The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-07-20
CHAPTER ~.

What happened 10 me next on the
sealing schooner Ghost, as | strove TO
Ut into my new environment, are mat.
tiers OF humiliation and pain. The cook,
who was called the doctor" by the
"Cooky" by Wolf Larsen, was q
changed person. The difference
worked In my status brought about a
corresponding difference In treatment
from him. Servile and fawning as he
had been before. he was now as don't.
n%eering and bellicose. In truth. ] was
no longer the fac gentleman with a
skin soft as n 'lydy's," but only an
ordinary and very worthless cabin.boy.
He absurdly insisted upon my al
dressing him as Mr.. Mugridge, and his
behavior and carriage were insutfer.
able as he showed me my duties, Be
sides my work In the cabin. with It's
four small staterooms. | vas supposed
TO be his assistant in the galley. and
my colossal ignorance concerning such
things as peeling potatoes or washing
greasy pots was n source OF ~unendIng
and sarcastic wonder 10 him.
This first day was made more din.
cult for me from the fact that the
Ghost. under close reefs terms such
as these | did not learn Till later, was
plunging through what MIR. Mugridge
called an "'owlin' sou'eastcr." AT
half.past FIVE, under his directions. |
set the table In the cabin. with rough
weather trays In place. and then car.
ried the tea and cooked food down
from the galley.
Look sharp or you'll get doused."
was Mr.. Mugridgc's parting Injunction.
as | left the galley with a big teapot
In one hand. and In the hollow OF the
other arm several loaves of fresh
baked bread. One OF the hunters, a
tall, loosely jointed chap named Hen.
derson, was going aft at the time from
the steeragc Cthe name the hunters
facetiously gave their mldships sleep.
ing quarters, to the cabin Wolf Lar
sen was on the poop, smoking his ever,
lasting cigar.
Ere she comes. Sling yer 'ook!'
the cook cried.
NAblil'NN " q ~ AlbN hllbN W MA
was coming, and saw the galley door
slide shut with n bang. Then saw
Henderson lcaping like a mailman fol-
the main rigging, up which he shot, or
.i.a inside. til he vas many fee
higher than my head. Also saw
great wave, curling and foaming
poised far above the rail. | was dl
rectly under II. My mind did no
work quickly, everything was 80 new
aad strange. srasped that | was IL
danger, but that was all. | stood stu
In t%repidation. Then Wolf Larsei
shouted from the poop:
Grab hold something, you-yoi
Hump"
But Il was too late. | sprang towart
the rigging, TO which ! might hav,
chung, and was met by the ~descendinl
wall OF water. What happened ate
that was very confusing. was be
meath the water. suffocating ant
drowning. Several times ! collide'
against hard objects, once striking m.
right knee a terrible blow. Then tn
food seemed suddenly TO subsidH, an
was breathing the good air again.
had been swept against the galley an
around the steerage companionwa
, from the weather side into the lie
scuppers. The pain from my hurt kne
was agonizing. But the cook was atte
me- shouting through the lee gale
. door:
! Ere. you! Don't tyke all nigh
/, about Il! Where's the pot? Los
. overheard? Serve you bloody we
right II yer neck was broke!"
managed TO struggle to my fee
q The great teapot was still In my hant
A | limped to the galley and handed
: 10 him, But he was consuming wit
Indignation, real or feigned.
n "Gawd blime me II you amt a sloI
Wot're you good for anyw'y2 Gavin
sven carry a bit OF tea aft withol
n losin' II. Now III ave TO boil SOU
more"
I Two things I had acquired by m
" aceident-an injured kneecap thi