io8 ALONGSHORE n 



her calls, "Walk home quick, Pearnle." Her 

 wouldn't have none aboard for to help sail the 

 boat but her an' Dan'I. Blowing north-easterly, 

 'twas, an' squally. From the top o' Steep Head I 

 watched 'em beating home, sitting together in the 

 starn. Wi' my own eyes I saw a squall catch 'em 

 off Ware Head, an' the Ruth go over. I saw 

 it, I say — you knows how gently a boat fills an 

 capsizes to them what's looking on, 



'When they picked Dan'I up there was nothing 

 to be seen o' Ruth; an' nothing was seen o' her 

 until six days afterwards Dan'l's little boy by his 

 first wife runs in house, saying, "Daddy Biscoe, 

 the pigs be eating my Ruth." 



'"What, cheel?" says Dan'l's mother. 



'But Dan'I, who was up to bed, 'cause he 

 couldn't sleep nohow by night — Dan'I heard, an' 

 Dan'I know'd. "God!" he shouts, running from 

 his bed just as he was. Down to beach he goes, 

 an' there he finds his bride wi' the pigs fighting — 

 fighting for possession o' her. Aye! an' they 

 followed 'en right up street, grunting an' snorting 

 to his very door, as he carried her home to his 

 house. 



'That was the Bride's Return. What do 'ee 

 think o' it, you ?' 



