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Many Cargoes By: W. W. Jacobs (1863-1943) |
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By W.W. Jacobs Second Edition New York 1894 CONTENTS
A CHANGE OF TREATMENT
A LOVE PASSAGE
THE CAPTAIN'S EXPLOIT
CONTRABAND OF WAR
A BLACK AFFAIR
THE SKIPPER OF THE "OSPREY"
IN BORROWED PLUMES
THE BOATSWAIN'S WATCH
LOW WATER
IN MID ATLANTIC
AFTER THE INQUEST
IN LIMEHOUSE REACH
AN ELABORATE ELOPEMENT
THE COOK OF THE "GANNET"
A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE
A CASE OF DESERTION
OUTSAILED
MATED
THE RIVAL BEAUTIES
MRS. BUNKER'S CHAPERON
A HARBOUR OF REFUGE
A CHANGE OF TREATMENT
"Yes, I've sailed under some 'cute skippers in my time," said the
night watchman; "them that go down in big ships see the wonders o' the
deep, you know," he added with a sudden chuckle, "but the one I'm going
to tell you about ought never to have been trusted out without 'is ma.
A good many o' my skippers had fads, but this one was the worst I ever
sailed under. "It's some few years ago now; I'd shipped on his barque, the John
Elliott, as slow going an old tub as ever I was aboard of, when I wasn't
in quite a fit an' proper state to know what I was doing, an' I hadn't
been in her two days afore I found out his 'obby through overhearing a
few remarks made by the second mate, who came up from dinner in a hurry
to make 'em. 'I don't mind saws an' knives hung round the cabin,' he ses
to the fust mate, 'but when a chap has a 'uman 'and alongside 'is plate,
studying it while folks is at their food, it's more than a Christian man
can stand.' "'That's nothing,' ses the fust mate, who had sailed with the barque
afore. 'He's half crazy on doctoring. We nearly had a mutiny aboard once
owing to his wanting to hold a post mortem on a man what fell from the
mast head. Wanted to see what the poor feller died of.' "'I call it unwholesome,' ses the second mate very savage.' He offered
me a pill at breakfast the size of a small marble; quite put me off my
feed, it did.' "Of course, the skipper's fad soon got known for'ard. But I didn't think
much about it, till one day I seed old Dan'l Dennis sitting on a locker
reading. Every now and then he'd shut the book, an' look up, closing 'is
eyes, an' moving his lips like a hen drinking, an' then look down at the
book again. "'Why, Dan,' I ses, 'what's up? you ain't larning lessons at your time
o' life?' "'Yes, I am,' ses Dan very soft. 'You might hear me say it, it's this
one about heart disease.' "He hands over the book, which was stuck full o' all kinds o' diseases,
and winks at me 'ard. "'Picked it up on a book stall,' he ses; then he shut 'is eyes an' said
his piece wonderful. It made me quite queer to listen to 'im. 'That's
how I feel,' ses he, when he'd finished. 'Just strength enough to get to
bed. Lend a hand, Bill, an' go an' fetch the doctor.' "Then I see his little game, but I wasn't going to run any risks, so I
just mentioned, permiscous like, to the cook as old Dan seemed rather
queer, an' went back an' tried to borrer the book, being always fond of
reading. Old Dan pretended he was too ill to hear what I was saying,
an' afore I could take it away from him, the skipper comes hurrying down
with a bag in his 'and. "'What's the matter, my man?' ses he, 'what's the matter?' "'I'm all right, sir,' ses old Dan, 'cept that I've been swoonding away
a little.' "'Tell me exactly how you feel,' ses the skipper, feeling his pulse. "Then old Dan said his piece over to him, an' the skipper shook his head
an' looked very solemn. "'How long have you been like this?' he ses. "'Four or five years, sir,' ses Dan. 'It ain't nothing serious, sir, is
it?' "'You lie quite still,' ses the skipper, putting a little trumpet thing
to his chest an' then listening. 'Um! there's serious mischief here I'm
afraid, the prognotice is very bad.' "'Prog what, sir?' ses Dan, staring. "'Prognotice,' ses the skipper, at least I think that's the word he
said. 'You keep perfectly still, an' I'll go an' mix you up a draught,
and tell the cook to get some strong beef tea on... Continue reading book >>
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Fiction |
Humor |
Literature |
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