Deep Waters, the Entire Collection

The William Wymark Jacobs was an English author of short stories and novels. Asailorman — said the night-watch- man, musingly — a sailorman is like a fish, he is safest when he is at sea. When a fish comes ashore it is in for trouble, and so is a sailorman. One poor chap I knew hardily ever came ashore without getting married; and when he was found out there was no less than six women in the court all taking away his character at once. And when he spoke up about Solomon the magistrate pretty near bit his head off. Then look at the trouble they get in with their money! They come ashore from a long trip, smelling of it almost, and they go from port to port like a lord. Everybody has got their eye on that money — everybody except the sailorman, that is — and afore he knows wot's happened, and who has got it, he's looking.