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Updated: June 18, 2025
Then, in a strangely meditative way, as if an unfamiliar process of thought suddenly occupied all his attention, he muttered absently, letting his eyes fall, "Seem like Ah done see dat Kipping befo'; Ah jes' can't put mah finger on him." It was the second time that he had made such a remark in my hearing.
Of one thing I was sure: both Kipping and Mr. Falk heartily disliked me. Kipping took every occasion to annoy me in petty ways, and sometimes I discovered Mr. Falk watching me sharply and ill-naturedly. But he always looked away quickly when he knew that I saw him. We still lacked several days of having been at sea a month when we sighted Madeira, bearing west southwest about ten leagues distant.
Dropping on hands and knees and creeping across the floor, he held the weapon between his even white teeth, sat up on his haunches, and noiselessly drew the bolt that locked the door. Then with a deft motion of an extraordinarily long arm he put out the lantern behind him and threw the galley into darkness. I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
How we discovered that "kipping" place I can't remember. We must have just headed for it, instinctively, as horses head for water or carrier-pigeons head for the home-cote. But it was a night not pleasant to remember. A dozen hoboes were ahead of us on top the boilers, and it was too hot for all of us. To complete our misery, the engineer would not let us stand around down below.
Myself, I'm for slitting the young pup's ears but later on, later on. And though I'd like to straighten out the record as far as it goes Well, as you say." For all of Captain Falk's bluster and pretension, I was becoming more and more aware that the subtle Kipping could twist him around his little finger, and that for some end of his own Kipping did not wish affairs to come yet to a head.
And without ceremony he took from the captain's hand the prayer-book that Falk had brought on deck. Disconcerted by this unexpected act and angered by the murmur of approval from the men, Falk started to speak, then thought better of it and sidled over beside Kipping, to whom he whispered something at which they both laughed heartily.
A queer expression of spite and hatred passed over the man's face, and when he squirmed away from Blodgett's grip I saw that he was muttering to himself as he rubbed his bruised neck. But the others were paying him no attention and he presently folded his arms with an air that continued to trouble me and stood apart from the rest. And Falk and Kipping and all their men now were grinning broadly!
When he appeared, Blodgett had him by the arm to help him. "You sojering, bloody fool," Kipping cried; "do you think I'm so blind I can't see through such tricks as yours?" A murmur of remonstrance came from the men, but Kipping paid no attention to it. "You think, do you, that I ain't on to your slick tricks? Take that." Bill never flinched. "So!" Kipping muttered. "So! Bring him aft."
I now understood some of Kipping's veiled references, and a great contempt for the man who would use the power and security of his office to revenge himself on a fellow seaman who merely had stood up bravely for his rights swept over me. But what could I or the others do? Kipping now was mate, and to strike him would be open mutiny.
By themselves come the road-kids, sporting an infinite variety of monicas. On the water-tank at San Marcial, New Mexico, a dozen years ago, was the following hobo bill of fare: Main-drag fair. Bulls not hostile. Round-house good for kipping. North-bound trains no good. Privates no good. Restaurants good for cooks only. Railroad House good for night-work only.
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