When we were free of the publican, I told Grandfather Nat that I had seen Mrs. Grimes in the bar. He made so indifferent a reply that I said nothing of the conversation I had overheard; for indeed I knew nothing of its significance. And so we went about our business. CHAPTER XXVI STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship. We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry. So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps. The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him. "Well," said my grandfather gruffly, "house on fire?" "No, sir--no. But I thought----" "Sign done?" "No, Cap'en, not done exactly. But I just got curious noos, an' so I come to meet you." "What's the news?" "Not p'raps exactly as you might say noos, sir, but information--information that's been transpired to me this mornin'. More or less unique information, so to say,--uncommon unique; much uniquer than usual." With these repetitions Mr. Cripps looked hard in my grandfather's eyes, as one does who wishes to break news, or lead up to a painful subject. "What's it all about?" asked Grandfather Nat. "The _Juno_." "Well?" "She _was_ scuttled wilful, Cap'en Kemp, scuttled wilful by Beecher. It's more'n rumour or scandal: it's plain evidence." My grandfather looked fixedly at Mr. Cripps. "What's the plain evidence?" he asked. "That chap that's been so much in the bar lately," Mr. Cripps answered, his eyes wide with the importance of his discovery. "The chap that soaks so heavy, an' shouts at any one you order out. He was aboard the _Juno_ on the voyage out, an' he deserted at Monte Video to a homeward bound ship." "Then he doesn't know about the wreck." I thought my grandfather made this objection almost eagerly. "No, Cap'en; but he deserted 'cos he said he preferred bein' on a ship as was meant to come back, an' one as had some grub aboard--him an' others. Beecher tried to pile 'em up time an' again; an' says the chap--Conolly's his name--says he, anything as went wrong aboard the _Juno_ was Beecher's doin'; which was prophesied in the fo'c'sle a score o' times 'fore she got to Monte Video. An'--an' Conolly said more." Mr. Cripps stole another sidelong glance at Grandfather Nat. "Confidential to me this mornin', Conolly said more." "What?"