The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-02-24

uetpest nell Nv ALL!
johnson, the man who had
chafed me raw when | first came
aboard, seemed the last equivocal
OF the men forward or aft. In fact,
there was nothing equivocal about
MIN. One was struck at once by
his straightforwardness and man
Illness, which. In turn, were tenn
pered by modesty which might
be mistaken for timidity. But
timid he was not. He seemed.
rather. to have the courage of his
convictions. the certainty OF his
manhood. Ii was this that made
him protest, at the commence
ment of our acquaintance,
against being called Yonson. And
upon this, and him, Louis passed
Judgment and prophecy.
" 'Tis fine chap. that square
head Johnson we've for'ard with
us, he said. THE best sailor
man in the fo'c'sle. He's my boat
puller. But It's to trouble he'll
come with Wolf Larsen. as the
sparks fly upward. It's meself
that knows. ! can see Il brewin'
an comm up like storm in the
sky. I've talked to him like a
brother. but it's little he sees in
takin' in his lights or flynn false
signals. He grumbles out when
things don't go TO suit him, and
there'n be always some telltale
carryin' word Nv II to the Wolf.
The Wolf is strong, and it's the
way of wolf to hate strength,
an strength II Is he'll see in
Johnson--no knucklin' under,
and a Yes, sir, thank We kindly.
sir, for curse or blow. oh.
shes a-comin'! She's a-comin'!
An God knows where I'll get an
other boat-puller! What does
the fool up an say, when the old
man calls him Yonson, but Me
name is Johnson. sir, an then
spells 1t out, letter for letter. Ye
should Nv seen the old mans face!
thought he'd let drive at him on
the spot. lie didn't, but he will.
an he'll break that squarehead s
heart, or it's little | know iv the
ways Nv men on the ships iv the
sea."
| Thomas Mugridge is becoming
uncomfortable. / am compelled to
Mister him and to Sir him with
every speech. One reason for this
Is that Wolf Larsen seems to have
taken fancy to him. 1t Is an
Unprecedented thing. take It, for
"a captain to be chummy with the
Lcook; but this is certainly what
Wolf Larsen is doing. Two or
three times he put his head into
the galley and chaffed Mugridge
good-naturedly, and once, this aft
ernoon, he stood by the break Of
the poop and chatted with him
for fully fifteen minutes. When II
was over, and Mugridge was back
In the galley, he became greasily
radiant, and went about his work,
| bumming cOster songs in a nerve
racking and discordant falsetto.
Il always get along with the
officers" he remarked to me In
a confidential tone. II know the
wy, | do, to make myself uppre-
ci-yted. There was my last skip
per-w'y 1 thought nothin' of
droppin' down in the cabin for
little chat and a friendly glass.
Mugridge,' seq e to me, Mug
ride, seq e. you've missed yer
vok ytion.' An 'ow's that?' SEE
I. Yer should a been born a
gentleman, an never 'ad to work
for yer Twin God strike me
dead imp. IL that ayn't wot e
SEE, an me a-sittin' there i'm is
own cabin, jolly-like an comfort
able, a-smokin' is cigars an
drinkin' is rum"
This chitter-chatter drove me
to distraction. / never heard a.
voice l hated so. His oily, insin-
uating tones, his greasy smile,
and his monstrous self-conceit
grated on my nerves till some
times | was all In tremble. Posi-
lively, he was the most disgusting
and loathsome person / have ever
met. The filth of his cooking
was indescribable: and, as he
cooked everything that was eaten
aboard, | was compelled to select
what | ate with great circum-
spection, choosing from the least
dirty of his connections.
My hands bothered me great
deal, unused as they were to
work. The nails were discol-
ored and black, while the skin
was already grained with dirt
which even a scrubbing-brush
could not remove. Then blisters
came, in a painful and reverend
ing procession, and l had a great
burn on my forearm, acquired by
losing my balance in a roll of the
ship and pitching against the gal
ley stove. Nor was my knee any
better. The swelling had not
gone down, and the cap was still
up on edge. Hobbling about on
1t from morning to night was not
helping 1t any. What / needed
was rest, il 1t we're ever to get
well.
REST! I never before knew
the meaning of the word. l had
beef resting all my life and did
not know 1t. But now, could
sit still for one half-hour and do
nothing, not even think. 1t would
be the most pleasurable thing in
the world. But it is revelation,
on the other hand. / shall be able
to appreciate the lives of the
working people hereafter. / did
not dream that work was SO ter