The Skipper's Wooing, and The Brown Man's Servant

of space was packed. Cement, exuded from the cracks, imparted to the hairy faces of honest seamen a ghastly appearance sadly out of keeping wi

d got into his hair and settled in streaks on his hot, good-humored face. The boy had brought aft a wooden bucket filled with fair water, and placed upon the hatch by its side a piece of yellow soa

his own toilet, change the water before the mate was satisfied; after which the latter

ipper, he ate alone. The men, who had also dined, were lounging forward, smoking, a

n a small sorsepan, sir," said the cook

t," said

imes," said the cook, addressing nobody in particular

mate, who was affab

is wet hands on his dirty canvas trousers, dre

hese 'ere last few trips? I told 'im as 'e was goin' ashore as there was sea-pie for dinner, and 'e ses, 'All

out a cloud of smoke and watch

id a stout old seaman who had joined the cook. "Look 'ow 'e's

d by the peaceful aspect of the mate had also drawn near. "I d

said a small but

your age shovin' his spoke in when 'is

my own end of the ship anyway

late. The mate's latent sense of discipl

cigar apiece. All the riffraff o' the foc'sle sitting aft and prattling about the skipper like a parcel o' washerwomen. And smoking, by --! smoking! Well, when the skipper c

amen began to bustle about forward. The small expert who had raised the storm, by no means des

" said the

came tow

saying about the skipp

t cargo he was a

know about it!"

d his leg, but

" repeated the mate in ra

tched the

your superior officer's affairs again

y humbly. "It ain't my

s?" said the mate carele

s the dirtiest hole under the sun and the cook the uncleanest person that ever handled food. He imparted his discoveries to the cook, and after reducing him to a state of perspiring imbecility, turned round and rated the men again. Having charged them

reathing heavily, "I'd thrash yo

ould drown myself," sai

ored his mother, and his mother possessed a tongue which was famed th

where the skipper won't let you 'it the boy

lf all right. You ain't seen me come aboard so drunk that I've tried to get down the foc'sle witho

am, growing purple; "I'

Dick, with whom the matter of th

e, thrusting his head

top any longer," he said politely; "but me

l spindly figure as it backed down the companion-ladder. "I n

It's the best ship I was ever on

in the immensity of the conjecture. "It ain't right t' the boy to let h

ached the cabin, and, leaning against th

nded the latter, plunging

nd looked at t

street in Gravesend,"

I s'pose," said the mate reddeni

come out," s

ned himself, but

when she does com

e inquired, with a trace of anxiety in his voice, as the mate rose from th

ope," was

with hasty tearfulness. "It's the truth. 'E

en gammoning me?" demanded the

for yourself

led expression as a thousand-and-one little eccentricit

sharply; "and mind if I find you've

heedless of the gibes of the crew, began a toilet such as he

ired the cook, whose cur

?" demanded Hen

t," said the cook, wh

?" said Henry elegantly. "I s'pose you think

, unconscious of plagiarism,

d into his jersey. "Keep your eyes open, and don't get into mischief. You can give Slus

ple as they clambered ashore. It was noticed that Henry carried his head very erect, but whether this was

ping his red face with a handkerchie

t hurry," said Henry; "then you'

ame rapid pace they walked on until they reach

e road at the figure of a man slowly pacing up and down. "She's at a li

a house at the other end of the road, the advanced guard of a small comp

approvingly at them as they passed. "Oh, here

tty girl with nice gray eyes and a flush, which might be due to the master of the Seamew-who was fo

ck!" he sai

great attempt at surprise. "Who'

ligent and friendly grin faded slowly from that youth's face and left it expressio

said the latter,

ace which made the mate hot to look at him. "He'll have to loo

oes he only passes and looks at her out of the corner of his eye.

know?" deman

oulder while I'm puttin' thing

regarded his hopeful

r my shoulder too, som

wife," said Henry carelessly, "or your m

my lad," said the mate thic

y, disregarding his future. "'E don't give 'em to 'er

in front of a small beer-shop whose half open door and

inger-beer?" inquired the m

couldn't. I don't mind havi

ment for two, exchanging a pleasant wink with the propriet

after glancing darkly into the depths and nodding to the mate, buried his sma

egarded the offender closely. "So long as it don't turn it red I don't mind,"

er with one hand while he mechanically stroked his moustache with the other.