THE CALL OF THE SEA 9 



seemed to carry the gloom of his shop about with 

 him. His long features were full of shadows, 

 and his sad eyes seemed always ready to burst 

 into tears at the sad fate which lay in store for 

 the herrings he sold. Mr. Saunderson, in spite 

 of his melancholy appearance, possessed one 

 abiding love ; he loved, or rather he adored, beer 

 and rum. Several times a day he went across to 

 the neighbouring inn, which bore the alluring 

 sign of the "Cod and Lobster." Here he gave 

 full rein to his passion, and it frequently hap- 

 pened that, towards evening, Mr. Saunderson 

 cut off a slice of bacon instead of the quarter of 

 cheese asked for by his customers. 



Life was not always bright for Mr. William 

 Saunderson's only apprentice. He slept under 

 the counter, sharing his bed with blackbeetles, 

 cockchafers and mice. He rose in the morning 

 at five o'clock, swept, cleaned, washed and 

 scrubbed. At seven o'clock he had his breakfast, 

 consisting of a tankard of beer, a slice of bread 

 and a rasher of bacon. Then all day he was on 

 his feet, ready to serve customers or run errands. 

 At the slightest mistake Mr. Saunderson with- 

 drew from under the till a formidable stick, and, 

 taking down his apprentice's trousers, adminis- 

 tered several smart blows upon the plumper part 

 of his body. He never gave a word of praise. 



