Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 3, 1895 - Travels and Excursions, Volume II

THE AMATEUR EMIGUANT
'1 think you will be better at engineering?'
suggested the officer, with a shrewd look.
' No, sir,' says Ahek simply. — ' There 's few can
beat me at a he,' was his engaging commentary to
me as he recounted the affair.
' Have you been to sea ? ' again asked the captain.
' I 've had a trip on a Clyde steamboat, sir, but no
more,' replied the unabashed Ahck.
* Well, we must try and find some work for you,'
concluded the officer.
And hence we behold Alick, clear of the hot
engine-room, lazily scraping paint and now and then
taking a pull upon a sheet. ' You leave me alone,'
was his deduction. ' When I get talking to a man,
I can get round him.'
The other stowaway, whom I will call the
Devonian — it was noticeable that neither of them
told his name — had both been brought up and seen
the world in a much smaller way. His father, a
confectioner, died and was closely followed by his
mother. His sisters had taken, I think, to dress-
making. He himself had returned from sea about a
year ago and gone to hve with his brother, who kept
the ' George Hotel '■ — ' it was not quite a real hotel,'
added the candid fellow — and had a hu-ed man to
mind the horses. At first the Devonian was very
welcome ; but as time went on his brother not un-
naturally grew cool towards him, and he began to
find himself one too many at the ' George Hotel.'
' I don't think brothers care much for you,' he said,
as a general reflection upon hfe. Hurt at this
72