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Gaskin was the first man who came in reach of the wrathful American. Madden caught his arm, whirled him about. "You ladle rum out to these hogs?" he blazed. Gaskin revolved with dignity and considered his accuser. "You wouldn't think Hi'd do such a thing, sor!" "Then how did they get it?" Leonard shook the fat arm sharply. "In spite o' me, sor!
Perhaps he owed this freedom from the sort of professional make-up which penetrates skin, tones and gestures and defies all drapery, to the fact that he had once been Captain Gaskin, having taken orders and a diphthong but shortly before his engagement to Miss Armyn.
The men were drunk and he would have to wait till they became sober before making an attempt to run the Vulcan. He stood a moment, staring disgustedly at his useless crew, then finally stooped and dragged Gaskin to the shady side of the superstructure. As he passed with his burden some of the men made clumsy tangle-footed efforts to salute.
The cook changed almost imperceptibly from a straw colored bottle to a glittering carafe of water; then he moved to Caradoc. The Englishman hesitated a moment, glanced at Madden and said, "Same thing, Gaskin." Captain Ames must have observed his action, and showed his silent approval by requesting water for himself. A few moments later the captain arose.
"A A sea sorpint, sir," stammered a cockney embarrassed. "Sea serpent! Sea serpent!" scouted the American. "There is no such thing as a sea serpent!" "That's w'ot th' hofficers always say," growled Mulcher. "But it is a scientific fact there's no such thing." The well-fed Gaskin, who formed one of the group, made a bob.
"Aye, an w'ot come of th' Vulcan's crew?" "Could a sea serpent put out a sea anchor?" retorted Leonard. The men stared doggedly at their chief. "We don't know, sor." "You do know that it is impossible!" "If there ain't no such thing, sor, 'ow do we know w'ot it can do?" questioned Gaskin. "Then do you want to go back and stay on the dock and starve?" cried Madden at the end of his patience.
I was fightin' and blockin', fightin' and blockin', like a d-demon, sor, b-but b-but " Here Gaskin's utterance grew thicker, his fat head bobbed, then he slithered down by the rail in the hot sunshine; his face stared skyward and stewed sweat in the terrific heat. Madden gave a grunt of disgust. Gaskin was fast asleep. There was nothing to be done.
The Vulcan would be sunk. He must rush the men out of the galley into the small boat. He must race back to the dock. The dock apparently was safe. What the startling apparition was, he had no time to speculate. When he touched the deck he sprinted for the cabin. As he passed Gaskin the light vanished as mysteriously as it had appeared, and left the tug in inky darkness.
He was clothed with tatters of old ship's canvas and old sea-cloth, and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings, brass buttons, bits of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement. "Three years!" I cried.
He was clothed with tatters of old ships' canvas and old sea-cloth, and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings, brass buttons, bits of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accouterment. "Three years!" I cried.
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