a24J ALONGSHORE iv 



into an argument upon the probable course of 

 the body in the sea; for a corpse known to be 

 driving alongshore is rather like a reputed ghost 

 in a neighbourhood; it does not so much frighten 

 men as make them conscious that everyday life Is 

 not everything, 



'So thee's found his clothes, Benjie. . . . 

 How's come to go down there then?' 



'Why, they sent an' asked me to go down an' 

 look, didn' 'em? They know'd where he was 

 gone to an' they know'd he wasn't come back.' 



'Asked you, I s'pose, 'cause you've a-found 

 drownded people before an' brought 'em back. 

 That's a thing I an't never done, an' I don' know 

 as I should like to nuther.' 



'Benjie has the luck. They gives he fust 

 chance o' earning the Board o' Trade five 

 shillings. . . .' 



'Hell about your five shillings ! I'd sooner 

 gie they five than that anybody should be 

 drownded. If thee casn't do thee best for the 

 dead wi'out five shillings, 'tis a poor look-out, 

 I say. Where there's any one drownded there's 

 sorrow, an' so it continues till they'm found an' 

 put underneath decent an' done with. I an't 

 always had the five bob. . . ,' 



