Місяць і гріш

Chapter XLVII

           WhenitwasanEnglishboat,theywoulddodgeintotheforecastleandgetaheartybreakfastfromthecrew.Theytooktheriskofrunningagainstoneoftheship’sofficersandbeinghustleddownthegangwaywiththetoeofaboottospeedtheirgoing.

           "There’snoharminakickinthehindquarterswhenyourbelly’sfull,"saidCaptainNichols,"andpersonallyInevertakeitinbadpart.Anofficer’sgottothinkaboutdiscipline."

           IhadalivelypictureofCaptainNicholsflyingheadlongdownanarrowgangwaybeforetheupliftedfootofanangrymate,and,likeatrueEnglishman,rejoicinginthespiritoftheMercantileMarine.

           Therewereoftenoddjobstobegotaboutthefish-market.Oncetheyeachofthemearnedafrancbyloadingtruckswithinnumerableboxesoforangesthathadbeendumpeddownonthequay.Onedaytheyhadastrokeofluck:oneoftheboarding-mastersgotacontracttopaintatrampthathadcomeinfromMadagascarroundtheCapeofGoodHope,andtheyspentseveraldaysonaplankhangingovertheside,coveringtherustyhullwithpaint.ItwasasituationthatmusthaveappealedtoStrickland’ssardonichumour.IaskedCaptainNicholshowheborehimselfduringthesehardships.

           "Neverknewhimsayacrossword,"answeredtheCaptain."He’dbeabitsurlysometimes,butwhenwehadn’thadabitesincemorning,andwehadn’tevengotthepriceofaliedownattheChink’s,he’dbeaslivelyasacricket."

           Iwasnotsurprisedatthis.

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