Gordon Young

“ He, with the intensity that some brainworkers have and all wish for, shut out the world as completely as if he had bolted sound-proof doors behind him; and speaking through his black beard with thoughtful slowness not to outrun the boy's pencil, was rounding into a chapter the theory that might did, and was the only thing in the world that did, make right. ”

“ The men seemed willing, but there was no rhythm in the pull. Chips strained his own arms at the sockets. The Portuguese grunted noisily. The Kanakas went through the motions rather too ostentatiously; but the second mate, Swanson, was nearly blind, Matt Ward could see only hazily, and Juggins, who knew the captain's drunken tricks, had no heart in the work himself.
Clobb's heavy body cleared the deck, swinging slightly as it turned with the slow movement of dead weight, around and around. The men, grunting and jerking, pulled him up. ”

“ Men got into boots or hopped when bare feet were put down on to the baked boards, corrugated by the rising seams.
Matt Ward sprawled in a deck-chair and stayed on deck until nearly noon. From time to time he dozed. The women stayed below in their hot quarters. He would stir out of his dozings and call to Clobb, asking if he'd had enough. Clobb seemed an unusually hard devil to tame. Ward said he would be damned if the lousy soldier came down until he had spoken proper and respectfully.
Gorvhalsen had a sail put over the side and went swimming. ”

“ He was taking no more chances with sharks, but was still interested in them and often called out toward the forecastle to know if any had been seen. He wanted to be notified when one appeared, and he would toss a gold coin into the air, catching it easily on his broad palm, tempting the men to keep their eyes opened.
Matt Ward disappeared around noon. Swanson too. Adams came up from the lazarette where he had been checking stores and had found there were less than should have been for so numerous a crew. There might be trouble before the voyage was over if men went on to short rations. ”

“ Clobb was cheered. Sam-O bellowed in negroid frenzy. Dicer darted in with puny fist driven at Juggins's back; but Old Tom, a Yankee for fair play, spilled him to the deck and kicked him with a long drive from a cowhide boot. A lump of coal flew at the bosun, missed, and hit Sam-O alongside his kinky head. He did not notice.
“What's goin' on for'ard there?” Matt Ward bawled.
Swanson, second mate, was by the main hatch talking with the carpenter, and broke forward. ”

“ Juggins waited, questioningly.
“Go ahead, bosun, an' let him off.”
“Hy-aye, sir.”
Juggins, saying, “Hawl right, Clobb. Hu've stood hur watch,” let go the line from where it had been belayed at the fife-rail.
Clobb fell to the deck, stiffly toppling over on to his face as a piece of wood falls. His body was cold. He was unconscious. He had been unconscious for an hour. ”

“ Hit's all in the d'y's work,” said Mr. Juggins.
Men picked up pieces of canvas, took swabs, buckets and coal. They moved off slowly.
Matt Ward laughed. His body swayed a little, and his red face was very red. He held on to the poop rail, watching, though his eyes were a little blurred.
“Get halong there,” said Juggins to Clobb.
“I'm no damn collier!”
“Hu ain't, huh? Hu ain't no syler neither. Hu didn't know a deck-'ouse frum a chicken coop when hu come ha-board. Stow hur jawtackle han' turn to,” said Mr. Juggins not unkindly, for his own heart was not in the work. ”