"There's one thing I must put a stop to," said the skipper, as he and
the mate, after an admirably-cooked breakfast, stood together talking.
"The men seem to be hanging round that galley too much."
"What can you expect?" demanded the mate. "They've all got their Sunday
clothes on too, pretty dears."
"Hi, you Bill!" cried the skipper. "What are you doing there?"
"Lending cook a hand with the saucepans, sir," said Bill, an oakum-
bearded man of sixty.
"There ain't no call for 'im to come 'ere at all, sir," shouted another
seaman, putting his head out of the galley. "Me an' cook's lifting 'em
beautiful."
"Come out, both of you, or I'll start you with a rope!" roared the
irritated commander.
"What's the matter?" inquired Mrs. Blossom. "They're not doing any
harm."
"I can't have 'em there," said the skipper gruffly. "They've got other
things to do."
"I must have some assistance with that boiler and the saucepans," said
Mrs. Blossom decidedly, "so don't you interfere with what don't concern
you, Jimmy."
"That's mutiny," whispered the horrified mate. "Sheer, rank mutiny."
"She don't know no better," whispered the other back. "Cook, you mustn't
talk like that to the cap'n--what me and the mate tell you you must do.
You don't understand yet, but it'll come easier by-and-bye.
Pages:
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205