The times., 1897-08-29
in here.~ observed Archie thoughtfully.

just what silly, scary gang or FOOLS Wouiu
dc. Not much good to me, anyhow. just
as weIl-drown Pahl"
He groaned, snapped his big white teeth,
and gazel with scorn.
Donkin felt all over his sterile chin for
the few rare hairs and said trinInphantly,
with si.1elong glance at Jimmy: Look
1T lint Wish l was 'arf as 'ealthy has
e his--I do He jerked short thumb
over his shoulder toward the after end or
the ship That's the blooming way to do
'elnr' ne velped, with forced heartiness
Jimmy said. Don't be a blamed fool"
in n pleasant voice
Knowles. rubbing bis shoulder against
the doorpost. remarked shrewdly: We
can't all go an be took sck-it would be
nutiny"
.Mutiny-gawn!~ Jeered Donkin, there's
10 bioomin' law against bein' sick"
There's six weeks hard for refoosing
dooty," argued Knowles. Il mind ] once
seed in Cardiff crew of an overloaded
ship -leastways she weren't overloaded
only a fatherly old gentleman With u
white beard and an umbrella came along
the quay and talked TO the hands. Said
as il was crool hard TO be drowndedin liz
ter just for the sake of "a few pounds more
for the owner, he said SO they chaps
they said they wouldn't go to be druwncd
in winter depending upon that ere Plinr-
soil man to sec 'em through the court.
They thought TO have bloomin lark and
two or three days spree. And the beak
Civ 'em six weeks -eoss S the ship warn't
overloaded. Anyways they made it out
in court that she wasn't. There wasn't ons
overloaded ship in Penarth Dock at all.
Pears that old coon as only on pay and
allowance from some kind people, under or
ders to look for overloaded ships, and he
couldn't see no further than the length OF
his umbreler. But they got six weeks
hard"
They listened, full of curiosity, nodding
in the pauses their rough, pensive faces
II was clear, OF course.
Donkin SAID: "Weh, six week hain't
much trouble. You sleep hall night in,
reg'lar, in chosey. DO it hon my cad"
You are used to it, ainch'ee, Donkin?''
| asked somebody.
Jimrny condescended to laugh. Itcheered
up every one wonderfully. They laughed.
| hooting In the crude light, around Jiminy's
| bed, where on a white pillow, his hol-
! lowed black face moved TO and fro rest
lessly. a puff of wind came, made the
| flame OF the lamp leap, and outside, high
| up, the sails fluttered, while near by the
| block of the foresheet struck ringing
blow on the iron bulwark
4 voice far off, cried ''Eard-np." an
| other, more faint. repeated tHard-up."
They became silent-waited eXpectantly.
The ship leaned over gently and the sea
seemed To wake up, nurmuring drowsily:
Here's Ii little wind comm" said some
| one very low. Jimmy turned over slowly
| to face the breeze. The voice In the night
| cried loud and commanding: Haul the
! spanker out"
The group before the door vanished
out of the light. Donkin remained alone
| with Jimmy. There was d silence. Jimmy
/ opened and shut his lips several times
as if swallowing draughts Of fresh air:
| Donkin moved the toes of his bare feet
and looked at them thougntfuIly.
| ''Ain't you going to give them a hand
| with the sail?" asked Jimmy.
mo. Hif six ov 'em haiI't 'nougn
beef to set that blamed rotten spanker
| they hain't fit to live" answered Donkin
| In bored, far-away voice, as though he
| had been talking from the bottom OF q
| hole.
Jimmy considered the conicai, fowl
| like profile with q queer kind Of inter
| est; but he said only: 1.-The mate will mis-
you-and there viii be ructions.'
Donkin got up TO 60. Il will do for I'm
non some dark night, see hif / dun't. >
he said over his shoulder.
Jimmy went on quickly: You're like
| Dol parrot, like a screechin poli-par
ret" Donkin stopped and cooked his
head attentively over one shoulder His
| big ears stood cut, transparent and veined,
resembling the thin wings OF a bat
'.YnSs:f' he said, with his back TOWARD
Jimmy
Yes. Chatter out all you know-Iikt
like a dirty white cockatoo."
Donkin waited Hecould hearthe other''
breathing, long and slow; the breathing ol
a man with a hundred-weight or SO on thu
breastbone. Then he asked, calmly: what
do I kEow?"
What What i tell you-not much
What do you want-to talk bout my healtl
So"
Hits a bloomin' himpos yshun. A
bloomin', stin kin. first-class himposy
shGn--but hit don't tyke me hin. No
hit"
Jimmy kept still Donkn put his hand
in mis- pockets. and in one slouching stride
came up To the bunk.
Il taIl-what's the holds They hahn
men here-sheeP they hare. a driven lo
of sheep I old you hup- Wy not.
You're well noff''
~ AMI don't say anything about
that"
We'll, let 'em see hit Let 'em lar
what man can do. 1 ham a man.
know hall habout yer"
Jimmy threw himself further away ol
the pillow; the other stretched out hi
skinny neck. jerked his bird face dow
at him as though pecking at his eyes.
81 ham a man. I've seen the hinside o
heyery chokey in the colonies rather i
give hup my ghts."
''You are Jail prop?" said Jimmy
weakly.
: II ham-an' proud OF It, too. You
You haven't the bloomin' nerve-so W
hinvenEyd this ere dodge e." He paused
then with marked afterthought accentuate
slowly: Eyer amt sick-hare yere?"
NO, said Jimmy firmly. Been ou
Of sorts now and again this year h
mumbled, with sudden drop in his voice
: Dcnkin closed one eye, amicable AM
confidential. He whispered: ''Ye 'av
done hit afore aven'tchee?''
Jimmy smiled-then as if unable t,
hold back he let himself go Last shi
yes ] was out of sorts on the passa ge
: See? II was easy. They paid me off i
Calcutta, and the skipper made no bone
about it either. I got my money all ri ght
, i r a;I ,;r~hf