Owen Oliver

“ The biggest devil—after the fever—is the Customs. Why, a tank that cost ninety pounds at home costs three hundred pounds for duty in this benighted hole, unless you can make them see it's a case for a special rate. ”

“ It was merely because they were "sending off Old Reeves." They hod to make the most of these occasions.
"A lark—a drink—anything," the handsome man said in my ear, "to keep the boys in good spirits. If they got brooding on things—— There was old Johnson—one of the best. One week he was head nurse to all the chaps who were down with fever, reading to them, dosing them, telling them that it never came to anything, and they'd be all right in a couple of days. The next week we buried the old beggar. Hulloa, here's the purser! Kippers!" ”

“ Old Johnson went off suddenly, and they cabled to me to come by the next boat. I was at Muskgrove then. There was a ship leaving that afternoon, and I came. I've settled up his affairs nicely. His effects are going home by your steamer. I know that thing the band's playing, but I can never remember the name. 'Overture to Zampa.' So it is. I beard it on Lowestoft pier. Some of our chaps say that 'home' always makes them think of London and the grill at the Criterion. Nothing fit to eat out here. ”

“ Moses tried td push off further with a long pole, hut the pole slipped; and he went into the water from his head to his waist. They rescued him by the legs, laughing uproariously.
The boat swung round to the wind and began to heel over and slide away.
"Auld Lang Syne!" someone shouted; and then they sang. Reeves joined in—he had reached the deck and stood beside the Purser and me. The little Customs officer hurried out from the smoking-room.
"I will not be there to receive them, I think," he remarked, shaking his head. "I have no sail, and to row my boys are slow. ”

“ There was more and more handshaking. Moses waltzed with "Old Reeves." Jackson drew me aside for a moment to suggest that I should mention to the old people that doctors considered that fever was dying out on the Coast. Finally they went down the gangway. Reeves followed them to the water's edge and shook hands again twice round. Then they pushed off right into the head of the wind, and couldn't get their sail going for a time. ”

“ Jackson commented, "except the sharks."
"These things don't often turn over," the handsome man told me. "I've been here for four months, and only upset once. The chaps are a bit lively to-night. You see, we have to keep our spirits up. It's the best antidote to fever." ”

“ It means a lot to the old people. That's the church. You'll see it better round bers. You'll lay it on thick—that I was looking well, and no fever. Well, nothing to speak of. That's a fact. You see, I'm practically teetotal. Just to-night we're sending Reeves off, and so—— Here's the square. Oh, yes, there's a band. Plays twice a week, and whenever a ship's in. It isn't bad for niggers. You might mention the band to the old folk. They'll think the place is a sort of Folkestone. ”

“ I might get those tins inside my overcoat and button it up, if you can spare them."
"They won't search you?" I inquired.
"That's the Custom officer," he said, nodding toward the little gentleman in uniform. I noticed a suspicious bulge in the uniform. I brought up a few loose cigars as well as the tins, and I offered one of the cigars to the little man. He was smoking already, he remarked, waving a cigarette, but—— He bowed, and the cigar went into a pocket. ”

“ Meanwhile he had extemporised a cutter-rig in a bumboat, and was training his crew in that, finding the lateen sail clumsy and liable to overturn in a gust.
"It's like fighting devils," he remarked, "to do work out here. ”