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And let all the bruising bosuns and bucko ship's officers afloat jump on me, but give me that and I'll take a chance. And " He stopped short and sighed. "I do get going sometimes, don't I?" He looked around the deck. In a bucket of water by the rail the bosun was bathing his battered features. "The bosun reminds me. To-day I promised him I'd finish my Flying Walrus song."
It was plain to me that the pair of them, spineless and spunkless, were afraid of the men they were supposed to boss. And the men! Dore could never have conjured a more delectable hell's broth. For the first time I saw them all, and I could not blame the two bosuns for being afraid of them. They did not walk. They slouched and shambled, some even tottered, as from weakness or drink.
And there were eight boys, an' bosuns that was bosuns, an' sail-makers an' carpenters an' stewards an' passengers to jam the decks. An' three driving mates of us, an' Captain Brown, the Little Wonder. He didn't weigh a hundredweight, an' he drove us he drove us, three drivin' mates that learned from him what drivin' was. "It was knock down and drag out from the start.
"I was once on a voyage on a tramp steamer loaded with four hundred Chinks I beg your pardon, sir Chinese. They were coolies, contract labourers, coming back from serving their time. "And the cholera broke out. We hove over three hundred of them overboard, sir, along with both bosuns, most of the Lascar crew, and the captain, the mate, the third mate, and the first and third engineers.
Get a brick out of the galley, and I'll make you a bosun without pay. You two will make those tarriers work. Come aft to the wheel, the pair of you. Mr. Baker" this to the man coiling ropes, who dropped his task and followed "Mr. Baker," said the captain, "and Mr. Sharp" he turned to the man at the wheel "these two men have some influence over the crew, and I've made them acting bosuns.
They did not seem to know the ropes. Time and again, when the half-hearted suggestions of the bosuns had been of no avail, I saw one or the other of the mates leap to the rail and put the right rope in the hands of the men. These, on the deck, I concluded, were the hopeless ones.
The two bosuns are in fear of their lives with this clique, which is growing; for Steve Roberts, the ex-cowboy, and the white-slaver, Arthur Deacon, have been admitted to it. I am the only one aft who possesses this information, and I confess I don't know what to do with it. I know that Mr. Pike would tell me to mind my own business. Mr. Mellaire is out of the question.
Pike paused to snort in my ear. "This ain't the place for an officer down here pulling and hauling. But what can you do when the bosuns are worse than the men?" "I thought sailors sang songs when they pulled," I said. "Sure they do. Want to hear 'em?" I knew there was malice of some sort in his voice, but I answered that I'd like to very much. "Here, you bosun!" Mr. Pike snarled. "Wake up!
The forecastle now seemed empty, but the mate turned on the bosuns with his customary snarl. "What in hell are you doing? Sleeping? Think this is a rest cure? Get in there an' rustle 'em out!" Sundry Buyers pressed his abdomen gingerly and hesitated, while Nancy, his face one dogged, long-suffering bleakness, reluctantly entered the forecastle.
Narrow-shouldered, sunken-chested, with cheeks cavernously hollow, he looked like a man in the last stages of consumption. Little life as Sundry Buyers showed, Nancy showed even less life. And these were bosuns! bosuns of the fine American sailing-ship Elsinore! Never had any illusion of mine taken a more distressing cropper.
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