Міжзірковий мандрівник

           Underthefloorsranfluesthroughwhichthekitchensmokeescaped,warmingthesleeping-roominitspassage.Herewelayandrestedfordays,soothingourselveswiththeirmildandtastelesstobacco,whichwesmokedintinybowlsattheendofyard-longpipes.Also,therewasawarm,sourish,milky-lookingdrink,headyonlywhentakeninenormousdoses.AfterguzzlingIsweargallonsofit,Igotsingingdrunk,whichisthewayofsea-cuniestheworldover.Encouragedbymysuccess,theotherspersisted,andsoonwewerealla-roaring,littlereekingofthefreshsnowgalepipingupoutside,andlittleworryingthatwewerecastawayinanuncharted,God-forgottenland.OldJohannesMaartenslaughedandtrumpetedandslappedhisthighswiththebestofus.HendrikHamel,acold-blooded,chilly-poiseddarkbrunetteofaDutchmanwithbeadyblackeyes,wasasrarelydevilishastherestofus,andshelledoutsilverlikeanydrunkensailorforthepurchaseofmoreofthemilkybrew.Ourcarrying-onwasascandal;butthewomenfetchedthedrinkwhileallthevillagethatcouldcrowdinjammedtheroomtowitnessourantics.

           Thewhitemanhasgonearoundtheworldinmastery,Idobelieve,becauseofhisunwiseuncaringness.Thathasbeenthemannerofhisgoing,although,ofcourse,hewasdrivenonbyrestivenessandlustforbooty.SoitwasthatCaptainJohannesMaartens,HendrikHamel,andthetwelvesea-cuniesofusroysteredandbawledinthefishervillagewhilethewintergaleswhistledacrosstheYellowSea.