I think, for my part, he might
have increased the offer to a whole one, or perhaps a pair of them,
and not lived to regret his liberality. But the Devonian refused.
'No,' he said, 'you're a stowaway like me; I won't take it from you,
I'll take it from some one who's not down on his luck.'
It was notable in this generous lad that he was strongly under the
influence of sex. If a woman passed near where he was working, his
eyes lit up, his hand paused, and his mind wandered instantly to
other thoughts. It was natural that he should exercise a fascination
proportionally strong upon women. He begged, you will remember, from
women only, and was never refused. Without wishing to explain away
the charity of those who helped him, I cannot but fancy he may have
owed a little to his handsome face, and to that quick, responsive
nature, formed for love, which speaks eloquently through all
disguises, and can stamp an impression in ten minutes' talk or an
exchange of glances. He was the more dangerous in that he was far
from bold, but seemed to woo in spite of himself, and with a soft and
pleading eye. Ragged as he was, and many a scarecrow is in that
respect more comfortably furnished, even on board he was not without
some curious admirers.
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