Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 8, 2025
Altogether, what with the airs he gave himself and his selfish disposition and nasty cantankerous temper, Master Spokeshave was not a general favourite on board, although we did not quarrel openly with the little beggar or call him by his nickname when he was present, albeit he was very hard to bear with sometimes!
"There's no row, sir," explained the first mate in an off-hand tone of bravado, which he tried to give a jocular ring to, but could not very successfully. "This youngster Haldane here swears he saw a full-rigged ship on our lee quarter awhile ago, flying a signal of distress; but neither Mr Spokeshave, who was on the watch, nor myself, could make her out where Haldane said he saw her." "Indeed?"
After breakfast Magarth told him what he could not do without, and laid in a bundle an ax, a saw, a spokeshave, an auger, a hammer, nails, and would have added a grindstone had there been any way of carrying it. 'You'll have to come out to us when your ax needs grinding. In a pail he put some flour, peas, and a lump of pork, tying a frying-pan to the handle.
On reaching the main deck I met Spokeshave. He was coming out from the saloon, and from his puffy face and corpulent appearance generally, he looked as if he had been making a haul on the steward's pantry, although he had not long had his dinner and it was a good way off tea time. "Hullo!" he cried out on seeing me. "I say, that chap O'Neil is having a fine go of it playing at doctoring.
Just then there was a call up the voicepipe communicating between the wheel-house on the bridge and the engine-room. The skipper bent his ear to the pipe, listening to what those below had to say, and then came to the top of the ladder. "Below there!" he sang out. "Is Mr Spokeshave anywhere about?" "No, sir," I answered. "He went off duty at eight bells."
Spokeshave must have shouted down the Irishman's throat, for the next instant he poked his head up the hatchway. "Here I am, bedad!" he exclaimed, shoving past Master "Conky," to whom he had a strong dislike, though "Garry," as we all called him, was friendly with every one with whom he was brought in contact, and was, himself, a great favourite with all the hands on board.
I made no reply to this observation, and Mr Fosset then dropped his bantering manner. "Tell me," said he kindly, "is there anything wrong with you below? Has that cross-grained little shrimp, Spokeshave, hang him! been bullying you again, like he did the other day?"
I looked around, but nothing was visible but some willow chips, and a half-formed cricket bat which Dicksee was making, by the help of a spokeshave he had borrowed at the wheelwright's, and which promised to be as clumsy a stump defender as ever was held in two hands. "Well," I said, "where is it?"
It du seem to me only like a vew months ago that I took spokeshave and chisel in hand to make thicky bwoat, and here you be, a'most a man in years, and quite a man in experience as I du hear. "Wi' madam your mother's good leave, I'll ask 'e to sit down, Garge, for I be comed over expressly to have a talk with 'e.
"Perhaps, too, we'd better send up a rocket to let 'em know we're about. Mr Spokeshave? Mr Spokeshave?" No answer came this time, however, from my friend, Master "Conky," though he had been ready enough just now with his aggravating "quite so." "I think, sir," said I, "Mr Spokeshave has gone below to his tea."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking