize-fighter once before, and since I gave 'im up I began to
+    think I was never going to 'ave a young man agin.  You can't think 'ow
+    dull it's been."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Must ha' been," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I s'pose you've got a taste for prize-fighters, miss," ses Peter Russet.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No," ses Miss Tucker; "I don't think that it's that exactly, but, you
+    see, I couldn't 'ave anybody else.  Not for their own sakes."
+</p>
+<a name="image-59"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="059.jpg" height="723" width="462"
+alt="'miss Tucker.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "Why not?" ses Ginger, looking puzzled.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Why not?" ses Miss Tucker.  "Why, because o' Bill.  He's such a 'orrid
+    jealous disposition.  After I gave 'im up I walked out with a young
+    fellow named Smith; fine, big, strapping chap 'e was, too, and I never
+    saw such a change in any man as there was in 'im after Bill 'ad done with
+    'im.  I couldn't believe it was 'im.  I told Bill he ought to be ashamed
+    of 'imself."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot did 'e say?"  asks Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Don't ask me wot 'e said," ses Miss Tucker, tossing her 'ead.  "Not
+    liking to be beat, I 'ad one more try with a young fellow named Charlie
+    Webb."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot 'appened to 'im?" ses Peter Russet, arter waiting a bit for 'er to
+    finish.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I can't bear to talk of it," ses Miss Tucker, holding up Ginger's glass
+    and giving the counter a wipe down.  "He met Bill, and I saw 'im six
+    weeks afterward just as 'e was being sent away from the 'ospital to a
+    seaside home.  Bill disappeared after that."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Has he gone far away?" ses Ginger, trying to speak in a off-'and way.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Oh, he's back now," ses Miss Tucker.  "You'll see 'im fast enough, and,
+    wotever you do, don't let 'im know you're a prize-fighter."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Why not?" ses pore Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Because o' the surprise it'll be to 'im," ses Miss Tucker.  "Let 'im
+    rush on to 'is doom.  He'll get a lesson 'e don't expect, the bully.
+    Don't be afraid of 'urting 'im.  Think o' pore Smith and Charlie Webb."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I am thinkin' of 'em," ses Ginger, slow-like.  "Is&mdash;is Bill&mdash;very quick
+    &mdash;with his 'ands?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Rather," ses Miss Tucker; "but o' course he ain't up to your mark; he's
+    on'y known in these parts."
+</p>
+<p>
+    She went off to serve a customer, and Ginger Dick tried to catch Peter's
+    eye, but couldn't, and when Miss Tucker came back he said 'e must be
+    going.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Sunday afternoon at a quarter past three sharp, outside 'ere," she ses.
+    "Never mind about putting on your best clothes, because Bill is sure to
+    be hanging about.  I'll take care o' that."
+</p>
+<p>
+    She reached over the bar and shook 'ands with 'im, and Ginger felt a
+    thrill go up 'is arm which lasted 'im all the way 'ome.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He didn't know whether to turn up on Sunday or not, and if it 'adn't ha'
+    been for Sam and Peter Russet he'd ha' most likely stayed at home.  Not
+    that 'e was a coward, being always ready for a scrap and gin'rally
+    speaking doing well at it, but he made a few inquiries about Bill Lumm
+    and 'e saw that 'e had about as much chance with 'im as a kitten would
+    'ave with a bulldog.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Sam and Peter was delighted, and they talked about it as if it was a
+    pantermime, and old Sam said that when he was a young man he'd ha' fought
+    six Bill Lumms afore he'd ha' given a gal up.  He brushed Ginger's
+    clothes for 'im with 'is own hands on Sunday afternoon, and, when Ginger
+    started, 'im and Peter follered some distance behind to see fair play.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The on'y person outside the Jolly Pilots when Ginger got there was a man;
+    a strong-built chap with a thick neck, very large 'ands, and a nose which
+    'ad seen its best days some time afore.  He looked 'ard at Ginger as 'e
+    came up, and then stuck his 'ands in 'is trouser pockets and spat on the
+    pavement.  Ginger walked a little way past and then back agin, and just
+    as he was thinking that 'e might venture to go off, as Miss Tucker 'adn't
+    come, the door opened and out she came.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I couldn't find my 'at-pins," she ses, taking Ginger's arm and smiling
+    up into 'is face.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Before Ginger could say anything the man he 'ad noticed took his 'ands
+    out of 'is pockets and stepped up to 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Let go o' that young lady's arm," he ses.  "Sha'n't," ses Ginger,
+    holding it so tight that Miss Tucker nearly screamed.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Let go 'er arm and put your 'ands up," ses the chap agin.
+</p>
+<a name="image-60"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="060.jpg" height="609" width="532"
+alt="''let Go O' That Young Lady's Arm,' he Ses.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "Not 'ere," ses Ginger, who 'ad laid awake the night afore thinking wot
+    to do if he met Bill Lumm.  "If you wish to 'ave a spar with me, my lad,
+    you must 'ave it where we can't be interrupted.  When I start on a man I
+    like to make a good job of it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Good job of it!" ses the other, starting.  "Do you know who I am?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No, I don't," ses Ginger, "and, wot's more, I don't care."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "My name," ses the chap, speaking in a slow, careful voice, "is Bill
+    Lumm."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot a 'orrid name!" ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Otherwise known as the Wapping Basher," ses Bill, shoving 'is face into
+    Ginger's and glaring at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Ho!" ses Ginger, sniffing, "a amatoor."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "<i>Amatoor?</i>"  ses Bill, shouting.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's wot we should call you over in Australia," ses Ginger; "my name
+    is Dick Duster, likewise known as the Sydney Puncher.  I've killed three
+    men in the ring and 'ave never 'ad a defeat."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, put 'em up," ses Bill, doubling up 'is fists and shaping at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Not in the street, I tell you," ses Ginger, still clinging tight to Miss
+    Tucker's arm.  "I was fined five pounds the other day for punching a man
+    in the street, and the magistrate said it would be 'ard labour for me
+    next time.  You find a nice, quiet spot for some arternoon, and I'll
+    knock your 'ead off with pleasure."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I'd sooner 'ave it knocked off now," ses Bill; "I don't like waiting for
+    things."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Thursday arternoon," ses Ginger, very firm; "there's one or two
+    gentlemen want to see a bit o' my work afore backing me, and we can
+    combine bisness with pleasure."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He walked off with Miss Tucker, leaving Bill Lumm standing on the
+    pavement scratching his 'ead and staring arter 'im as though 'e didn't
+    quite know wot to make of it.  Bill stood there for pretty near five
+    minutes, and then arter asking Sam and Peter, who 'ad been standing by
+    listening, whether they wanted anything for themselves, walked off to ask
+    'is pals wot they knew about the Sydney Puncher.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger Dick was so quiet and satisfied about the fight that old Sam and
+    Peter couldn't make 'im out at all.  He wouldn't even practise punching
+    at a bolster that Peter rigged up for 'im, and when 'e got a message from
+    Bill Lumm naming a quiet place on the Lea Marshes he agreed to it as
+    comfortable as possible.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, I must say, Ginger, that I like your pluck," ses Peter Russet.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I always 'ave said that for Ginger; 'e's got pluck," ses Sam.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger coughed and tried to smile at 'em in a superior sort o' way.  "I
+    thought you'd got more sense," he ses, at last.  "You don't think I'm
+    going, do you?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot?" ses old Sam, in a shocked voice.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You're never going to back out of it, Ginger?"  ses Peter.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I am," ses Ginger.  "If you think I'm going to be smashed up by a
+    prize-fighter just to show my pluck you're mistook."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You must go, Ginger," ses old Sam, very severe.  "It's too late to back
+    out of it now.  Think of the gal.  Think of 'er feelings."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "For the sake of your good name," ses Peter.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I should never speak to you agin, Ginger," ses old Sam, pursing up 'is
+    lips.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Nor me neither," ses Peter Russet.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "To think of our Ginger being called a coward," ses old Sam, with a
+    shudder, "and afore a gal, too."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "The loveliest gal in Wapping," ses Peter.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Look 'ere," ses Ginger, "you can shut up, both of you.  I'm not going,
+    and that's the long and short of it.  I don't mind an ordinary man, but I
+    draw the line at prize-fighters."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Old Sam sat down on the edge of 'is bed and looked the picture of
+    despair.  "You must go, Ginger," he ses, "for my sake."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Your sake?"  ses Ginger, staring.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I've got money on it," ses Sam, "so's Peter.  If you don't turn up all
+    bets'll be off."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Good job for you, too," ses Ginger.  "If I did turn up you'd lose it, to
+    a dead certainty."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Old Sam coughed and looked at Peter, and Peter 'e coughed and looked at
+    Sam.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You don't understand, Ginger," said Sam, in a soft voice; "it ain't
+    often a chap gets the chance o' making a bit o' money these 'ard times."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "So we've put all our money on Bill Lumm," ses Peter.  "It's the safest
+    and easiest way o' making money I ever 'eard of.  You see, we know you're
+    not a prize-fighter and the others don't."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Pore Ginger looked at 'em, and then 'e called 'em all the names he could
+    lay 'is tongue to, but, with the idea o' the money they was going make,
+    they didn't mind a bit.  They let him 'ave 'is say, and that night they
+    brought 'ome two other sailormen wot 'ad bet agin Ginger to share their
+    room, and, though they 'ad bet agin 'im, they was so fond of 'im that it
+    was evident that they wasn't going to leave 'im till the fight was over.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger gave up then, and at twelve o'clock next day they started off to
+    find the place.  Mr. Webson, the landlord of the Jolly Pilots, a short,
+    fat man o' fifty, wot 'ad spoke to Ginger once or twice, went with 'em,
+    and all the way to the station he kept saying wot a jolly spot it was for
+    that sort o' thing.  Perfickly private; nice soft green grass to be
+    knocked down on, and larks up in the air singing away as if they'd never
+    leave off.
+</p>
+<p>
+    They took the train to Homerton, and, being a slack time o' the day, the
+    porters was surprised to see wot a lot o' people was travelling by it.
+    So was Ginger.  There was the landlords of 'arf the public-'ouses in
+    Wapping, all smoking big cigars; two dock policemen in plain clothes, wot
+    'ad got the arternoon off&mdash;one with a raging toothache and the other with
+    a baby wot wasn't expected to last the day out.  They was as full o' fun
+    as kittens, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots pointed out to Ginger
+    wot reasonable 'uman beings policemen was at 'art.  Besides them there
+    was quite a lot o' sailormen, even skippers and mates, nearly all of 'em
+    smoking big cigars, too, and looking at Ginger out of the corner of one
+    eye and at the Wapping Basher out of the corner of the other.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Hit 'ard and hit straight," ses the landlord to Ginger in a low voice,
+    as they got out of the train and walked up the road.  "'Ow are you
+    feeling?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I've got a cold coming on," ses pore Ginger, looking at the Basher, who
+    was on in front, "and a splitting 'eadache, and a sharp pain all down my
+    left leg.  I don't think&mdash;&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, it's a good job it's no worse," ses the land-lord; "all you've got
+    to do is to hit 'ard.  If you win it's a 'undered pounds in my pocket,
+    and I'll stand you a fiver of it.  D'ye understand?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    They turned down some little streets, several of 'em going diff'rent
+    ways, and arter crossing the River Lea got on to the marshes, and, as the
+    landlord said, the place might ha' been made for it.
+</p>
+<p>
+    A little chap from Mile End was the referee, and Bill Lumm, 'aving
+    peeled, stood looking on while Ginger took 'is things off and slowly and
+    carefully folded 'em up.  Then they stepped toward each other, Bill
+    taking longer steps than Ginger, and shook 'ands; immediately arter which
+    Bill knocked Ginger head over 'eels.
+</p>
+<a name="image-61"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="061.jpg" height="516" width="567"
+alt="'bill Lumm, 'aving Peeled, Stood Looking on While Ginger
+Took 'is Things Off.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "Time!" was called, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was nursing
+    Ginger on 'is knee, said that it was nothing at all, and that bleeding at
+    the nose was a sign of 'ealth.  But as it happened Ginger was that mad 'e
+    didn't want any encouragement, he on'y wanted to kill Bill Lumm.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He got two or three taps in the next round which made his 'ead ring, and
+    then he got 'ome on the mark and follered it up by a left-'anded punch on
+    Bill's jaw that surprised 'em both&mdash;Bill because he didn't think Ginger
+    could hit so 'ard, and Ginger because 'e didn't think that prize-fighters
+    'ad any feelings.
+</p>
+<p>
+    They clinched and fell that round, and the land-lord patted Ginger on the
+    back and said that if he ever 'ad a son he 'oped he'd grow up like 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger was surprised at the way 'e was getting on, and so was old Sam and
+    Peter Russet, and when Ginger knocked Bill down in the sixth round Sam
+    went as pale as death.  Ginger was getting marked all over, but he stuck,
+    to 'is man, and the two dock policemen, wot 'ad put their money on Bill
+    Lumm, began to talk of their dooty, and say as 'ow the fight ought to be
+    stopped.
+</p>
+<p>
+    At the tenth round Bill couldn't see out of 'is eyes, and kept wasting
+    'is strength on the empty air, and once on the referee.  Ginger watched
+    'is opportunity, and at last, with a terrific smash on the point o'
+    Bill's jaw, knocked 'im down and then looked round for the landlord's
+    knee.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bill made a game try to get up when "Time!"  was called, but couldn't;
+    and the referee, who was 'olding a 'andkerchief to 'is nose, gave the
+    fight to Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    It was the proudest moment o' Ginger Dick's life.  He sat there like a
+    king, smiling 'orribly, and Sam's voice as he paid 'is losings sounded to
+    'im like music, in spite o' the words the old man see fit to use.  It was
+    so 'ard to get Peter Russet's money that it a'most looked as though there
+    was going to be another prize-fight, but 'e paid up at last and went off,
+    arter fust telling Ginger part of wot he thought of 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    There was a lot o' quarrelling, but the bets was all settled at last, and
+    the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was in 'igh feather with the money
+    he'd won, gave Ginger the five pounds he'd promised and took him 'ome in
+    a cab.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You done well, my lad," he ses.  "No, don't smile.  It looks as though
+    your 'ead's coming off."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I 'ope you'll tell Miss Tucker 'ow I fought," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I will, my lad," ses the landlord; "but you'd better not see 'er for
+    some time, for both your sakes."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I was thinking of 'aving a day or two in bed," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Best thing you can do," ses the landlord; "and mind, don't you ever
+    fight Bill Lumm agin.  Keep out of 'is way."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Why?  I beat 'im once, an' I can beat 'im agin," ses Ginger, offended.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Beat 'im?" ses the landlord.  He took 'is cigar out of 'is mouth as
+    though 'e was going to speak, and then put it back agin and looked out
+    of the window.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes, beat 'im," ses Ginger'.  "You was there and saw it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "He lost the fight a-purpose," ses the landlord, whispering.  "Miss
+    Tucker found out that you wasn't a prize-fighter&mdash;leastways, I did for
+    'er&mdash;and she told Bill that, if 'e loved 'er so much that he'd 'ave 'is
+    sinful pride took down by letting you beat 'im, she'd think diff'rent of
+    'im.  Why, 'e could 'ave settled you in a minute if he'd liked.  He was
+    on'y playing with you."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger stared at 'im as if 'e couldn't believe 'is eyes.  "Playing?"  he
+    ses, feeling 'is face very gently with the tips of his fingers.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes," ses the landlord; "and if he ever hits you agin you'll know I'm
+    speaking the truth."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger sat back all of a heap and tried to think.  "Is Miss Tucker going
+    to keep company with 'im agin, then?"  he ses, in a faint voice.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No," ses the landlord; "you can make your mind easy on that point."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, then, if I walk out with 'er I shall 'ave to fight Bill all over
+    agin," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The landlord turned to 'im and patted 'im on the shoulder.  "Don't you
+    take up your troubles afore they come, my lad," he ses, kindly; "and mind
+    and keep wot I've told you dark, for all our sakes."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He put 'im down at the door of 'is lodgings and, arter shaking 'ands with
+    'im, gave the landlady a shilling and told 'er to get some beefsteak and
+    put on 'is face, and went home.  Ginger went straight off to bed, and the
+    way he carried on when the landlady fried the steak afore bringing it up
+    showed 'ow upset he was.
+</p>
+<a name="image-62"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="062.jpg" height="691" width="558"
+alt="'the Way he Carried on when the Landlady Fried The Steak
+Showed 'ow Upset he Was.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    It was over a week afore he felt 'e could risk letting Miss Tucker see
+    'im, and then at seven o'clock one evening he felt 'e couldn't wait any
+    longer, and arter spending an hour cleaning 'imself he started out for
+    the Jolly Pilots.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He felt so 'appy at the idea o' seeing her agin that 'e forgot all about
+    Bill Lumm, and it gave 'im quite a shock when 'e saw 'im standing outside
+    the Pilots.  Bill took his 'ands out of 'is pockets when he saw 'im and
+    came toward 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It's no good to-night, mate," he ses; and to Ginger's great surprise
+    shook 'ands with 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No good?" ses Ginger, staring.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No," ses Bill; "he's in the little back-parlour, like a whelk in 'is
+    shell; but we'll 'ave 'im sooner or later."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Him?  Who?"  ses Ginger, more puzzled than ever.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Who?" ses Bill; "why, Webson, the landlord.  You don't mean to tell me
+    you ain't heard about it?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Heard wot?" ses Ginger.  "I haven't 'eard any-thing.  I've been indoors
+    with a bad cold all the week."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Webson and Julia Tucker was married at eleven o'clock yesterday
+    morning," ses Bill Lumm, in a hoarse voice.  "When I think of the way
+    I've been done, and wot I've suffered, I feel 'arf crazy.  He won a
+    'undered pounds through me, and then got the gal I let myself be
+    disgraced for.  I 'ad an idea some time ago that he'd got 'is eye on
+    her."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger Dick didn't answer 'im a word.  He staggered back and braced
+    'imself up agin the wall for a bit, and arter staring at Bill Lumm in a
+    wild way for pretty near three minutes he crawled back to 'is lodgings
+    and went straight to bed agin.
+</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Third String, by W.W. Jacobs
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Third String, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Third String
+       Odd Craft, Part 12.
+
+Author: W.W. Jacobs
+
+Release Date: April 30, 2004 [EBook #12212]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THIRD STRING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+ODD CRAFT
+
+By W.W. Jacobs
+
+
+
+THE THIRD STRING
+
+Love?  said the night-watchman, as he watched in an abstracted fashion
+the efforts of a skipper to reach a brother skipper on a passing barge
+with a boathook.  Don't talk to me about love, because I've suffered
+enough through it.  There ought to be teetotalers for love the same as
+wot there is for drink, and they ought to wear a piece o' ribbon to show
+it, the same as the teetotalers do; but not an attractive piece o'
+ribbon, mind you.  I've seen as much mischief caused by love as by drink,
+and the funny thing is, one often leads to the other.  Love, arter it is
+over, often leads to drink, and drink often leads to love and to a man
+committing himself for life afore it is over.
+
+[Illustration: "Don't talk to me about love, because I've suffered enough
+through it."]
+
+Sailormen give way to it most; they see so little o' wimmen that
+they naturally 'ave a high opinion of 'em.  Wait till they become
+night-watchmen and, having to be at 'ome all day, see the other side of
+'em.  If people on'y started life as night-watchmen there wouldn't be one
+'arf the falling in love that there is now.
+
+I remember one chap, as nice a fellow as you could wish to meet, too.
+He always carried his sweet-heart's photograph about with 'im, and it was
+the on'y thing that cheered 'im up during the fourteen years he was cast
+away on a deserted island.  He was picked up at last and taken 'ome, and
+there she was still single and waiting for 'im; and arter spending
+fourteen years on a deserted island he got another ten in quod for
+shooting 'er because she 'ad altered so much in 'er looks.
+
+Then there was Ginger Dick, a red-'aired man I've spoken about before.
+He went and fell in love one time when he was lodging in Wapping 'ere
+with old Sam Small and Peter Russet, and a nice mess 'e made of it.
+
+They was just back from a v'y'ge, and they 'adn't been ashore a week
+afore both of 'em noticed a change for the worse in Ginger.  He turned
+quiet and peaceful and lost 'is taste for beer.  He used to play with 'is
+food instead of eating it, and in place of going out of an evening with
+Sam and Peter took to going off by 'imself.
+
+"It's love," ses Peter Russet, shaking his 'ead, "and he'll be worse
+afore he's better."
+
+"Who's the gal?" ses old Sam.
+
+Peter didn't know, but when they came 'ome that night 'e asked.  Ginger,
+who was sitting up in bed with a far-off look in 'is eyes, cuddling 'is
+knees, went on staring but didn't answer.
+
+"Who is it making a fool of you this time, Ginger?" ses old Sam.
+
+"You mind your bisness and I'll mind mine," ses Ginger, suddenly waking
+up and looking very fierce.
+
+"No offence, mate," ses Sam, winking at Peter.  "I on'y asked in case I
+might be able to do you a good turn."
+
+"Well, you can do that by not letting her know you're a pal o' mine," ses
+Ginger, very nasty.
+
+Old Sam didn't understand at fust, and when Peter explained to 'im he
+wanted to hit 'im for trying to twist Ginger's words about.
+
+"She don't like fat old men," ses Ginger.
+
+"Ho!" ses old Sam, who couldn't think of anything else to say.  "Ho!
+don't she?  Ho!  Ho! indeed!"
+
+He undressed 'imself and got into the bed he shared with Peter, and kept
+'im awake for hours by telling 'im in a loud voice about all the gals
+he'd made love to in his life, and partikler about one gal that always
+fainted dead away whenever she saw either a red-'aired man or a monkey.
+
+Peter Russet found out all about it next day, and told Sam that it was a
+barmaid with black 'air and eyes at the Jolly Pilots, and that she
+wouldn't 'ave anything to say to Ginger.
+
+He spoke to Ginger about it agin when they were going to bed that night,
+and to 'is surprise found that he was quite civil.  When 'e said that he
+would do anything he could for 'im, Ginger was quite affected.
+
+"I can't eat or drink," he ses, in a miserable voice; "I lay awake all
+last night thinking of her.  She's so diff'rent to other gals; she's
+got--If I start on you, Sam Small, you'll know it.  You go and make that
+choking noise to them as likes it."
+
+"It's a bit o' egg-shell I got in my throat at break-fast this morning,
+Ginger," ses Sam.  "I wonder whether she lays awake all night thinking of
+you?"
+
+"I dare say she does," ses Peter Russet, giving 'im a little push.
+
+"Keep your 'art up, Ginger," ses Sam; "I've known gals to 'ave the most
+ext'ordinary likings afore now."
+
+"Don't take no notice of 'im," ses Peter, holding Ginger back.  "'Ow are
+you getting on with her?"
+
+Ginger groaned and sat down on 'is bed and looked at the floor, and Sam
+went and sat on his till it shook so that Ginger offered to step over and
+break 'is neck for 'im.
+
+"I can't 'elp the bed shaking," ses Sam; "it ain't my fault.  I didn't
+make it.  If being in love is going to make you so disagreeable to your
+best friends, Ginger, you'd better go and live by yourself."
+
+"I 'eard something about her to-day, Ginger," ses Peter Russet.  "I met a
+chap I used to know at Bull's Wharf, and he told me that she used to keep
+company with a chap named Bill Lumm, a bit of a prize-fighter, and since
+she gave 'im up she won't look at anybody else."
+
+"Was she very fond of 'im, then?" asks Ginger.
+
+"I don't know," ses Peter; "but this chap told me that she won't walk out
+with anybody agin, unless it's another prize-fighter.  Her pride won't
+let her, I s'pose."
+
+"Well, that's all right, Ginger," ses Sam; "all you've got to do is to go
+and be a prize-fighter."
+
+"If I 'ave any more o' your nonsense--" ses Ginger, starting up.
+
+"That's right," ses Sam; "jump down anybody's throat when they're trying
+to do you a kindness.  That's you all over, Ginger, that is.  Wot's to
+prevent you telling 'er that you're a prize-fighter from Australia or
+somewhere?  She won't know no better."
+
+He got up off the bed and put his 'ands up as Ginger walked across the
+room to 'im, but Ginger on'y wanted to shake 'ands, and arter he 'ad done
+that 'e patted 'im on the back and smiled at 'im.
+
+"I'll try it," he ses.  "I'd tell any lies for 'er sake.  Ah! you don't
+know wot love is, Sam."
+
+"I used to," ses Sam, and then he sat down agin and began to tell 'em all
+the love-affairs he could remember, until at last Peter Russet got tired
+and said it was 'ard to believe, looking at 'im now, wot a perfick terror
+he'd been with gals, and said that the face he'd got now was a judgment
+on 'im.  Sam shut up arter that, and got into trouble with Peter in the
+middle o' the night by waking 'im up to tell 'im something that he 'ad
+just thought of about his face.
+
+The more Ginger thought o' Sam's idea the more he liked it, and the very
+next evening 'e took Peter Russet into the private bar o' the Jolly
+Pilots.  He ordered port wine, which he thought seemed more 'igh-class
+than beer, and then Peter Russet started talking to Miss Tucker and told
+her that Ginger was a prize-fighter from Sydney, where he'd beat
+everybody that stood up to 'im.
+
+The gal seemed to change toward Ginger all in a flash, and 'er beautiful
+black eyes looked at 'im so admiring that he felt quite faint.  She
+started talking to 'im about his fights at once, and when at last 'e
+plucked up courage to ask 'er to go for a walk with 'im on Sunday
+arternoon she seemed quite delighted.
+
+"It'll be a nice change for me," she ses, smiling.  "I used to walk out
+with a prize-fighter once before, and since I gave 'im up I began to
+think I was never going to 'ave a young man agin.  You can't think 'ow
+dull it's been."
+
+"Must ha' been," ses Ginger.
+
+"I s'pose you've got a taste for prize-fighters, miss," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"No," ses Miss Tucker; "I don't think that it's that exactly, but, you
+see, I couldn't 'ave anybody else.  Not for their own sakes."
+
+[Illustration: "Miss Tucker."]
+
+"Why not?" ses Ginger, looking puzzled.
+
+"Why not?" ses Miss Tucker.  "Why, because o' Bill.  He's such a 'orrid
+jealous disposition.  After I gave 'im up I walked out with a young
+fellow named Smith; fine, big, strapping chap 'e was, too, and I never
+saw such a change in any man as there was in 'im after Bill 'ad done with
+'im.  I couldn't believe it was 'im.  I told Bill he ought to be ashamed
+of 'imself."
+
+"Wot did 'e say?"  asks Ginger.
+
+"Don't ask me wot 'e said," ses Miss Tucker, tossing her 'ead.  "Not
+liking to be beat, I 'ad one more try with a young fellow named Charlie
+Webb."
+
+"Wot 'appened to 'im?" ses Peter Russet, arter waiting a bit for 'er to
+finish.
+
+"I can't bear to talk of it," ses Miss Tucker, holding up Ginger's glass
+and giving the counter a wipe down.  "He met Bill, and I saw 'im six
+weeks afterward just as 'e was being sent away from the 'ospital to a
+seaside home.  Bill disappeared after that."
+
+"Has he gone far away?" ses Ginger, trying to speak in a off-'and way.
+
+"Oh, he's back now," ses Miss Tucker.  "You'll see 'im fast enough, and,
+wotever you do, don't let 'im know you're a prize-fighter."
+
+"Why not?" ses pore Ginger.
+
+"Because o' the surprise it'll be to 'im," ses Miss Tucker.  "Let 'im
+rush on to 'is doom.  He'll get a lesson 'e don't expect, the bully.
+Don't be afraid of 'urting 'im.  Think o' pore Smith and Charlie Webb."
+
+"I am thinkin' of 'em," ses Ginger, slow-like.  "Is--is Bill--very quick
+--with his 'ands?"
+
+"Rather," ses Miss Tucker; "but o' course he ain't up to your mark; he's
+on'y known in these parts."
+
+She went off to serve a customer, and Ginger Dick tried to catch Peter's
+eye, but couldn't, and when Miss Tucker came back he said 'e must be
+going.
+
+"Sunday afternoon at a quarter past three sharp, outside 'ere," she ses.
+"Never mind about putting on your best clothes, because Bill is sure to
+be hanging about.  I'll take care o' that."
+
+She reached over the bar and shook 'ands with 'im, and Ginger felt a
+thrill go up 'is arm which lasted 'im all the way 'ome.
+
+He didn't know whether to turn up on Sunday or not, and if it 'adn't ha'
+been for Sam and Peter Russet he'd ha' most likely stayed at home.  Not
+that 'e was a coward, being always ready for a scrap and gin'rally
+speaking doing well at it, but he made a few inquiries about Bill Lumm
+and 'e saw that 'e had about as much chance with 'im as a kitten would
+'ave with a bulldog.
+
+Sam and Peter was delighted, and they talked about it as if it was a
+pantermime, and old Sam said that when he was a young man he'd ha' fought
+six Bill Lumms afore he'd ha' given a gal up.  He brushed Ginger's
+clothes for 'im with 'is own hands on Sunday afternoon, and, when Ginger
+started, 'im and Peter follered some distance behind to see fair play.
+
+The on'y person outside the Jolly Pilots when Ginger got there was a man;
+a strong-built chap with a thick neck, very large 'ands, and a nose which
+'ad seen its best days some time afore.  He looked 'ard at Ginger as 'e
+came up, and then stuck his 'ands in 'is trouser pockets and spat on the
+pavement.  Ginger walked a little way past and then back agin, and just
+as he was thinking that 'e might venture to go off, as Miss Tucker 'adn't
+come, the door opened and out she came.
+
+"I couldn't find my 'at-pins," she ses, taking Ginger's arm and smiling
+up into 'is face.
+
+Before Ginger could say anything the man he 'ad noticed took his 'ands
+out of 'is pockets and stepped up to 'im.
+
+"Let go o' that young lady's arm," he ses.  "Sha'n't," ses Ginger,
+holding it so tight that Miss Tucker nearly screamed.
+
+"Let go 'er arm and put your 'ands up," ses the chap agin.
+
+[Illustration: "'Let go o' that young lady's arm,' he ses."]
+
+"Not 'ere," ses Ginger, who 'ad laid awake the night afore thinking wot
+to do if he met Bill Lumm.  "If you wish to 'ave a spar with me, my lad,
+you must 'ave it where we can't be interrupted.  When I start on a man I
+like to make a good job of it."
+
+"Good job of it!" ses the other, starting.  "Do you know who I am?"
+
+"No, I don't," ses Ginger, "and, wot's more, I don't care."
+
+"My name," ses the chap, speaking in a slow, careful voice, "is Bill
+Lumm."
+
+"Wot a 'orrid name!" ses Ginger.
+
+"Otherwise known as the Wapping Basher," ses Bill, shoving 'is face into
+Ginger's and glaring at 'im.
+
+"Ho!" ses Ginger, sniffing, "a amatoor."
+
+"_Amatoor?_"  ses Bill, shouting.
+
+"That's wot we should call you over in Australia," ses Ginger; "my name
+is Dick Duster, likewise known as the Sydney Puncher.  I've killed three
+men in the ring and 'ave never 'ad a defeat."
+
+"Well, put 'em up," ses Bill, doubling up 'is fists and shaping at 'im.
+
+"Not in the street, I tell you," ses Ginger, still clinging tight to Miss
+Tucker's arm.  "I was fined five pounds the other day for punching a man
+in the street, and the magistrate said it would be 'ard labour for me
+next time.  You find a nice, quiet spot for some arternoon, and I'll
+knock your 'ead off with pleasure."
+
+"I'd sooner 'ave it knocked off now," ses Bill; "I don't like waiting for
+things."
+
+"Thursday arternoon," ses Ginger, very firm; "there's one or two
+gentlemen want to see a bit o' my work afore backing me, and we can
+combine bisness with pleasure."
+
+He walked off with Miss Tucker, leaving Bill Lumm standing on the
+pavement scratching his 'ead and staring arter 'im as though 'e didn't
+quite know wot to make of it.  Bill stood there for pretty near five
+minutes, and then arter asking Sam and Peter, who 'ad been standing by
+listening, whether they wanted anything for themselves, walked off to ask
+'is pals wot they knew about the Sydney Puncher.
+
+Ginger Dick was so quiet and satisfied about the fight that old Sam and
+Peter couldn't make 'im out at all.  He wouldn't even practise punching
+at a bolster that Peter rigged up for 'im, and when 'e got a message from
+Bill Lumm naming a quiet place on the Lea Marshes he agreed to it as
+comfortable as possible.
+
+"Well, I must say, Ginger, that I like your pluck," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"I always 'ave said that for Ginger; 'e's got pluck," ses Sam.
+
+Ginger coughed and tried to smile at 'em in a superior sort o' way.  "I
+thought you'd got more sense," he ses, at last.  "You don't think I'm
+going, do you?"
+
+"Wot?" ses old Sam, in a shocked voice.
+
+"You're never going to back out of it, Ginger?"  ses Peter.
+
+"I am," ses Ginger.  "If you think I'm going to be smashed up by a
+prize-fighter just to show my pluck you're mistook."
+
+"You must go, Ginger," ses old Sam, very severe.  "It's too late to back
+out of it now.  Think of the gal.  Think of 'er feelings."
+
+"For the sake of your good name," ses Peter.
+
+"I should never speak to you agin, Ginger," ses old Sam, pursing up 'is
+lips.
+
+"Nor me neither," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"To think of our Ginger being called a coward," ses old Sam, with a
+shudder, "and afore a gal, too."
+
+"The loveliest gal in Wapping," ses Peter.
+
+"Look 'ere," ses Ginger, "you can shut up, both of you.  I'm not going,
+and that's the long and short of it.  I don't mind an ordinary man, but I
+draw the line at prize-fighters."
+
+Old Sam sat down on the edge of 'is bed and looked the picture of
+despair.  "You must go, Ginger," he ses, "for my sake."
+
+"Your sake?"  ses Ginger, staring.
+
+"I've got money on it," ses Sam, "so's Peter.  If you don't turn up all
+bets'll be off."
+
+"Good job for you, too," ses Ginger.  "If I did turn up you'd lose it, to
+a dead certainty."
+
+Old Sam coughed and looked at Peter, and Peter 'e coughed and looked at
+Sam.
+
+"You don't understand, Ginger," said Sam, in a soft voice; "it ain't
+often a chap gets the chance o' making a bit o' money these 'ard times."
+
+"So we've put all our money on Bill Lumm," ses Peter.  "It's the safest
+and easiest way o' making money I ever 'eard of.  You see, we know you're
+not a prize-fighter and the others don't."
+
+Pore Ginger looked at 'em, and then 'e called 'em all the names he could
+lay 'is tongue to, but, with the idea o' the money they was going make,
+they didn't mind a bit.  They let him 'ave 'is say, and that night they
+brought 'ome two other sailormen wot 'ad bet agin Ginger to share their
+room, and, though they 'ad bet agin 'im, they was so fond of 'im that it
+was evident that they wasn't going to leave 'im till the fight was over.
+
+Ginger gave up then, and at twelve o'clock next day they started off to
+find the place.  Mr. Webson, the landlord of the Jolly Pilots, a short,
+fat man o' fifty, wot 'ad spoke to Ginger once or twice, went with 'em,
+and all the way to the station he kept saying wot a jolly spot it was for
+that sort o' thing.  Perfickly private; nice soft green grass to be
+knocked down on, and larks up in the air singing away as if they'd never
+leave off.
+
+They took the train to Homerton, and, being a slack time o' the day, the
+porters was surprised to see wot a lot o' people was travelling by it.
+So was Ginger.  There was the landlords of 'arf the public-'ouses in
+Wapping, all smoking big cigars; two dock policemen in plain clothes, wot
+'ad got the arternoon off--one with a raging toothache and the other with
+a baby wot wasn't expected to last the day out.  They was as full o' fun
+as kittens, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots pointed out to Ginger
+wot reasonable 'uman beings policemen was at 'art.  Besides them there
+was quite a lot o' sailormen, even skippers and mates, nearly all of 'em
+smoking big cigars, too, and looking at Ginger out of the corner of one
+eye and at the Wapping Basher out of the corner of the other.
+
+"Hit 'ard and hit straight," ses the landlord to Ginger in a low voice,
+as they got out of the train and walked up the road.  "'Ow are you
+feeling?"
+
+"I've got a cold coming on," ses pore Ginger, looking at the Basher, who
+was on in front, "and a splitting 'eadache, and a sharp pain all down my
+left leg.  I don't think----"
+
+"Well, it's a good job it's no worse," ses the land-lord; "all you've got
+to do is to hit 'ard.  If you win it's a 'undered pounds in my pocket,
+and I'll stand you a fiver of it.  D'ye understand?"
+
+They turned down some little streets, several of 'em going diff'rent
+ways, and arter crossing the River Lea got on to the marshes, and, as the
+landlord said, the place might ha' been made for it.
+
+A little chap from Mile End was the referee, and Bill Lumm, 'aving
+peeled, stood looking on while Ginger took 'is things off and slowly and
+carefully folded 'em up.  Then they stepped toward each other, Bill
+taking longer steps than Ginger, and shook 'ands; immediately arter which
+Bill knocked Ginger head over 'eels.
+
+[Illustration: "Bill Lumm, 'aving peeled, stood looking on while Ginger
+took 'is things off."]
+
+"Time!" was called, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was nursing
+Ginger on 'is knee, said that it was nothing at all, and that bleeding at
+the nose was a sign of 'ealth.  But as it happened Ginger was that mad 'e
+didn't want any encouragement, he on'y wanted to kill Bill Lumm.
+
+He got two or three taps in the next round which made his 'ead ring, and
+then he got 'ome on the mark and follered it up by a left-'anded punch on
+Bill's jaw that surprised 'em both--Bill because he didn't think Ginger
+could hit so 'ard, and Ginger because 'e didn't think that prize-fighters
+'ad any feelings.
+
+They clinched and fell that round, and the land-lord patted Ginger on the
+back and said that if he ever 'ad a son he 'oped he'd grow up like 'im.
+
+Ginger was surprised at the way 'e was getting on, and so was old Sam and
+Peter Russet, and when Ginger knocked Bill down in the sixth round Sam
+went as pale as death.  Ginger was getting marked all over, but he stuck,
+to 'is man, and the two dock policemen, wot 'ad put their money on Bill
+Lumm, began to talk of their dooty, and say as 'ow the fight ought to be
+stopped.
+
+At the tenth round Bill couldn't see out of 'is eyes, and kept wasting
+'is strength on the empty air, and once on the referee.  Ginger watched
+'is opportunity, and at last, with a terrific smash on the point o'
+Bill's jaw, knocked 'im down and then looked round for the landlord's
+knee.
+
+Bill made a game try to get up when "Time!"  was called, but couldn't;
+and the referee, who was 'olding a 'andkerchief to 'is nose, gave the
+fight to Ginger.
+
+It was the proudest moment o' Ginger Dick's life.  He sat there like a
+king, smiling 'orribly, and Sam's voice as he paid 'is losings sounded to
+'im like music, in spite o' the words the old man see fit to use.  It was
+so 'ard to get Peter Russet's money that it a'most looked as though there
+was going to be another prize-fight, but 'e paid up at last and went off,
+arter fust telling Ginger part of wot he thought of 'im.
+
+There was a lot o' quarrelling, but the bets was all settled at last, and
+the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was in 'igh feather with the money
+he'd won, gave Ginger the five pounds he'd promised and took him 'ome in
+a cab.
+
+"You done well, my lad," he ses.  "No, don't smile.  It looks as though
+your 'ead's coming off."
+
+"I 'ope you'll tell Miss Tucker 'ow I fought," ses Ginger.
+
+"I will, my lad," ses the landlord; "but you'd better not see 'er for
+some time, for both your sakes."
+
+"I was thinking of 'aving a day or two in bed," ses Ginger.
+
+"Best thing you can do," ses the landlord; "and mind, don't you ever
+fight Bill Lumm agin.  Keep out of 'is way."
+
+"Why?  I beat 'im once, an' I can beat 'im agin," ses Ginger, offended.
+
+"Beat 'im?" ses the landlord.  He took 'is cigar out of 'is mouth as
+though 'e was going to speak, and then put it back agin and looked out
+of the window.
+
+"Yes, beat 'im," ses Ginger'.  "You was there and saw it."
+
+"He lost the fight a-purpose," ses the landlord, whispering.  "Miss
+Tucker found out that you wasn't a prize-fighter--leastways, I did for
+'er--and she told Bill that, if 'e loved 'er so much that he'd 'ave 'is
+sinful pride took down by letting you beat 'im, she'd think diff'rent of
+'im.  Why, 'e could 'ave settled you in a minute if he'd liked.  He was
+on'y playing with you."
+
+Ginger stared at 'im as if 'e couldn't believe 'is eyes.  "Playing?"  he
+ses, feeling 'is face very gently with the tips of his fingers.
+
+"Yes," ses the landlord; "and if he ever hits you agin you'll know I'm
+speaking the truth."
+
+Ginger sat back all of a heap and tried to think.  "Is Miss Tucker going
+to keep company with 'im agin, then?"  he ses, in a faint voice.
+
+"No," ses the landlord; "you can make your mind easy on that point."
+
+"Well, then, if I walk out with 'er I shall 'ave to fight Bill all over
+agin," ses Ginger.
+
+The landlord turned to 'im and patted 'im on the shoulder.  "Don't you
+take up your troubles afore they come, my lad," he ses, kindly; "and mind
+and keep wot I've told you dark, for all our sakes."
+
+He put 'im down at the door of 'is lodgings and, arter shaking 'ands with
+'im, gave the landlady a shilling and told 'er to get some beefsteak and
+put on 'is face, and went home.  Ginger went straight off to bed, and the
+way he carried on when the landlady fried the steak afore bringing it up
+showed 'ow upset he was.
+
+[Illustration: "The way he carried on when the landlady fried the steak
+showed 'ow upset he was."]
+
+It was over a week afore he felt 'e could risk letting Miss Tucker see
+'im, and then at seven o'clock one evening he felt 'e couldn't wait any
+longer, and arter spending an hour cleaning 'imself he started out for
+the Jolly Pilots.
+
+He felt so 'appy at the idea o' seeing her agin that 'e forgot all about
+Bill Lumm, and it gave 'im quite a shock when 'e saw 'im standing outside
+the Pilots.  Bill took his 'ands out of 'is pockets when he saw 'im and
+came toward 'im.
+
+"It's no good to-night, mate," he ses; and to Ginger's great surprise
+shook 'ands with 'im.
+
+"No good?" ses Ginger, staring.
+
+"No," ses Bill; "he's in the little back-parlour, like a whelk in 'is
+shell; but we'll 'ave 'im sooner or later."
+
+"Him?  Who?"  ses Ginger, more puzzled than ever.
+
+"Who?" ses Bill; "why, Webson, the landlord.  You don't mean to tell me
+you ain't heard about it?"
+
+"Heard wot?" ses Ginger.  "I haven't 'card any-thing.  I've been indoors
+with a bad cold all the week."
+
+"Webson and Julia Tucker was married at eleven o'clock yesterday
+morning," ses Bill Lumm, in a hoarse voice.  "When I think of the way
+I've been done, and wot I've suffered, I feel 'arf crazy.  He won a
+'undered pounds through me, and then got the gal I let myself be
+disgraced for.  I 'ad an idea some time ago that he'd got 'is eye on
+her."
+
+Ginger Dick didn't answer 'im a word.  He staggered back and braced
+'imself up agin the wall for a bit, and arter staring at Bill Lumm in a
+wild way for pretty near three minutes he crawled back to 'is lodgings
+and went straight to bed agin.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Third String, by W.W. Jacobs
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #12212 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12212)
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+<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
+<html>
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type"
+    content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Odd Craft
+    By W. W. Jacobs: Part 12
+</title>
+
+<style type="text/css">
+    <!--
+    P { text-indent:   1em;
+	      margin:        15%;
+        margin-top:    .75em;
+        text-align:    justify;
+        margin-bottom: .75em; }
+    H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; }
+    HR  { width: 33%; }
+    PRE { font-family: cursive}
+    .toc  { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;}
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+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Third String, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Third String
+       Odd Craft, Part 12.
+
+Author: W.W. Jacobs
+
+Release Date: April 30, 2004 [EBook #12212]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: US-ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THIRD STRING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<br><br>
+<center>
+<img alt="title (42K)" src="title.jpg" height="658" width="479" />
+</center>
+<br><br>
+<br /><br />
+<h2>
+    1909
+</h2>
+
+<center>
+<h3>PART 12.</h3>
+</center>
+
+<br /><br />
+<hr>
+<br /><br />
+
+
+<h2>List of Illustrations</h2>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-58">
+"Don't Talk to Me About Love, Because I've Suffered Enough
+Through It."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-59">
+"Miss Tucker."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-60">
+"'Let Go O' That Young Lady's Arm,' he Ses."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-61">
+"Bill Lumm, 'aving Peeled, Stood Looking on While Ginger
+Took 'is Things Off."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-62">
+"The Way he Carried on when the Landlady Fried The Steak
+Showed 'ow Upset he Was."
+</a></p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<br /><br />
+<hr>
+<br /><br />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<a name="2H_4_12"><!-- H2 anchor --></a>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h2>
+    THE THIRD STRING
+</h2>
+<p>
+    Love?  said the night-watchman, as he watched in an abstracted fashion
+    the efforts of a skipper to reach a brother skipper on a passing barge
+    with a boathook.  Don't talk to me about love, because I've suffered
+    enough through it.  There ought to be teetotalers for love the same as
+    wot there is for drink, and they ought to wear a piece o' ribbon to show
+    it, the same as the teetotalers do; but not an attractive piece o'
+    ribbon, mind you.  I've seen as much mischief caused by love as by drink,
+    and the funny thing is, one often leads to the other.  Love, arter it is
+    over, often leads to drink, and drink often leads to love and to a man
+    committing himself for life afore it is over.
+</p>
+<a name="image-58"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="058.jpg" height="335" width="548"
+alt="'don't Talk to Me About Love, Because I've Suffered Enough
+Through It.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    Sailormen give way to it most; they see so little o' wimmen that
+    they naturally 'ave a high opinion of 'em.  Wait till they become
+    night-watchmen and, having to be at 'ome all day, see the other side of
+    'em.  If people on'y started life as night-watchmen there wouldn't be one
+    'arf the falling in love that there is now.
+</p>
+<p>
+    I remember one chap, as nice a fellow as you could wish to meet, too.
+    He always carried his sweet-heart's photograph about with 'im, and it was
+    the on'y thing that cheered 'im up during the fourteen years he was cast
+    away on a deserted island.  He was picked up at last and taken 'ome, and
+    there she was still single and waiting for 'im; and arter spending
+    fourteen years on a deserted island he got another ten in quod for
+    shooting 'er because she 'ad altered so much in 'er looks.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Then there was Ginger Dick, a red-'aired man I've spoken about before.
+    He went and fell in love one time when he was lodging in Wapping 'ere
+    with old Sam Small and Peter Russet, and a nice mess 'e made of it.
+</p>
+<p>
+    They was just back from a v'y'ge, and they 'adn't been ashore a week
+    afore both of 'em noticed a change for the worse in Ginger.  He turned
+    quiet and peaceful and lost 'is taste for beer.  He used to play with 'is
+    food instead of eating it, and in place of going out of an evening with
+    Sam and Peter took to going off by 'imself.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It's love," ses Peter Russet, shaking his 'ead, "and he'll be worse
+    afore he's better."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Who's the gal?" ses old Sam.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Peter didn't know, but when they came 'ome that night 'e asked.  Ginger,
+    who was sitting up in bed with a far-off look in 'is eyes, cuddling 'is
+    knees, went on staring but didn't answer.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Who is it making a fool of you this time, Ginger?" ses old Sam.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You mind your bisness and I'll mind mine," ses Ginger, suddenly waking
+    up and looking very fierce.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No offence, mate," ses Sam, winking at Peter.  "I on'y asked in case I
+    might be able to do you a good turn."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, you can do that by not letting her know you're a pal o' mine," ses
+    Ginger, very nasty.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Old Sam didn't understand at fust, and when Peter explained to 'im he
+    wanted to hit 'im for trying to twist Ginger's words about.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "She don't like fat old men," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Ho!" ses old Sam, who couldn't think of anything else to say.  "Ho!
+    don't she?  Ho!  Ho! indeed!"
+</p>
+<p>
+    He undressed 'imself and got into the bed he shared with Peter, and kept
+    'im awake for hours by telling 'im in a loud voice about all the gals
+    he'd made love to in his life, and partikler about one gal that always
+    fainted dead away whenever she saw either a red-'aired man or a monkey.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Peter Russet found out all about it next day, and told Sam that it was a
+    barmaid with black 'air and eyes at the Jolly Pilots, and that she
+    wouldn't 'ave anything to say to Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He spoke to Ginger about it agin when they were going to bed that night,
+    and to 'is surprise found that he was quite civil.  When 'e said that he
+    would do anything he could for 'im, Ginger was quite affected.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I can't eat or drink," he ses, in a miserable voice; "I lay awake all
+    last night thinking of her.  She's so diff'rent to other gals; she's
+    got&mdash;If I start on you, Sam Small, you'll know it.  You go and make that
+    choking noise to them as likes it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It's a bit o' egg-shell I got in my throat at break-fast this morning,
+    Ginger," ses Sam.  "I wonder whether she lays awake all night thinking of
+    you?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I dare say she does," ses Peter Russet, giving 'im a little push.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Keep your 'art up, Ginger," ses Sam; "I've known gals to 'ave the most
+    ext'ordinary likings afore now."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Don't take no notice of 'im," ses Peter, holding Ginger back.  "'Ow are
+    you getting on with her?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger groaned and sat down on 'is bed and looked at the floor, and Sam
+    went and sat on his till it shook so that Ginger offered to step over and
+    break 'is neck for 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I can't 'elp the bed shaking," ses Sam; "it ain't my fault.  I didn't
+    make it.  If being in love is going to make you so disagreeable to your
+    best friends, Ginger, you'd better go and live by yourself."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I 'eard something about her to-day, Ginger," ses Peter Russet.  "I met a
+    chap I used to know at Bull's Wharf, and he told me that she used to keep
+    company with a chap named Bill Lumm, a bit of a prize-fighter, and since
+    she gave 'im up she won't look at anybody else."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Was she very fond of 'im, then?" asks Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I don't know," ses Peter; "but this chap told me that she won't walk out
+    with anybody agin, unless it's another prize-fighter.  Her pride won't
+    let her, I s'pose."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, that's all right, Ginger," ses Sam; "all you've got to do is to go
+    and be a prize-fighter."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "If I 'ave any more o' your nonsense&mdash;" ses Ginger, starting up.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's right," ses Sam; "jump down anybody's throat when they're trying
+    to do you a kindness.  That's you all over, Ginger, that is.  Wot's to
+    prevent you telling 'er that you're a prize-fighter from Australia or
+    somewhere?  She won't know no better."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He got up off the bed and put his 'ands up as Ginger walked across the
+    room to 'im, but Ginger on'y wanted to shake 'ands, and arter he 'ad done
+    that 'e patted 'im on the back and smiled at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I'll try it," he ses.  "I'd tell any lies for 'er sake.  Ah! you don't
+    know wot love is, Sam."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I used to," ses Sam, and then he sat down agin and began to tell 'em all
+    the love-affairs he could remember, until at last Peter Russet got tired
+    and said it was 'ard to believe, looking at 'im now, wot a perfick terror
+    he'd been with gals, and said that the face he'd got now was a judgment
+    on 'im.  Sam shut up arter that, and got into trouble with Peter in the
+    middle o' the night by waking 'im up to tell 'im something that he 'ad
+    just thought of about his face.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The more Ginger thought o' Sam's idea the more he liked it, and the very
+    next evening 'e took Peter Russet into the private bar o' the Jolly
+    Pilots.  He ordered port wine, which he thought seemed more 'igh-class
+    than beer, and then Peter Russet started talking to Miss Tucker and told
+    her that Ginger was a prize-fighter from Sydney, where he'd beat
+    everybody that stood up to 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The gal seemed to change toward Ginger all in a flash, and 'er beautiful
+    black eyes looked at 'im so admiring that he felt quite faint.  She
+    started talking to 'im about his fights at once, and when at last 'e
+    plucked up courage to ask 'er to go for a walk with 'im on Sunday
+    arternoon she seemed quite delighted.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It'll be a nice change for me," she ses, smiling.  "I used to walk out
+    with a prize-fighter once before, and since I gave 'im up I began to
+    think I was never going to 'ave a young man agin.  You can't think 'ow
+    dull it's been."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Must ha' been," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I s'pose you've got a taste for prize-fighters, miss," ses Peter Russet.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No," ses Miss Tucker; "I don't think that it's that exactly, but, you
+    see, I couldn't 'ave anybody else.  Not for their own sakes."
+</p>
+<a name="image-59"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="059.jpg" height="723" width="462"
+alt="'miss Tucker.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "Why not?" ses Ginger, looking puzzled.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Why not?" ses Miss Tucker.  "Why, because o' Bill.  He's such a 'orrid
+    jealous disposition.  After I gave 'im up I walked out with a young
+    fellow named Smith; fine, big, strapping chap 'e was, too, and I never
+    saw such a change in any man as there was in 'im after Bill 'ad done with
+    'im.  I couldn't believe it was 'im.  I told Bill he ought to be ashamed
+    of 'imself."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot did 'e say?"  asks Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Don't ask me wot 'e said," ses Miss Tucker, tossing her 'ead.  "Not
+    liking to be beat, I 'ad one more try with a young fellow named Charlie
+    Webb."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot 'appened to 'im?" ses Peter Russet, arter waiting a bit for 'er to
+    finish.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I can't bear to talk of it," ses Miss Tucker, holding up Ginger's glass
+    and giving the counter a wipe down.  "He met Bill, and I saw 'im six
+    weeks afterward just as 'e was being sent away from the 'ospital to a
+    seaside home.  Bill disappeared after that."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Has he gone far away?" ses Ginger, trying to speak in a off-'and way.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Oh, he's back now," ses Miss Tucker.  "You'll see 'im fast enough, and,
+    wotever you do, don't let 'im know you're a prize-fighter."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Why not?" ses pore Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Because o' the surprise it'll be to 'im," ses Miss Tucker.  "Let 'im
+    rush on to 'is doom.  He'll get a lesson 'e don't expect, the bully.
+    Don't be afraid of 'urting 'im.  Think o' pore Smith and Charlie Webb."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I am thinkin' of 'em," ses Ginger, slow-like.  "Is&mdash;is Bill&mdash;very quick
+    &mdash;with his 'ands?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Rather," ses Miss Tucker; "but o' course he ain't up to your mark; he's
+    on'y known in these parts."
+</p>
+<p>
+    She went off to serve a customer, and Ginger Dick tried to catch Peter's
+    eye, but couldn't, and when Miss Tucker came back he said 'e must be
+    going.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Sunday afternoon at a quarter past three sharp, outside 'ere," she ses.
+    "Never mind about putting on your best clothes, because Bill is sure to
+    be hanging about.  I'll take care o' that."
+</p>
+<p>
+    She reached over the bar and shook 'ands with 'im, and Ginger felt a
+    thrill go up 'is arm which lasted 'im all the way 'ome.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He didn't know whether to turn up on Sunday or not, and if it 'adn't ha'
+    been for Sam and Peter Russet he'd ha' most likely stayed at home.  Not
+    that 'e was a coward, being always ready for a scrap and gin'rally
+    speaking doing well at it, but he made a few inquiries about Bill Lumm
+    and 'e saw that 'e had about as much chance with 'im as a kitten would
+    'ave with a bulldog.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Sam and Peter was delighted, and they talked about it as if it was a
+    pantermime, and old Sam said that when he was a young man he'd ha' fought
+    six Bill Lumms afore he'd ha' given a gal up.  He brushed Ginger's
+    clothes for 'im with 'is own hands on Sunday afternoon, and, when Ginger
+    started, 'im and Peter follered some distance behind to see fair play.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The on'y person outside the Jolly Pilots when Ginger got there was a man;
+    a strong-built chap with a thick neck, very large 'ands, and a nose which
+    'ad seen its best days some time afore.  He looked 'ard at Ginger as 'e
+    came up, and then stuck his 'ands in 'is trouser pockets and spat on the
+    pavement.  Ginger walked a little way past and then back agin, and just
+    as he was thinking that 'e might venture to go off, as Miss Tucker 'adn't
+    come, the door opened and out she came.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I couldn't find my 'at-pins," she ses, taking Ginger's arm and smiling
+    up into 'is face.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Before Ginger could say anything the man he 'ad noticed took his 'ands
+    out of 'is pockets and stepped up to 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Let go o' that young lady's arm," he ses.  "Sha'n't," ses Ginger,
+    holding it so tight that Miss Tucker nearly screamed.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Let go 'er arm and put your 'ands up," ses the chap agin.
+</p>
+<a name="image-60"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="060.jpg" height="609" width="532"
+alt="''let Go O' That Young Lady's Arm,' he Ses.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "Not 'ere," ses Ginger, who 'ad laid awake the night afore thinking wot
+    to do if he met Bill Lumm.  "If you wish to 'ave a spar with me, my lad,
+    you must 'ave it where we can't be interrupted.  When I start on a man I
+    like to make a good job of it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Good job of it!" ses the other, starting.  "Do you know who I am?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No, I don't," ses Ginger, "and, wot's more, I don't care."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "My name," ses the chap, speaking in a slow, careful voice, "is Bill
+    Lumm."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot a 'orrid name!" ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Otherwise known as the Wapping Basher," ses Bill, shoving 'is face into
+    Ginger's and glaring at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Ho!" ses Ginger, sniffing, "a amatoor."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "<i>Amatoor?</i>"  ses Bill, shouting.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's wot we should call you over in Australia," ses Ginger; "my name
+    is Dick Duster, likewise known as the Sydney Puncher.  I've killed three
+    men in the ring and 'ave never 'ad a defeat."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, put 'em up," ses Bill, doubling up 'is fists and shaping at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Not in the street, I tell you," ses Ginger, still clinging tight to Miss
+    Tucker's arm.  "I was fined five pounds the other day for punching a man
+    in the street, and the magistrate said it would be 'ard labour for me
+    next time.  You find a nice, quiet spot for some arternoon, and I'll
+    knock your 'ead off with pleasure."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I'd sooner 'ave it knocked off now," ses Bill; "I don't like waiting for
+    things."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Thursday arternoon," ses Ginger, very firm; "there's one or two
+    gentlemen want to see a bit o' my work afore backing me, and we can
+    combine bisness with pleasure."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He walked off with Miss Tucker, leaving Bill Lumm standing on the
+    pavement scratching his 'ead and staring arter 'im as though 'e didn't
+    quite know wot to make of it.  Bill stood there for pretty near five
+    minutes, and then arter asking Sam and Peter, who 'ad been standing by
+    listening, whether they wanted anything for themselves, walked off to ask
+    'is pals wot they knew about the Sydney Puncher.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger Dick was so quiet and satisfied about the fight that old Sam and
+    Peter couldn't make 'im out at all.  He wouldn't even practise punching
+    at a bolster that Peter rigged up for 'im, and when 'e got a message from
+    Bill Lumm naming a quiet place on the Lea Marshes he agreed to it as
+    comfortable as possible.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, I must say, Ginger, that I like your pluck," ses Peter Russet.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I always 'ave said that for Ginger; 'e's got pluck," ses Sam.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger coughed and tried to smile at 'em in a superior sort o' way.  "I
+    thought you'd got more sense," he ses, at last.  "You don't think I'm
+    going, do you?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot?" ses old Sam, in a shocked voice.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You're never going to back out of it, Ginger?"  ses Peter.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I am," ses Ginger.  "If you think I'm going to be smashed up by a
+    prize-fighter just to show my pluck you're mistook."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You must go, Ginger," ses old Sam, very severe.  "It's too late to back
+    out of it now.  Think of the gal.  Think of 'er feelings."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "For the sake of your good name," ses Peter.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I should never speak to you agin, Ginger," ses old Sam, pursing up 'is
+    lips.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Nor me neither," ses Peter Russet.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "To think of our Ginger being called a coward," ses old Sam, with a
+    shudder, "and afore a gal, too."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "The loveliest gal in Wapping," ses Peter.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Look 'ere," ses Ginger, "you can shut up, both of you.  I'm not going,
+    and that's the long and short of it.  I don't mind an ordinary man, but I
+    draw the line at prize-fighters."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Old Sam sat down on the edge of 'is bed and looked the picture of
+    despair.  "You must go, Ginger," he ses, "for my sake."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Your sake?"  ses Ginger, staring.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I've got money on it," ses Sam, "so's Peter.  If you don't turn up all
+    bets'll be off."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Good job for you, too," ses Ginger.  "If I did turn up you'd lose it, to
+    a dead certainty."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Old Sam coughed and looked at Peter, and Peter 'e coughed and looked at
+    Sam.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You don't understand, Ginger," said Sam, in a soft voice; "it ain't
+    often a chap gets the chance o' making a bit o' money these 'ard times."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "So we've put all our money on Bill Lumm," ses Peter.  "It's the safest
+    and easiest way o' making money I ever 'eard of.  You see, we know you're
+    not a prize-fighter and the others don't."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Pore Ginger looked at 'em, and then 'e called 'em all the names he could
+    lay 'is tongue to, but, with the idea o' the money they was going make,
+    they didn't mind a bit.  They let him 'ave 'is say, and that night they
+    brought 'ome two other sailormen wot 'ad bet agin Ginger to share their
+    room, and, though they 'ad bet agin 'im, they was so fond of 'im that it
+    was evident that they wasn't going to leave 'im till the fight was over.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger gave up then, and at twelve o'clock next day they started off to
+    find the place.  Mr. Webson, the landlord of the Jolly Pilots, a short,
+    fat man o' fifty, wot 'ad spoke to Ginger once or twice, went with 'em,
+    and all the way to the station he kept saying wot a jolly spot it was for
+    that sort o' thing.  Perfickly private; nice soft green grass to be
+    knocked down on, and larks up in the air singing away as if they'd never
+    leave off.
+</p>
+<p>
+    They took the train to Homerton, and, being a slack time o' the day, the
+    porters was surprised to see wot a lot o' people was travelling by it.
+    So was Ginger.  There was the landlords of 'arf the public-'ouses in
+    Wapping, all smoking big cigars; two dock policemen in plain clothes, wot
+    'ad got the arternoon off&mdash;one with a raging toothache and the other with
+    a baby wot wasn't expected to last the day out.  They was as full o' fun
+    as kittens, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots pointed out to Ginger
+    wot reasonable 'uman beings policemen was at 'art.  Besides them there
+    was quite a lot o' sailormen, even skippers and mates, nearly all of 'em
+    smoking big cigars, too, and looking at Ginger out of the corner of one
+    eye and at the Wapping Basher out of the corner of the other.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Hit 'ard and hit straight," ses the landlord to Ginger in a low voice,
+    as they got out of the train and walked up the road.  "'Ow are you
+    feeling?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I've got a cold coming on," ses pore Ginger, looking at the Basher, who
+    was on in front, "and a splitting 'eadache, and a sharp pain all down my
+    left leg.  I don't think&mdash;&mdash;"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, it's a good job it's no worse," ses the land-lord; "all you've got
+    to do is to hit 'ard.  If you win it's a 'undered pounds in my pocket,
+    and I'll stand you a fiver of it.  D'ye understand?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    They turned down some little streets, several of 'em going diff'rent
+    ways, and arter crossing the River Lea got on to the marshes, and, as the
+    landlord said, the place might ha' been made for it.
+</p>
+<p>
+    A little chap from Mile End was the referee, and Bill Lumm, 'aving
+    peeled, stood looking on while Ginger took 'is things off and slowly and
+    carefully folded 'em up.  Then they stepped toward each other, Bill
+    taking longer steps than Ginger, and shook 'ands; immediately arter which
+    Bill knocked Ginger head over 'eels.
+</p>
+<a name="image-61"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="061.jpg" height="516" width="567"
+alt="'bill Lumm, 'aving Peeled, Stood Looking on While Ginger
+Took 'is Things Off.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "Time!" was called, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was nursing
+    Ginger on 'is knee, said that it was nothing at all, and that bleeding at
+    the nose was a sign of 'ealth.  But as it happened Ginger was that mad 'e
+    didn't want any encouragement, he on'y wanted to kill Bill Lumm.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He got two or three taps in the next round which made his 'ead ring, and
+    then he got 'ome on the mark and follered it up by a left-'anded punch on
+    Bill's jaw that surprised 'em both&mdash;Bill because he didn't think Ginger
+    could hit so 'ard, and Ginger because 'e didn't think that prize-fighters
+    'ad any feelings.
+</p>
+<p>
+    They clinched and fell that round, and the land-lord patted Ginger on the
+    back and said that if he ever 'ad a son he 'oped he'd grow up like 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger was surprised at the way 'e was getting on, and so was old Sam and
+    Peter Russet, and when Ginger knocked Bill down in the sixth round Sam
+    went as pale as death.  Ginger was getting marked all over, but he stuck,
+    to 'is man, and the two dock policemen, wot 'ad put their money on Bill
+    Lumm, began to talk of their dooty, and say as 'ow the fight ought to be
+    stopped.
+</p>
+<p>
+    At the tenth round Bill couldn't see out of 'is eyes, and kept wasting
+    'is strength on the empty air, and once on the referee.  Ginger watched
+    'is opportunity, and at last, with a terrific smash on the point o'
+    Bill's jaw, knocked 'im down and then looked round for the landlord's
+    knee.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bill made a game try to get up when "Time!"  was called, but couldn't;
+    and the referee, who was 'olding a 'andkerchief to 'is nose, gave the
+    fight to Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    It was the proudest moment o' Ginger Dick's life.  He sat there like a
+    king, smiling 'orribly, and Sam's voice as he paid 'is losings sounded to
+    'im like music, in spite o' the words the old man see fit to use.  It was
+    so 'ard to get Peter Russet's money that it a'most looked as though there
+    was going to be another prize-fight, but 'e paid up at last and went off,
+    arter fust telling Ginger part of wot he thought of 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    There was a lot o' quarrelling, but the bets was all settled at last, and
+    the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was in 'igh feather with the money
+    he'd won, gave Ginger the five pounds he'd promised and took him 'ome in
+    a cab.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You done well, my lad," he ses.  "No, don't smile.  It looks as though
+    your 'ead's coming off."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I 'ope you'll tell Miss Tucker 'ow I fought," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I will, my lad," ses the landlord; "but you'd better not see 'er for
+    some time, for both your sakes."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I was thinking of 'aving a day or two in bed," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Best thing you can do," ses the landlord; "and mind, don't you ever
+    fight Bill Lumm agin.  Keep out of 'is way."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Why?  I beat 'im once, an' I can beat 'im agin," ses Ginger, offended.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Beat 'im?" ses the landlord.  He took 'is cigar out of 'is mouth as
+    though 'e was going to speak, and then put it back agin and looked out
+    of the window.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes, beat 'im," ses Ginger'.  "You was there and saw it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "He lost the fight a-purpose," ses the landlord, whispering.  "Miss
+    Tucker found out that you wasn't a prize-fighter&mdash;leastways, I did for
+    'er&mdash;and she told Bill that, if 'e loved 'er so much that he'd 'ave 'is
+    sinful pride took down by letting you beat 'im, she'd think diff'rent of
+    'im.  Why, 'e could 'ave settled you in a minute if he'd liked.  He was
+    on'y playing with you."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger stared at 'im as if 'e couldn't believe 'is eyes.  "Playing?"  he
+    ses, feeling 'is face very gently with the tips of his fingers.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes," ses the landlord; "and if he ever hits you agin you'll know I'm
+    speaking the truth."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger sat back all of a heap and tried to think.  "Is Miss Tucker going
+    to keep company with 'im agin, then?"  he ses, in a faint voice.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No," ses the landlord; "you can make your mind easy on that point."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, then, if I walk out with 'er I shall 'ave to fight Bill all over
+    agin," ses Ginger.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The landlord turned to 'im and patted 'im on the shoulder.  "Don't you
+    take up your troubles afore they come, my lad," he ses, kindly; "and mind
+    and keep wot I've told you dark, for all our sakes."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He put 'im down at the door of 'is lodgings and, arter shaking 'ands with
+    'im, gave the landlady a shilling and told 'er to get some beefsteak and
+    put on 'is face, and went home.  Ginger went straight off to bed, and the
+    way he carried on when the landlady fried the steak afore bringing it up
+    showed 'ow upset he was.
+</p>
+<a name="image-62"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="062.jpg" height="691" width="558"
+alt="'the Way he Carried on when the Landlady Fried The Steak
+Showed 'ow Upset he Was.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    It was over a week afore he felt 'e could risk letting Miss Tucker see
+    'im, and then at seven o'clock one evening he felt 'e couldn't wait any
+    longer, and arter spending an hour cleaning 'imself he started out for
+    the Jolly Pilots.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He felt so 'appy at the idea o' seeing her agin that 'e forgot all about
+    Bill Lumm, and it gave 'im quite a shock when 'e saw 'im standing outside
+    the Pilots.  Bill took his 'ands out of 'is pockets when he saw 'im and
+    came toward 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It's no good to-night, mate," he ses; and to Ginger's great surprise
+    shook 'ands with 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No good?" ses Ginger, staring.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No," ses Bill; "he's in the little back-parlour, like a whelk in 'is
+    shell; but we'll 'ave 'im sooner or later."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Him?  Who?"  ses Ginger, more puzzled than ever.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Who?" ses Bill; "why, Webson, the landlord.  You don't mean to tell me
+    you ain't heard about it?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Heard wot?" ses Ginger.  "I haven't 'eard any-thing.  I've been indoors
+    with a bad cold all the week."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Webson and Julia Tucker was married at eleven o'clock yesterday
+    morning," ses Bill Lumm, in a hoarse voice.  "When I think of the way
+    I've been done, and wot I've suffered, I feel 'arf crazy.  He won a
+    'undered pounds through me, and then got the gal I let myself be
+    disgraced for.  I 'ad an idea some time ago that he'd got 'is eye on
+    her."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Ginger Dick didn't answer 'im a word.  He staggered back and braced
+    'imself up agin the wall for a bit, and arter staring at Bill Lumm in a
+    wild way for pretty near three minutes he crawled back to 'is lodgings
+    and went straight to bed agin.
+</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Third String, by W.W. Jacobs
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Third String, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Third String
+       Odd Craft, Part 12.
+
+Author: W.W. Jacobs
+
+Release Date: April 30, 2004 [EBook #12212]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THIRD STRING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+ODD CRAFT
+
+By W.W. Jacobs
+
+
+
+THE THIRD STRING
+
+Love?  said the night-watchman, as he watched in an abstracted fashion
+the efforts of a skipper to reach a brother skipper on a passing barge
+with a boathook.  Don't talk to me about love, because I've suffered
+enough through it.  There ought to be teetotalers for love the same as
+wot there is for drink, and they ought to wear a piece o' ribbon to show
+it, the same as the teetotalers do; but not an attractive piece o'
+ribbon, mind you.  I've seen as much mischief caused by love as by drink,
+and the funny thing is, one often leads to the other.  Love, arter it is
+over, often leads to drink, and drink often leads to love and to a man
+committing himself for life afore it is over.
+
+[Illustration: "Don't talk to me about love, because I've suffered enough
+through it."]
+
+Sailormen give way to it most; they see so little o' wimmen that
+they naturally 'ave a high opinion of 'em.  Wait till they become
+night-watchmen and, having to be at 'ome all day, see the other side of
+'em.  If people on'y started life as night-watchmen there wouldn't be one
+'arf the falling in love that there is now.
+
+I remember one chap, as nice a fellow as you could wish to meet, too.
+He always carried his sweet-heart's photograph about with 'im, and it was
+the on'y thing that cheered 'im up during the fourteen years he was cast
+away on a deserted island.  He was picked up at last and taken 'ome, and
+there she was still single and waiting for 'im; and arter spending
+fourteen years on a deserted island he got another ten in quod for
+shooting 'er because she 'ad altered so much in 'er looks.
+
+Then there was Ginger Dick, a red-'aired man I've spoken about before.
+He went and fell in love one time when he was lodging in Wapping 'ere
+with old Sam Small and Peter Russet, and a nice mess 'e made of it.
+
+They was just back from a v'y'ge, and they 'adn't been ashore a week
+afore both of 'em noticed a change for the worse in Ginger.  He turned
+quiet and peaceful and lost 'is taste for beer.  He used to play with 'is
+food instead of eating it, and in place of going out of an evening with
+Sam and Peter took to going off by 'imself.
+
+"It's love," ses Peter Russet, shaking his 'ead, "and he'll be worse
+afore he's better."
+
+"Who's the gal?" ses old Sam.
+
+Peter didn't know, but when they came 'ome that night 'e asked.  Ginger,
+who was sitting up in bed with a far-off look in 'is eyes, cuddling 'is
+knees, went on staring but didn't answer.
+
+"Who is it making a fool of you this time, Ginger?" ses old Sam.
+
+"You mind your bisness and I'll mind mine," ses Ginger, suddenly waking
+up and looking very fierce.
+
+"No offence, mate," ses Sam, winking at Peter.  "I on'y asked in case I
+might be able to do you a good turn."
+
+"Well, you can do that by not letting her know you're a pal o' mine," ses
+Ginger, very nasty.
+
+Old Sam didn't understand at fust, and when Peter explained to 'im he
+wanted to hit 'im for trying to twist Ginger's words about.
+
+"She don't like fat old men," ses Ginger.
+
+"Ho!" ses old Sam, who couldn't think of anything else to say.  "Ho!
+don't she?  Ho!  Ho! indeed!"
+
+He undressed 'imself and got into the bed he shared with Peter, and kept
+'im awake for hours by telling 'im in a loud voice about all the gals
+he'd made love to in his life, and partikler about one gal that always
+fainted dead away whenever she saw either a red-'aired man or a monkey.
+
+Peter Russet found out all about it next day, and told Sam that it was a
+barmaid with black 'air and eyes at the Jolly Pilots, and that she
+wouldn't 'ave anything to say to Ginger.
+
+He spoke to Ginger about it agin when they were going to bed that night,
+and to 'is surprise found that he was quite civil.  When 'e said that he
+would do anything he could for 'im, Ginger was quite affected.
+
+"I can't eat or drink," he ses, in a miserable voice; "I lay awake all
+last night thinking of her.  She's so diff'rent to other gals; she's
+got--If I start on you, Sam Small, you'll know it.  You go and make that
+choking noise to them as likes it."
+
+"It's a bit o' egg-shell I got in my throat at break-fast this morning,
+Ginger," ses Sam.  "I wonder whether she lays awake all night thinking of
+you?"
+
+"I dare say she does," ses Peter Russet, giving 'im a little push.
+
+"Keep your 'art up, Ginger," ses Sam; "I've known gals to 'ave the most
+ext'ordinary likings afore now."
+
+"Don't take no notice of 'im," ses Peter, holding Ginger back.  "'Ow are
+you getting on with her?"
+
+Ginger groaned and sat down on 'is bed and looked at the floor, and Sam
+went and sat on his till it shook so that Ginger offered to step over and
+break 'is neck for 'im.
+
+"I can't 'elp the bed shaking," ses Sam; "it ain't my fault.  I didn't
+make it.  If being in love is going to make you so disagreeable to your
+best friends, Ginger, you'd better go and live by yourself."
+
+"I 'eard something about her to-day, Ginger," ses Peter Russet.  "I met a
+chap I used to know at Bull's Wharf, and he told me that she used to keep
+company with a chap named Bill Lumm, a bit of a prize-fighter, and since
+she gave 'im up she won't look at anybody else."
+
+"Was she very fond of 'im, then?" asks Ginger.
+
+"I don't know," ses Peter; "but this chap told me that she won't walk out
+with anybody agin, unless it's another prize-fighter.  Her pride won't
+let her, I s'pose."
+
+"Well, that's all right, Ginger," ses Sam; "all you've got to do is to go
+and be a prize-fighter."
+
+"If I 'ave any more o' your nonsense--" ses Ginger, starting up.
+
+"That's right," ses Sam; "jump down anybody's throat when they're trying
+to do you a kindness.  That's you all over, Ginger, that is.  Wot's to
+prevent you telling 'er that you're a prize-fighter from Australia or
+somewhere?  She won't know no better."
+
+He got up off the bed and put his 'ands up as Ginger walked across the
+room to 'im, but Ginger on'y wanted to shake 'ands, and arter he 'ad done
+that 'e patted 'im on the back and smiled at 'im.
+
+"I'll try it," he ses.  "I'd tell any lies for 'er sake.  Ah! you don't
+know wot love is, Sam."
+
+"I used to," ses Sam, and then he sat down agin and began to tell 'em all
+the love-affairs he could remember, until at last Peter Russet got tired
+and said it was 'ard to believe, looking at 'im now, wot a perfick terror
+he'd been with gals, and said that the face he'd got now was a judgment
+on 'im.  Sam shut up arter that, and got into trouble with Peter in the
+middle o' the night by waking 'im up to tell 'im something that he 'ad
+just thought of about his face.
+
+The more Ginger thought o' Sam's idea the more he liked it, and the very
+next evening 'e took Peter Russet into the private bar o' the Jolly
+Pilots.  He ordered port wine, which he thought seemed more 'igh-class
+than beer, and then Peter Russet started talking to Miss Tucker and told
+her that Ginger was a prize-fighter from Sydney, where he'd beat
+everybody that stood up to 'im.
+
+The gal seemed to change toward Ginger all in a flash, and 'er beautiful
+black eyes looked at 'im so admiring that he felt quite faint.  She
+started talking to 'im about his fights at once, and when at last 'e
+plucked up courage to ask 'er to go for a walk with 'im on Sunday
+arternoon she seemed quite delighted.
+
+"It'll be a nice change for me," she ses, smiling.  "I used to walk out
+with a prize-fighter once before, and since I gave 'im up I began to
+think I was never going to 'ave a young man agin.  You can't think 'ow
+dull it's been."
+
+"Must ha' been," ses Ginger.
+
+"I s'pose you've got a taste for prize-fighters, miss," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"No," ses Miss Tucker; "I don't think that it's that exactly, but, you
+see, I couldn't 'ave anybody else.  Not for their own sakes."
+
+[Illustration: "Miss Tucker."]
+
+"Why not?" ses Ginger, looking puzzled.
+
+"Why not?" ses Miss Tucker.  "Why, because o' Bill.  He's such a 'orrid
+jealous disposition.  After I gave 'im up I walked out with a young
+fellow named Smith; fine, big, strapping chap 'e was, too, and I never
+saw such a change in any man as there was in 'im after Bill 'ad done with
+'im.  I couldn't believe it was 'im.  I told Bill he ought to be ashamed
+of 'imself."
+
+"Wot did 'e say?"  asks Ginger.
+
+"Don't ask me wot 'e said," ses Miss Tucker, tossing her 'ead.  "Not
+liking to be beat, I 'ad one more try with a young fellow named Charlie
+Webb."
+
+"Wot 'appened to 'im?" ses Peter Russet, arter waiting a bit for 'er to
+finish.
+
+"I can't bear to talk of it," ses Miss Tucker, holding up Ginger's glass
+and giving the counter a wipe down.  "He met Bill, and I saw 'im six
+weeks afterward just as 'e was being sent away from the 'ospital to a
+seaside home.  Bill disappeared after that."
+
+"Has he gone far away?" ses Ginger, trying to speak in a off-'and way.
+
+"Oh, he's back now," ses Miss Tucker.  "You'll see 'im fast enough, and,
+wotever you do, don't let 'im know you're a prize-fighter."
+
+"Why not?" ses pore Ginger.
+
+"Because o' the surprise it'll be to 'im," ses Miss Tucker.  "Let 'im
+rush on to 'is doom.  He'll get a lesson 'e don't expect, the bully.
+Don't be afraid of 'urting 'im.  Think o' pore Smith and Charlie Webb."
+
+"I am thinkin' of 'em," ses Ginger, slow-like.  "Is--is Bill--very quick
+--with his 'ands?"
+
+"Rather," ses Miss Tucker; "but o' course he ain't up to your mark; he's
+on'y known in these parts."
+
+She went off to serve a customer, and Ginger Dick tried to catch Peter's
+eye, but couldn't, and when Miss Tucker came back he said 'e must be
+going.
+
+"Sunday afternoon at a quarter past three sharp, outside 'ere," she ses.
+"Never mind about putting on your best clothes, because Bill is sure to
+be hanging about.  I'll take care o' that."
+
+She reached over the bar and shook 'ands with 'im, and Ginger felt a
+thrill go up 'is arm which lasted 'im all the way 'ome.
+
+He didn't know whether to turn up on Sunday or not, and if it 'adn't ha'
+been for Sam and Peter Russet he'd ha' most likely stayed at home.  Not
+that 'e was a coward, being always ready for a scrap and gin'rally
+speaking doing well at it, but he made a few inquiries about Bill Lumm
+and 'e saw that 'e had about as much chance with 'im as a kitten would
+'ave with a bulldog.
+
+Sam and Peter was delighted, and they talked about it as if it was a
+pantermime, and old Sam said that when he was a young man he'd ha' fought
+six Bill Lumms afore he'd ha' given a gal up.  He brushed Ginger's
+clothes for 'im with 'is own hands on Sunday afternoon, and, when Ginger
+started, 'im and Peter follered some distance behind to see fair play.
+
+The on'y person outside the Jolly Pilots when Ginger got there was a man;
+a strong-built chap with a thick neck, very large 'ands, and a nose which
+'ad seen its best days some time afore.  He looked 'ard at Ginger as 'e
+came up, and then stuck his 'ands in 'is trouser pockets and spat on the
+pavement.  Ginger walked a little way past and then back agin, and just
+as he was thinking that 'e might venture to go off, as Miss Tucker 'adn't
+come, the door opened and out she came.
+
+"I couldn't find my 'at-pins," she ses, taking Ginger's arm and smiling
+up into 'is face.
+
+Before Ginger could say anything the man he 'ad noticed took his 'ands
+out of 'is pockets and stepped up to 'im.
+
+"Let go o' that young lady's arm," he ses.  "Sha'n't," ses Ginger,
+holding it so tight that Miss Tucker nearly screamed.
+
+"Let go 'er arm and put your 'ands up," ses the chap agin.
+
+[Illustration: "'Let go o' that young lady's arm,' he ses."]
+
+"Not 'ere," ses Ginger, who 'ad laid awake the night afore thinking wot
+to do if he met Bill Lumm.  "If you wish to 'ave a spar with me, my lad,
+you must 'ave it where we can't be interrupted.  When I start on a man I
+like to make a good job of it."
+
+"Good job of it!" ses the other, starting.  "Do you know who I am?"
+
+"No, I don't," ses Ginger, "and, wot's more, I don't care."
+
+"My name," ses the chap, speaking in a slow, careful voice, "is Bill
+Lumm."
+
+"Wot a 'orrid name!" ses Ginger.
+
+"Otherwise known as the Wapping Basher," ses Bill, shoving 'is face into
+Ginger's and glaring at 'im.
+
+"Ho!" ses Ginger, sniffing, "a amatoor."
+
+"_Amatoor?_"  ses Bill, shouting.
+
+"That's wot we should call you over in Australia," ses Ginger; "my name
+is Dick Duster, likewise known as the Sydney Puncher.  I've killed three
+men in the ring and 'ave never 'ad a defeat."
+
+"Well, put 'em up," ses Bill, doubling up 'is fists and shaping at 'im.
+
+"Not in the street, I tell you," ses Ginger, still clinging tight to Miss
+Tucker's arm.  "I was fined five pounds the other day for punching a man
+in the street, and the magistrate said it would be 'ard labour for me
+next time.  You find a nice, quiet spot for some arternoon, and I'll
+knock your 'ead off with pleasure."
+
+"I'd sooner 'ave it knocked off now," ses Bill; "I don't like waiting for
+things."
+
+"Thursday arternoon," ses Ginger, very firm; "there's one or two
+gentlemen want to see a bit o' my work afore backing me, and we can
+combine bisness with pleasure."
+
+He walked off with Miss Tucker, leaving Bill Lumm standing on the
+pavement scratching his 'ead and staring arter 'im as though 'e didn't
+quite know wot to make of it.  Bill stood there for pretty near five
+minutes, and then arter asking Sam and Peter, who 'ad been standing by
+listening, whether they wanted anything for themselves, walked off to ask
+'is pals wot they knew about the Sydney Puncher.
+
+Ginger Dick was so quiet and satisfied about the fight that old Sam and
+Peter couldn't make 'im out at all.  He wouldn't even practise punching
+at a bolster that Peter rigged up for 'im, and when 'e got a message from
+Bill Lumm naming a quiet place on the Lea Marshes he agreed to it as
+comfortable as possible.
+
+"Well, I must say, Ginger, that I like your pluck," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"I always 'ave said that for Ginger; 'e's got pluck," ses Sam.
+
+Ginger coughed and tried to smile at 'em in a superior sort o' way.  "I
+thought you'd got more sense," he ses, at last.  "You don't think I'm
+going, do you?"
+
+"Wot?" ses old Sam, in a shocked voice.
+
+"You're never going to back out of it, Ginger?"  ses Peter.
+
+"I am," ses Ginger.  "If you think I'm going to be smashed up by a
+prize-fighter just to show my pluck you're mistook."
+
+"You must go, Ginger," ses old Sam, very severe.  "It's too late to back
+out of it now.  Think of the gal.  Think of 'er feelings."
+
+"For the sake of your good name," ses Peter.
+
+"I should never speak to you agin, Ginger," ses old Sam, pursing up 'is
+lips.
+
+"Nor me neither," ses Peter Russet.
+
+"To think of our Ginger being called a coward," ses old Sam, with a
+shudder, "and afore a gal, too."
+
+"The loveliest gal in Wapping," ses Peter.
+
+"Look 'ere," ses Ginger, "you can shut up, both of you.  I'm not going,
+and that's the long and short of it.  I don't mind an ordinary man, but I
+draw the line at prize-fighters."
+
+Old Sam sat down on the edge of 'is bed and looked the picture of
+despair.  "You must go, Ginger," he ses, "for my sake."
+
+"Your sake?"  ses Ginger, staring.
+
+"I've got money on it," ses Sam, "so's Peter.  If you don't turn up all
+bets'll be off."
+
+"Good job for you, too," ses Ginger.  "If I did turn up you'd lose it, to
+a dead certainty."
+
+Old Sam coughed and looked at Peter, and Peter 'e coughed and looked at
+Sam.
+
+"You don't understand, Ginger," said Sam, in a soft voice; "it ain't
+often a chap gets the chance o' making a bit o' money these 'ard times."
+
+"So we've put all our money on Bill Lumm," ses Peter.  "It's the safest
+and easiest way o' making money I ever 'eard of.  You see, we know you're
+not a prize-fighter and the others don't."
+
+Pore Ginger looked at 'em, and then 'e called 'em all the names he could
+lay 'is tongue to, but, with the idea o' the money they was going make,
+they didn't mind a bit.  They let him 'ave 'is say, and that night they
+brought 'ome two other sailormen wot 'ad bet agin Ginger to share their
+room, and, though they 'ad bet agin 'im, they was so fond of 'im that it
+was evident that they wasn't going to leave 'im till the fight was over.
+
+Ginger gave up then, and at twelve o'clock next day they started off to
+find the place.  Mr. Webson, the landlord of the Jolly Pilots, a short,
+fat man o' fifty, wot 'ad spoke to Ginger once or twice, went with 'em,
+and all the way to the station he kept saying wot a jolly spot it was for
+that sort o' thing.  Perfickly private; nice soft green grass to be
+knocked down on, and larks up in the air singing away as if they'd never
+leave off.
+
+They took the train to Homerton, and, being a slack time o' the day, the
+porters was surprised to see wot a lot o' people was travelling by it.
+So was Ginger.  There was the landlords of 'arf the public-'ouses in
+Wapping, all smoking big cigars; two dock policemen in plain clothes, wot
+'ad got the arternoon off--one with a raging toothache and the other with
+a baby wot wasn't expected to last the day out.  They was as full o' fun
+as kittens, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots pointed out to Ginger
+wot reasonable 'uman beings policemen was at 'art.  Besides them there
+was quite a lot o' sailormen, even skippers and mates, nearly all of 'em
+smoking big cigars, too, and looking at Ginger out of the corner of one
+eye and at the Wapping Basher out of the corner of the other.
+
+"Hit 'ard and hit straight," ses the landlord to Ginger in a low voice,
+as they got out of the train and walked up the road.  "'Ow are you
+feeling?"
+
+"I've got a cold coming on," ses pore Ginger, looking at the Basher, who
+was on in front, "and a splitting 'eadache, and a sharp pain all down my
+left leg.  I don't think----"
+
+"Well, it's a good job it's no worse," ses the land-lord; "all you've got
+to do is to hit 'ard.  If you win it's a 'undered pounds in my pocket,
+and I'll stand you a fiver of it.  D'ye understand?"
+
+They turned down some little streets, several of 'em going diff'rent
+ways, and arter crossing the River Lea got on to the marshes, and, as the
+landlord said, the place might ha' been made for it.
+
+A little chap from Mile End was the referee, and Bill Lumm, 'aving
+peeled, stood looking on while Ginger took 'is things off and slowly and
+carefully folded 'em up.  Then they stepped toward each other, Bill
+taking longer steps than Ginger, and shook 'ands; immediately arter which
+Bill knocked Ginger head over 'eels.
+
+[Illustration: "Bill Lumm, 'aving peeled, stood looking on while Ginger
+took 'is things off."]
+
+"Time!" was called, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was nursing
+Ginger on 'is knee, said that it was nothing at all, and that bleeding at
+the nose was a sign of 'ealth.  But as it happened Ginger was that mad 'e
+didn't want any encouragement, he on'y wanted to kill Bill Lumm.
+
+He got two or three taps in the next round which made his 'ead ring, and
+then he got 'ome on the mark and follered it up by a left-'anded punch on
+Bill's jaw that surprised 'em both--Bill because he didn't think Ginger
+could hit so 'ard, and Ginger because 'e didn't think that prize-fighters
+'ad any feelings.
+
+They clinched and fell that round, and the land-lord patted Ginger on the
+back and said that if he ever 'ad a son he 'oped he'd grow up like 'im.
+
+Ginger was surprised at the way 'e was getting on, and so was old Sam and
+Peter Russet, and when Ginger knocked Bill down in the sixth round Sam
+went as pale as death.  Ginger was getting marked all over, but he stuck,
+to 'is man, and the two dock policemen, wot 'ad put their money on Bill
+Lumm, began to talk of their dooty, and say as 'ow the fight ought to be
+stopped.
+
+At the tenth round Bill couldn't see out of 'is eyes, and kept wasting
+'is strength on the empty air, and once on the referee.  Ginger watched
+'is opportunity, and at last, with a terrific smash on the point o'
+Bill's jaw, knocked 'im down and then looked round for the landlord's
+knee.
+
+Bill made a game try to get up when "Time!"  was called, but couldn't;
+and the referee, who was 'olding a 'andkerchief to 'is nose, gave the
+fight to Ginger.
+
+It was the proudest moment o' Ginger Dick's life.  He sat there like a
+king, smiling 'orribly, and Sam's voice as he paid 'is losings sounded to
+'im like music, in spite o' the words the old man see fit to use.  It was
+so 'ard to get Peter Russet's money that it a'most looked as though there
+was going to be another prize-fight, but 'e paid up at last and went off,
+arter fust telling Ginger part of wot he thought of 'im.
+
+There was a lot o' quarrelling, but the bets was all settled at last, and
+the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was in 'igh feather with the money
+he'd won, gave Ginger the five pounds he'd promised and took him 'ome in
+a cab.
+
+"You done well, my lad," he ses.  "No, don't smile.  It looks as though
+your 'ead's coming off."
+
+"I 'ope you'll tell Miss Tucker 'ow I fought," ses Ginger.
+
+"I will, my lad," ses the landlord; "but you'd better not see 'er for
+some time, for both your sakes."
+
+"I was thinking of 'aving a day or two in bed," ses Ginger.
+
+"Best thing you can do," ses the landlord; "and mind, don't you ever
+fight Bill Lumm agin.  Keep out of 'is way."
+
+"Why?  I beat 'im once, an' I can beat 'im agin," ses Ginger, offended.
+
+"Beat 'im?" ses the landlord.  He took 'is cigar out of 'is mouth as
+though 'e was going to speak, and then put it back agin and looked out
+of the window.
+
+"Yes, beat 'im," ses Ginger'.  "You was there and saw it."
+
+"He lost the fight a-purpose," ses the landlord, whispering.  "Miss
+Tucker found out that you wasn't a prize-fighter--leastways, I did for
+'er--and she told Bill that, if 'e loved 'er so much that he'd 'ave 'is
+sinful pride took down by letting you beat 'im, she'd think diff'rent of
+'im.  Why, 'e could 'ave settled you in a minute if he'd liked.  He was
+on'y playing with you."
+
+Ginger stared at 'im as if 'e couldn't believe 'is eyes.  "Playing?"  he
+ses, feeling 'is face very gently with the tips of his fingers.
+
+"Yes," ses the landlord; "and if he ever hits you agin you'll know I'm
+speaking the truth."
+
+Ginger sat back all of a heap and tried to think.  "Is Miss Tucker going
+to keep company with 'im agin, then?"  he ses, in a faint voice.
+
+"No," ses the landlord; "you can make your mind easy on that point."
+
+"Well, then, if I walk out with 'er I shall 'ave to fight Bill all over
+agin," ses Ginger.
+
+The landlord turned to 'im and patted 'im on the shoulder.  "Don't you
+take up your troubles afore they come, my lad," he ses, kindly; "and mind
+and keep wot I've told you dark, for all our sakes."
+
+He put 'im down at the door of 'is lodgings and, arter shaking 'ands with
+'im, gave the landlady a shilling and told 'er to get some beefsteak and
+put on 'is face, and went home.  Ginger went straight off to bed, and the
+way he carried on when the landlady fried the steak afore bringing it up
+showed 'ow upset he was.
+
+[Illustration: "The way he carried on when the landlady fried the steak
+showed 'ow upset he was."]
+
+It was over a week afore he felt 'e could risk letting Miss Tucker see
+'im, and then at seven o'clock one evening he felt 'e couldn't wait any
+longer, and arter spending an hour cleaning 'imself he started out for
+the Jolly Pilots.
+
+He felt so 'appy at the idea o' seeing her agin that 'e forgot all about
+Bill Lumm, and it gave 'im quite a shock when 'e saw 'im standing outside
+the Pilots.  Bill took his 'ands out of 'is pockets when he saw 'im and
+came toward 'im.
+
+"It's no good to-night, mate," he ses; and to Ginger's great surprise
+shook 'ands with 'im.
+
+"No good?" ses Ginger, staring.
+
+"No," ses Bill; "he's in the little back-parlour, like a whelk in 'is
+shell; but we'll 'ave 'im sooner or later."
+
+"Him?  Who?"  ses Ginger, more puzzled than ever.
+
+"Who?" ses Bill; "why, Webson, the landlord.  You don't mean to tell me
+you ain't heard about it?"
+
+"Heard wot?" ses Ginger.  "I haven't 'card any-thing.  I've been indoors
+with a bad cold all the week."
+
+"Webson and Julia Tucker was married at eleven o'clock yesterday
+morning," ses Bill Lumm, in a hoarse voice.  "When I think of the way
+I've been done, and wot I've suffered, I feel 'arf crazy.  He won a
+'undered pounds through me, and then got the gal I let myself be
+disgraced for.  I 'ad an idea some time ago that he'd got 'is eye on
+her."
+
+Ginger Dick didn't answer 'im a word.  He staggered back and braced
+'imself up agin the wall for a bit, and arter staring at Bill Lumm in a
+wild way for pretty near three minutes he crawled back to 'is lodgings
+and went straight to bed agin.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Third String, by W.W. Jacobs
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