Page:In the Roar of the Sea.djvu/264

256 pickings before now on shore and off wrecks, and has not given up the practice."

"But," said Mr. Mules, "do you mean to tell me that you people in this benighted corner of the world live like sharks, upon whatever is cast overboard?"

"No, I do not," answered Scantlebray. "We have too much energy and intelligence for that. We don't always wait till it is cast overboard, we go aboard and take what we want."

"What, steal!"

"I don't call that stealing when Providence and a south-west wind throws a ship into our laps, when we put in our fingers and pick out the articles we want. What are Porth-quin and Hayle Bay but our laps, in which lie the wrecks heaven sends us? And Doom Bar, what is that but a counter on which the good things are spread, and those first there get the first share?"

"And pray," said Mr. Desiderius Mules, "have the owners of the vessels, the passengers, the captains, no objections to make?"

"They are not there. Don't wait for our people. If they do—so much the worse for them." Then Scantlebray laughed. "There's a good story told of the Zenobia, lost four years ago. There was a lady on board. When she knew the vessel was on Doom Bar she put on all her jewelry, to escape with it. But some of our people got to the wreck before she got off it, and one lobe of her ears got torn off."

"Torn off?"

"Yes—in pulling the ear-rings off her."

"But who pulled the ear-rings off her?"

"Our people."

"Gracious heavens! Were they not brought to justice?"

"Who did it? no one knew. What became of the jewelry? no one knew. All that was known was that Lady Knighton—that was her name—lost her diamonds and the lobe of her right ear as well."

"And it was never recovered?"

"What! the lobe of her ear?"

"No, the jewelry."

"Never."

"Upon my word I have got among a parcel of scoundrels. It is high time that I should come and reform