United States or Cuba ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
So he took the captain's spy-glass, a cumbersome, old-fashioned tube, and went on the poop deck to look the island over. But the only living thing in sight was Dinshaw, busy scooping up sand with his hands, and building what appeared to be sand forts.
Dinshaw was standing at the port bulwark abreast of the mainmast, gazing out over the sea in a reflective way, and looking quite forlorn and chastened. The crew, in skylarking style, were drawing water over the side with buckets and throwing it down the deck from forward, so that Dinshaw frequently had to pull himself up on the bulwark to avoid having his feet wet.
"It's all clear in my head, sir I git kind o' dreamy, sir." "All right," said Locke. "You'd better go down and keep out of the sun. It's all right this time, but you know we must not have a division of authority. Captain Jarrow is master." "Very good, sir." And Dinshaw, somewhat crestfallen, went below. "I merely wanted to take a hand in things," said Locke.
But I ain't goin' back with my bar' hands, for Dinshaw nor the 'Postle Paul, no, suh!" "Oh, you want a gun, eh?" said Trask. "I'll bet you couldn't hit the island from here with a gun." "Show me the gun," said Doc, eagerly. "I was in the army, if yo' all want to know. I got medals, yes, suh!" "All right," said Trask. "Go in and serve breakfast and I'll give you a gun.
"Here," said Trask, passing Dinshaw the glass which the bar-boy brought. "Drink this." "Jarrow said he'd take me," gasped Dinshaw after he had drunk. "Who's Jarrow?" asked Trask. "Oh, he's got a schooner," said Dinshaw. "So your island is full of gold," said Locke, with a skeptical wink for the benefit of Trask and Marjorie. "And you sell pictures of it, eh?" "Aye, gold.
Finally, after a conference with Locke and Marjorie, Trask put before the captain the matter of bringing Dinshaw back. But Jarrow was inclined to be sulky about it. He objected to having "it put up to him to bring the fool aboard," as he expressed it. "None of us will leave the schooner under the circumstances," declared Trask. "But I want the cook," said Jarrow.
"I'm goin' to look into this." "I'll see Hood," persisted Dinshaw. "Luff!" commanded Jarrow, holding out his arms to head Dinshaw off from the door. "You'll see me! You've been usin' me and my schooner long enough, and if there's anything in this yarn of yours, it's mine. Who's this man?" "He's a rich man, and he'll take us," said Dinshaw.
He made jokes and told stories and except for a wicked look now and then at Doc Bird, was very jolly and agreeable, so that he made a decidedly good impression on Locke and Marjorie. But Trask had some doubts of his natural affability and was inclined toward the belief that Jarrow was hardly so angelic as he painted himself. Dinshaw did not appear at table.
Them that sailed with Cap'n Dinshaw had duff twice a week with raisins in it, sir, an' Wes' Injia m'lasses." Marjorie passed Dinshaw a plate of sandwiches and served him with a cup of coffee. Trask drew aside, and Locke followed him. "This is right in your line," said Locke. "I've a mind to investigate it," said Trask. "Heard some talk about it on my way down from Amoy."
They seemed to have an idea that because Peth had come forward, they could show the old captain disrespect. In a way it was all harmless enough, yet Trask felt that neither Peth nor Jarrow should allow such lax discipline. Dinshaw belonged aft, and for that reason to treat him with contumely was a reflection on everybody aft.
Word Of The Day