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Fortunately, there was no knife used in the fray, beyond the one which Moody had so unceremoniously dropped, and thus further bloodshed was prevented; but some hard knocks were given and received, and the party from the poop did not come off scathless, Mr Lathrope having his rather long nose somewhat flattened and almost turned to one side by a blow from the sledge-hammer fist of one of the mutineers.
So strenuous was the play that eight substitutions had been made on our team, but with less than five minutes to play we started a furious drive for the goal line from the middle of the field, and with McClave, Mattis and Lathrope carrying the ball we went to Yale's 25-yard line in quick time. "With only about a minute to play it was decided to try a goal from the field.
"My crickey!" ejaculated the American, emitting a shrill whistle of astonishment at the naive assertion. "Then what, in the name of George Washington and Abe Lincoln rolled into one, air you, sir-ree!" "I'se a 'spectable collud genlemun," replied the darkey pompously. "I guess you'll do," said Mr Lathrope laughing. "Jest hear that, now!
"Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said. "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
Eight bells had just been struck in the morning watch; and the passengers were just preparing for breakfast that is, such as were late risers, like Mrs Major Negus and Mr Lathrope, neither of whom turned out earlier than was necessary.
"Bully for you, cap'en!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who with the others of the rescued party was on deck, not liking the rather fusty odour of the schooner's cabin which, to do justice to Mrs Major Negus, did smell most abominably of seal-oil, and even worse scents!
"Disgusting!" ejaculated Mrs Major Negus, raising her nose in the air with an expression of intense scorn. "I for one, sir, will never descend to adopt Chinese fashions and live on rats and mice, whatever you may have learnt to do in your travels." "Pray, do not alarm yourself," interposed Mr Meldrum, laughing. "Can't you see that Mr Lathrope is only joking!
Karl Ericksen had managed to rummage out a harpoon one day amongst the odds and ends in the forecastle of the Nancy Bell, and the sailor having been familiar with its use from long whaling experience, had not forgotten to bring it ashore when they abandoned the wreck looking upon the weapon with almost as much veneration as Mr Lathrope regarded the rifle he had inherited from the celebrated Colonel Crockett.
"That's a bargain, mister," said Mr Lathrope; "though I guess you'll gain by the swop." "Sure and it sames to me you're both countin' your chickens afore they're hatched," observed the first-mate with a huge grin at his own joke. "You're not far wrong, Mr McCarthy," said Mr Meldrum.
"No wonder," retorted the lady, eager to have the last word, "when you're at it all day long, smoking your brains out with that vile tobacco!" "What were you going to say about the provisions, papa?" interposed Kate at this juncture, in order to give a turn to the conversation, which seemed to be getting a trifle too personal between Mr Lathrope and "the Major."
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