The herald., 1897-09-05
with a sudden drop in his

InumDleu WIN suOOeu OHOp An uAs
voice.
Donkin closed one eye, amicable and
confidential. He whispered, ''Ye ave
done hit afore-aven'tche
Jimmy smiled-then as II unable to
hold back he let himself go: Last ship
yes. I was out of sorts on the pas
me off in Calcutta, and the skipper
made no bones about it either. I got
my money all right. Laid up fifty-eight
days! The fools! o Lord! The fools!
Paid right off" He laughed spasmod-
ically. Donkin chummed. giggling.
Then Jimmy coughed violently. II am
as we'll as ever" he said, as soon as he
could draw breath.
Donlsin made a derisive gesture. TN
course" he said profoundly. "hany one
can see that"
"They don't" said Jimmy, gasping
like fish. Don't you let on too much"
"Your little gyme? Eh?" commented
Donkin jovially. Then with sudden dis
gust, Eyer hall for yerself, s'long has
ye're right"
So charged with egoism, James Wait
pulled the blanket up to his chin and
meditated. His heavy lips protruded in
an everlasting black pout. why are
you so hot on making trouble?" he ask
ed without much interest.
"Cos hits a bloomin shayme. We
hare put hon-bad food, bad pay-I
want hus to kick up a bloomin' row;
blamed 'owling row that would make
'em remember! Knocking people about
brain hus-hindeed! Amt we men?"
His altruistic Indignation blazed. Then
he said calmly, "Ive been a-hairing ov
yer clothes"
"All right" said Jimmy languidly,
"bring them in"
! "Giv us the key of your chest, I'll
put 'em haway for yer" said Donkin
with friendly eagerness."
Bring 'em in, l will put them away
myself" answered James Wait with
severity. Donkin looked down, mutter-
| ing.
"what d'you say? What d'you say"
| inquired Wait anxiously.
"Nothink The nights dry; let 'em
hang out till morning." said Donkin, in
strangely trembling voice, as though
restraining laughter or rage. Jimmy
seemed satisfied.
"Give me little water for the night
| in my mug-there," he said. Donkin
took stride over the doorstep.
| ''NilL HlI yeTSell, lie Icplleu q ooLiy
tone. "You can do it. hunless you hare
sick'
"Of course I can do It," said Wait,
| "only-''
well, then do It," said Donkin vi
ciously. "If yer can look halter yer
clothes, yer can look halter yerself." He
went on deck without look back.
Jimmy reached out for the mug. Not
drop. He put 1t back gently with a
faint sigh-and closed his eyes. He
thought: "That lunatic Belfast will
bring me some water II ask. Fool.
am very thirsty"
| 1t was very hot in the cabin, and 1t
seemed to turn slowly round, detach it.
self from the ship, and swing out
smoothly into q luminous arid space,
where a black sun shone, spinning very
| fast. A place without any water! No
water! A policeman with the face Of
Donliin drank glass of beer by the
side of an empty well, and flew away
| Tapping vigorously. A ship whose
masts protruded through the sky and
could not be seen, was discharging
grain, and the wind whirled the dry
husks in spirals along the quay of a
| dock with no water in it. He whirled
along with the dust-very tired and
light. He felt he was lighter than the
Ihusks-and more dry. He expanded his
hollow chest. The air streamed in, car
rying away in it's rush a lot Of strange
things that resembled houses, trees,
people, lamp-posts. No more! There was
no more air-and he had not finished
drawing his long breath. But he was
in Jail They were locking him up. A
door slammed. They turned the key
twice. flung bucket Of water over him!
What for?
He opened his eyes, thinking the fall
had been very heavy for an empty man
I-empty-empty. He was in his cabin
Ali All right! His face was streaming
with perspiration, his arms heavier than
lead. He saw the cook standing in the