Vanderdecken
“You’re pretty keen after it all the same, Hank,” said George laughing.

“Yep. When I’m chasing it, but I’m not42 chasing it now, I’m chasing the Dutchman. I’m not thinking of the twenty-five thousand, I’m thinking of the Dutchman. It’s a game and I don’t want money to help me. Why, I’d blush to be helped by money in chasing a man, unless he’d done me some wrong. When I get this fellow by the scruff, I wanta say to myself, ‘Hank, you took this man by the work of your own hands and your own head, and against odds. He had as good chances as you, and you didn’t shoot him sitting.’ If you don’t take me, Bud, then we don’t understand each other and I’ll leave you to that gink with the whiskers and your millionaire ways and start off on my lonesome.”

42

“We understand each other,” said George, ringing the bell. “I’m not afraid of a bit of work with my hands. Farintosh.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Send round the car.”

In the hall, as they passed out to the car, Hank picked up a bundle he had brought with him.

“What’s in that?” asked George.

“Overalls,” said Hank.

They drew up in Malcolm Street close to the wharves.

“Take her back,” said George to the chauffeur, “and tell Farintosh to come along at half-past twelve with enough sandwiches for two and a bottle of—Oh, damn—two bottles of lemonade. You can drink lemonade, Hank?”

“Sure.”

43

43

“Tell him he’ll find me in the yacht that’s moored at Sullivan’s wharf. It’s close to this place, he can’t mistake.”

The car drove off, and they started for the water side, Hank carrying the bundle.


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