Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-02-01
CHAPTER ~.

what happened to me next on the
sealing schooner Ghost, as I strove to
1T into my new environment, are mat
ters OF humiliation and pain. The cook,
VINO was called the doctor by the
crew, Tommy by the hunters, and
"Cooky" by Wolf Larsen, was
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 domi-
neer1nS and bellicose. In truth. l was
no longer the fine gentleman with
skin soft as a "Iydy's," but only an
ordinary and very worthless cabiu-boy.
He absurdly insisted upon my ad-
dressing him as Mr.. Mugridge, and his
behavior and carriage were insufer-
able as he showed me my duties. Be
sides ny work in the cabin, with its
four small statarooms, was supposed
to be his assistant in the galley, and
my colossal ignorance concerning such
things as peeling potatoes or washing
greasy pots was a source of unending
and sarcastic wonder to him.
This first day was made more diff
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 Mr.. Mugridge
called an "'owIiu' sou'easter." At
haf-past five, under his directions, I
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.. Mugridge's parting Injunction,
as left the galley with a big teapot
in one hand, and in the hollow of the
other arm several Ioaves Of fresh
baked bread. One of the hunters, a
tall, loosely jointed chap named Hen
derson, was going aft at the time from
the steerage (the name the hunters
facetiously gave their midships 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.
I stopped, for did not know what
was coming. and saw the galley door
slide shut with a bang. Then I saw
Henderson leaping like a mailman for
the main rigging, up which he shot, on
the inside, till he was many feet
higher than my head. Also | saw a
great wave, curling and foaming.
poised far above the rail I was di-
rectIy under it. My mind did not
work quickly, everything was so new
and strange. I grasped that I was in
danger. but that was all I stood still.
in trepidation. Then Wolf Larsen
shouted from the poop:
Grab hold something, you-you
Hump!"
But it was too late. I sprang toward
the rigging. to which | might have
chung. and was met by the descending
wall of water. What happened after
that was very confusing. l was be-
meath the water. sutocat1ng and
drowning. Several times l collided
against hard objects. once striking my
right knee a terrible blow. Then the
flood seemed suddenly to sUbs1de, ana
I was breathing the good air again /
had been swept against the galley and
around the steerage companionWay
from the weather side into the lee
scuppers. The pain from my hurt knee
was agonizing. But the cook was after
me. shouting through the lee galley
door:
Ere, you! Don't tyke all night
about il! where's the potE Lost
overheard? Serve you bloody well
right If yer neck was oroke!
I managed to struggle to my feet
The great teapot was still in my hand
7 rmped to the galley and handed It
20 him But he was consuming with
indignation. real or feigned-
~Gawd blime NE II you amt sioo'
wot're YOU good for anyw'yT Cawnt
even carry a bit Of tea aft without
Iosin' it. Now III ave to boil some
more"
Two things I had acquired oy my
bohemian injured kneecap that