United States or Uganda ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"There now, you misbemannered Patlander, go and get it, or we'll throw you overboard," cried Scroggles, twisting his long limbs awkwardly as he shifted his position on the windlass. "Now, then, shipmates, don't go for to ax it," said Briant, remaining immovable. "Don't I know wot's best for ye? Let me spaake to ye now. Did any of ye iver study midsin?" "No!" cried several with a laugh.
We cannot say positively that Tim Rokens put the question to Jim Scroggles, but it is certain that Jim Scroggles accepted the question as addressed to him, and answered in reply "'Cause why? I never seed a ghost, an' nobody never seed a ghost, an' I don't b'lieve in what I can't see." Jim said this as if he thought the position incontestable.
Jim had encountered several such before in his walk, but had forced his way through without more serious damage than a rent or two in his shirt and pantaloons, and several severe scratches to his hands and face; but Scroggles had lived a hard life from infancy, and did not mind scratches.
As for the trader, he acted interpreter when the party fell in with negroes, and explained everything that puzzled them, and told them anecdotes without end about the natives and the wild creatures, and the traffic of the regions through which they passed. In short, he made himself generally useful and agreeable. But the man who distinguished himself most on that trip was Jim Scroggles.
"Who's Johnson?" said Scroggles, contemptuously. "Wot, don't ye know who Johnson is?" cried Gurney, in surprise. "In course I don't; how should I?" retorted Scroggles. "There's ever so many Johnsons in the world; which on 'em all do you mean?" "Why, I mean Johnson wot wrote the diksh'nary the great lexikragofer." "Oh, it's him you mean, is it? In course I've knowed him ever since I wos at school."
Seen behind the bars of an iron cage it might, perhaps, have been laughable; but witnessed as it was, in the depths of a lonely forest, it was appalling. Jim Scroggles' knees began to shake. He was fascinated with horror. The huge ape was equally fascinated with terror. It worked its wrinkled visage more violently than ever. Jim trembled all over.
"Oh!" exclaimed Gurney, with a look of horror, "listen to him, messmates, he calls it `soup' the nasty kettle o' dirty water! Well, well, it's lucky we hain't got nothin' better to compare it with." "But, I say, lads," interposed Jim Scroggles, seriously, "wot'll we do if it comes on to blow a gale and blows away all our purvisions?"
From that day forward new thoughts began to occupy her mind, and old ideas presented themselves in different aspects. We would not have the reader suppose, for a moment, that Ailie became an utterly changed creature. To an unobservant eye such as that of Jim Scroggles, for instance she was the same in all respects a few days after as she had been a few hours before the event.
"He won't take it," observed the captain. "Me tink him will," said Bumble. "No go," remarked Nikel Sling sadly. "That was near," said the first mate eagerly, as the bird made a bold swoop down towards the bait, which was skipping over the surface of the water. "No, he's off," cried Mr Markham in despair. "Cotched! or I'm a Dutchman!" shouted. Gurney. "No!" cried Jim Scroggles.
"Now, Rokens, don't be greedy," cried Gurney. "Greedy!" echoed Tim. "Ay, greedy; has any o' you lads got a dickshunairy to lend him? Come, Jim Scroggles, you can tell him what it means you've been to school, I believe, hain't you?" Rokens shook his head gravely. "No, lad, I'm not greedy, but I'm ready for wittles. I won't go fur to deny that. Now, let me ax ye a question.
Word Of The Day