Chapter 1. ON THE LOOK OUT

Inthesetimesofours,thoughconcerningtheexactyearthereisnoneedtobeprecise,aboatofdirtyanddisreputableappearance,withtwofiguresinit,floatedontheThames,betweenSouthwarkbridgewhichisofiron,andLondonBridgewhichisofstone,asanautumneveningwasclosingin. Thefiguresinthisboatwerethoseofastrongmanwithraggedgrizzledhairandasun-brownedface,andadarkgirlofnineteenortwenty,sufficientlylikehimtoberecognizableashisdaughter.Thegirlrowed,pullingapairofscullsveryeasilytheman,withtherudder-linesslackinhishands,andhishandslooseinhiswaistband,keptaneagerlookout.Hehadnonet,hook,orline,andhecouldnotbeafishermanhisboathadnocushionforasitter,nopaint,noinscription,noappliancebeyondarustyboathookandacoilofrope,andhecouldnotbeawatermanhisboatwastoocrazyandtoosmalltotakeincargofordelivery,andhecouldnotbealightermanorriver-carriertherewasnocluetowhathelookedfor,buthelookedforsomething,withamostintentandsearchinggaze.Thetide,whichhadturnedanhourbefore,wasrunningdown,andhiseyeswatchedeverylittleraceandeddyinitsbroadsweep,astheboatmadeslighthead-wayagainstit,ordrovesternforemostbeforeit,accordingashedirectedhisdaughterbyamovementofhishead.Shewatchedhisfaceasearnestlyashewatchedtheriver.But,intheintensityofherlooktherewasatouchofdreadorhorror. Alliedtothebottomoftheriverratherthanthesurface,byreasonoftheslimeandoozewithwhichitwascovered,anditssoddenstate,thisboatandthetwofiguresinitobviouslyweredoingsomethingthattheyoftendid,andwereseekingwhattheyoftensought.Halfsavageasthemanshowed,withnocoveringonhismattedhead,withhisbrownarmsbaretobetweentheelbowandtheshoulder,withthelooseknotofalooserkerchieflyinglowonhisbarebreastinawildernessofbeardandwhisker,withsuchdressas