human
Blame yourself. If you had kept clean hands, you might have stuck to us to the end; as it was, you would have swung the lot of us in another month. No man can accuse me of spilling blood--nor poor Hickey either, for that matter; but you--I could dangle you to-morrow! Remember that, Jem Pound; and go on.
gpt
I'll remember a bit more--you'll see! returned Pound with a stifled gasp. He was silent for the next minute; then added in the tone of one who bides his time to laugh last and loudest:
human
Go on? Right! Well, then, after a long time I showed my nose in a town, and no harm came of it.
gpt
What town?
human
Townsville.
gpt
Why Townsville?
human
Your good lady was there; I knew she would give me--well, call it assistance.
gpt
That was clever of you,
human
I wanted a ship, Pound continued;
gpt
Committing another murder! By heaven, I wish I had had the chance!
human
Then, if I'd started the hue and cry, it would have meant killing the golden goose--and most likely me with it. I thought of something better: I saw you drop down into the hold--there was too much risk in showing your money for a passage or trying for a fo'c'stle berth; the boat was to sail at daylight. I rushed to your wife and told her; but her cottage was three miles out of the town, worse luck to it! and when I got her to the quay, you were under way and nearly out of sight--half-an-hour late in sailing, and you'd have had a friend among the passengers!
gpt
And what then?
human
Why, then your wife was mad! I soothed her: she told me that she had some money, and I told her if she gave me some of it I might still catch you for her. I showed her how the mail from Sydney, by changing at Brindisi, would land one in England before the Queensland boat. I knew it was an off-chance whether you ever meant to reach England at all, or whether you'd succeed if you tried; but, said Pound, lowering his voice unaccountably,
gpt
I was keen to be quit of the country myself. Here was my chance, and I took it; your wife shelled out, and I lost no time.