8 ALONGSHORE i 



garden. In a mood of singularly blind activity 

 (which a little rowing would have righted, had the 

 sea been calm enough), I took over the garden and 

 made a start by planting shallots. After the 

 heavens hadn't rained upon them for a month, 

 I bought a watering-pot out of some money I had 

 earned on a fine day with a boat. The shallots 

 grew! They grew so green and tall (the garden 

 is sheltered from sea-winds) that I was encouraged 

 to plant other vegetables, which grew more dis- 

 cretely. To-day, however, because he can't get to 

 sea, and because these same easterly winds have 

 kept the mackerel out of the bay, the 01' Man 

 is rather low-spirited and critical. 



'Thy shallots be full up wi' weeds,' he said at 

 breakfast. 'Never see'd the like. I've a-know'd 

 thic garden crammed wi' stuff by June.' 



'Well, they'm growing, anyhow.' 



'They weeds '11 draw all the nature out o'em; 

 bound to.' 



'Thee't hae thy pickled shallots all right in 

 due season. 'Tis watering 'em has brought the 

 weeds up.' 



'Aye! watering of 'em when I wanted thee 

 out to beach. Due season 's late hereabout, seems 

 so — like the macker.' 



