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Updated: June 29, 2025
"I was goin' to say that this yarn tells of what happened long before you an' me was born; so we can't be wery sure on it you know." "Why not?" interrupted Ned Spivin. "The battle o' Trafalgar happened long before you an' me was born; so did the battle o' Waterloo, yet we're sure enough about them, ain't we?"
Before he could understand the joke the bottom of the bag opened, the ton-and-a-half, more or less, of fish burst forth, spread itself over the deck like an avalanche, swept Billy off his little legs, and almost overwhelmed him, to the immense delight of Spivin, who impudently bent down and offered to help him to rise.
"Ah, that's true," said Ned Spivin, checking a lump of salt beef on the end of his clasp-knife half way to his mouth; "did I ever tell 'ee, lads, that little hanecdote about a man we called Glutton, he was such an awful eater?" "No, never heard on it," said several voices. "Well, then, this is 'ow it was," said Spivin, clearing his voice.
One of the tails being tough, and the knife blunt, the impatient man used violence. Impatience and violence not unfrequently result in damage. The tail gave way unexpectedly, and Spivin cut a deep gash in his left hand. Cuts, gashes, and bruises are the frequent experience of smacksmen. Spivin bound up the gash with a handkerchief, and went on with his work.
To the mate's remark the skipper said "humph," and Gunter said that he was the unluckiest fellow that ever went to sea. "You're always growling, Jack," said Ned Spivin, who was fond of chaffing his mates; "they should have named you Grunter when they were at it." "I only wish the Coper was alon'side," said the skipper, "but she's always out of the way when she's wanted. Who saw her last?"
The idea of anybody deriving comfort from a sight of him so tickled Gunter that he only replied with a sarcastic laugh, nevertheless he followed his mate sulkily and, as it were, under protest. On entering the humble dwelling they found Spivin, Trevor, and Zulu already there. Mrs Bright arose with tearful eyes to welcome the new guests. Billy rose with her.
Unknown to all the world, save himself, John Gunter was at that time in a peculiarly unhappy state of mind. His condition was outwardly manifested in the form of additional surliness. "You're like a bear with a sore head," Spivin had said to him when in the boat on the way to the service. "More like a black-face baboon wid de cholera," said Zulu.
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