E-text prepared by Lionel Sear

HOCKEN AND HUNKEN

A Tale of Troy

Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch ('Q')

CONTENTS.

BOOK I

CHAPTER

I. CAPTAIN CAI HAULS ASHORE.

II. THE BARBER'S CHAIR.

III. TABB'S CHILD.

IV. VOICES IN THE TWILIGHT.

V. A TESTIMONIAL.

VI. RILLA FARM.

VII. 'BIAS ARRIVES.

VIII. 'BIAS APPROVES.

BOOK II

IX. FIRST SUSPICIONS.

X. REGATTA NIGHT.

XI. MRS BOSENNA PLAYS A PARLOUR GAME.

XII. AMANTIUM IRAE.

XIII. FAIR CHALLENGE.

XIV. THE LETTERS.

XV. PALMERSTON'S GENIUS.

XVI. IS IN TWO PARTS.

XVII. APPARENTLY DIVIDES INTO THREE.

BOOK III

XVIII. THE PLOUGHING.

XIX. ROSES AND THREE-PER-CENTS.

XX. A NEWSPAPER PARAGRAPH.

XXI. THE AUCTION.

XXII. THE LAST CHALLENGE.

XXIII. PASSAGE REGATTA.

XXIV. FANCY BRINGS NEWS.

XXV. CAI RENOUNCES.

XXVI. 'BIAS RENOUNCES.

XXVII. MRS BOSENNA GIVES THE ROSE.

XXVIII. JUBILEE.

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.

CAPTAIN CAI HAULS ASHORE.

"Well, that's over!"

Captain Caius Hocken, from the stern-sheets of the boat bearing himshoreward, slewed himself half-about for a look back at his vessel, theHannah Hoo barquentine. This was a ticklish operation, because hewore a tall silk hat and had allowed his hair to grow during the passagehome—St. Michael's to Liverpool with a cargo of oranges, and fromLiverpool around to Troy in charge of a tug.

"I'm wonderin' what 'twill feel like when it comes to my turn," musedhis mate Mr Tregaskis, likewise pensively contemplating the HannahHoo. "Not to be sure, sir, as I'd compare the two cases; me bein' amarried man, and you—as they say—with the ship for wife all theseyears, and children too."

"I never liked the life, notwithstandin'," confessed the Captain.
"And I'll be fifty come Michaelmas. Isn' that enough?"

"Nobody likes it, sir; not at our age. But all the same I reckon therebe compensations." Mr Tregaskis, shading his eyes (for the day wassunny), let his gaze travel up the spars and rigging of theBarquentine—up to the truck of her maintopmast, where a gull hadperched itself and stood with tail pointing like a vane. "If the truthwere known, maybe your landsman on an average don't do as he chooses anymore than we mariners."

"Tut, man!" The Captain, who held the tiller, had ceased to look aft.His eyes were on the quay and the small town climbing the hillside aboveit in tier upon tier of huddled grey houses. "Why, damme!Your landsman chooses to live ashore, to begin with. What's more, hecan walk where he has a mind to, no matter where the wind sits."

Mr Tregaskis shook his head. Havin

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