IV FLARES SIGHTED 237 



hisself go. They talks about incn Icttinij; their- 

 selves go, an' so they might; T tell 'ee it costis 

 money not to let yourself go, an' ol' Bare-knees 

 hadn't got none. But I took partic'lar notice, 

 if you asted 'en how he was, by way o' speaking, 

 he'd answer, "Better, better" ; an' sometimes he'd 

 look 'ee in the face an' say, "Don' 'ee think so?" 



'One night when Jack Ruccombe an' me was 

 keeping o'it up — us hadn't gone to sea thic night 

 'cause our nets was over to the bark-house — 

 Harry Drake, him what's a fisherman but don't 

 never trouble hisself to do nort 'less he can pick it 

 up quick an' easy, his wife being a nurse — Harry 

 Drake an' ol' Bare-knees comes an' fetches me an' 

 Jack out o' the "Beacon Light." 



'"Lookse!" says Harry, pointing out to sea. 

 "One o' the drifters have been burning flares. 

 Can't be nort wrong wi' 'em, nice fine night like 

 this here. They've a-got a load o' herrings an' 

 wants help. Can't take in all their nets, that's what 

 'tis. Thee's better go out to 'em. Come on!" 



"Twas Harry said that, but I reckon 'twas 

 Bare-knees put 'en up to it. Fine chance for he. 

 Harry wouldn' ha' troubled hisself. Too much 

 rowing for he. 



'Well, us hauled the seine out o' the seine- 



