The times., 1897-08-08
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. TINE NEGROES. !..',.....,, :,
s.,:..,::,;,:; ,s.~s: c::s.s q the N0rCiSSUS )

nbslatcly TO Belfast during an exhausted
iull in the noise: Il wonder any OF the
mates here are alive yet with such chap
as you aboard / eoncioode they ain t that
bad now, If you had the tanning of them,
sonny
Not bad Not badl'' screamed Belfast
'-If it wasn't foI Us sticking together
Not bad. They amt never bad when they
aii't got chawnce, blast their Hack
arts"
Another new hand-a man with shifty
eyes and yellow hatchpt face, who had
been listening open-mouthed in the shadow
of the midsh;p loc,ler observed in a squeaky
voice: We'll, it's "a 'on:eward trip, any
how. Pad or good | can do it hall On my
ed s'long rs l get ONE. And | can look
after my rightsi 1 viii show EN-
An the heads turned toward him. Only
the ordinary seamen and the cat took no
notice. lie stood with arms akmbo,
little fellow with white eyelashes. His
ears Were beneing down under the weight
OF his battered hard hat. The torn tails
OF his black coat riapE'ed in fringes about
the calves OF his legs. lie unbWtoned the
only TWO buttons that remained, and every
one saw lie had no shirt under it. 1t WAS
his deserved misfortune That these rags,
which nobody could possibly be supposed
TO own, looked Oh him as if they had been
stolen.
His neck Was long and thin. his eyeds
were red: rar hairs hung a bout his jaws;
his shoulders were peaked and dropped like
the broken wings OF bird; all his LETT
side was caked with mud, which show Ell
that he had lately 81 ept in ditch He
had saved his inefficient carcass from vio-
lent destruction 10y running away from an
American snip. W here. in moment Of for
gctful folly, he had dared 10 engage him
self, and he had knock ell about for d fort
night ashore in the native quarter, cadg-
ing fsr drinks, starving, sleeping on rub
bish heaps, wandering III sunshine start
ling visitor from Il world of nightmares.
He stood rPpulSive and smiling in the SUD
den silence. This clean, white forecastle
was his refuge; the place where he Could De
las, where he could wallow and lie aud
/ eat-and curse the food he ate; where ne
could display has talents for shirking work,
for cheating, for cadsing. where lie coull
find surely some On 10 wheedIe AMI some
one to buliy-and where he would be paid
for doing all this
They all knew him. He wes the man
that cannot steer, that cannot splice, that
| lodges the work OH dark nights; that,
4 aloft. holds 0 n fran tically with both
! arms and legs. and swears at the wind,
! the sleet, the darkness; the man who curses
! the sea white Others Work. The man who
/ the lasl out and TIE first in when all
/ hands are called. The pet of philanthro-
! pists and self seeking land-lubbers. The
sympathetic and deserving create that
knows all about his rights, bat knows moth
ing of coinage. of endurance and Of the un-
expressed faith. Of the mnsPosen loyalty
! that kBits together ships company. The
| independent Offspring Of the ignotle free
dom OF lie slums full of disdain and hate
for the ,.Gstere tervitHde of tire sea.
Some one cried at him: whats yosr
name?"
..Donkin" !" he said, looking round with
1 cheerful effrontery.
What are your" asked another voice.
The ragged newcomer WAS lndignaEt
That's a fine way TO welcome a chap into
a foc'sie,'' he snaTlea. Are You men or a
lot or 'auless canaybals.
Don't lake yout shirt off for a word
! shipmaUe.' called out Belfast, jumping &
up in rIcnt, riery, menaeiRg, and friendly
I at the same time.
lis that ere hoke blind?'' asked the in
doInitahle scarecrow, looking right and ief;
with affected surprise. Cant e see
'aVp't got 40 s!dIU.'' lie held both his
arms cut crosswise and shook the rags
| that hung oyeI his bones, with dramatic
effect.
He knew how to conquer the naive In
/ c4E &c Of IN II they
gave him their compassion, jocularly, con
temptuoUsly, or surlily; and at first il
took the shape OF d blanket thrown at him
/ as he stood there with the white skin oi
his limits showing tn rough the black phan
tasy OF his rags. Then pair Of old shoes
fcli at his T:uddy feet. With a cry, From
UNDER rolled-up pair Of trousers, heavy
with tar stains, struck him on the shoul
deI. He paved around with his naked
foot, gathering the things in heap, and
his little beady eyes began to roam from
berth to berth.
Take that bunk by the door there-it''
pretty far" suggested Belfast So ad
yised, he gathered the gifts at his feet
pressed them in a bundle against his breast
and flung them into the empty bed place
Suddenly many heavy blows, struck witt
| a handspike on the deck above, doomed likt
discharges OF small cannon through tht
forecaStle Tfsen the boatswain's voice ros
outside the door with an authoritative not,
in its drawl:
''Dy'e hear below there? Lay aft La,
aft to muster all hands"'
There was moment o f surprised stiffness
Then the forecastle floor disappeared d unde
men whose bare feet Topped on the plank
as they sprang clear out Of their berths
Caps were rooted for amongst tumble
blankets. Some, yawning, buttoned waist
bands. Half-smoked pipes were knocke
hnTriedly against woodwork and stuffe
under pillows. Voices gruwled: What
up2 Is there no rest for us?' The,
were lurching in twos and tfrees through
the doors. after the manner of merchan
Jacks who cannot go out of door fairly
like mere landsmen.
Outside the glare of the steanling fore
castle, the serene purity OF the night en-
veloped the seamen with its soothing
breath. with its tepid breath flowing un
der the stars that hung countless abov
the mastheads iI' thin cloud of luminou
dust. On the town side the blackness q
the water was streakcd with trails c
| light which undllated gently on Sigh
ripples, similar to filiaments that floa
rooted to the shore. Far off, Byculla way
the electric lamps at the dock gates shon
on the ends OF lofty standards, with
glow, binding and frigid, like captiy
ghosts Of some evil nloons. Scattered a
over the dark polish OF the roadstead, tn
ships at anchor floated In perfect still
ness under the feeble gieam Of their ridin
lights, looming up, Opaque and bulky, lik