Many Cargoes

Many Cargoes, by W.W. Jacobs

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Title: Many Cargoes
Author: W.W. Jacobs
Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5758] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 28, 2002]
Edition: 10

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MANY CARGOES
BY
W.W. JACOBS
Second Edition
New York 1894

CONTENTS
A CHANGE OF TREATMENT A LOVE PASSAGE THE
CAPTAIN'S EXPLOIT CONTRABAND OF WAR A BLACK
AFFAIR THE SKIPPER OF THE "OSPREY" IN BORROWED
PLUMES THE BOATSWAIN'S WATCH LOW WATER IN
MID-ATLANTIC AFTER THE INQUEST IN LIMEHOUSE REACH
AN ELABORATE ELOPEMENT THE COOK OF THE "GANNET"
A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE A CASE OF DESERTION
OUTSAILED MATED THE RIVAL BEAUTIES MRS. BUNKER'S
CHAPERON A HARBOUR OF REFUGE

A CHANGE OF TREATMENT

"Yes, I've sailed under some 'cute skippers in my time," said the night-
watchman; "them that go down in big ships see the wonders o' the deep,
you know," he added with a sudden chuckle, "but the one I'm going to
tell you about ought never to have been trusted out without 'is ma. A
good many o' my skippers had fads, but this one was the worst I ever
sailed under.
"It's some few years ago now; I'd shipped on his barque, the John
Elliott, as slow-going an old tub as ever I was aboard of, when I wasn't
in quite a fit an' proper state to know what I was doing, an' I hadn't been
in her two days afore I found out his 'obby through overhearing a few
remarks made by the second mate, who came up from dinner in a hurry
to make 'em. 'I don't mind saws an' knives hung round the cabin,' he ses
to the fust mate, 'but when a chap has a 'uman 'and alongside 'is plate,
studying it while folks is at their food, it's more than a Christian man
can stand.'
"'That's nothing,' ses the fust mate, who had sailed with the barque
afore. 'He's half crazy on doctoring. We nearly had a mutiny aboard
once owing to his wanting to hold a post-mortem on a man what fell
from the mast-head. Wanted to see what the poor feller died of.'
"'I call it unwholesome,' ses the second mate very savage.' He offered
me a pill at breakfast the size of a small marble; quite put me off my
feed, it did.'
"Of course, the skipper's fad soon got known for'ard. But I didn't think
much about it, till one day I seed old Dan'l Dennis sitting on a locker
reading. Every now and then he'd shut the book, an' look up, closing 'is
eyes, an' moving his lips like a hen drinking, an' then look down at the
book again.
"'Why, Dan,' I ses, 'what's up? you ain't larning lessons at your time o'
life?'
"'Yes, I am,' ses Dan very soft. 'You might hear me say it, it's this one
about heart disease.'

"He hands over the book, which was stuck full o' all kinds o' diseases,
and winks at me 'ard.
"'Picked it up on a book-stall,' he ses; then he shut 'is eyes an' said his
piece wonderful. It made me quite queer to listen to 'im. 'That's how I
feel,' ses he, when he'd finished. 'Just strength enough to get to bed.
Lend a hand, Bill, an' go an' fetch the doctor.'
"Then I see his little game, but I wasn't going to run any risks, so I just
mentioned, permiscous like, to the cook as old Dan seemed rather queer,
an' went back an' tried to borrer the book, being always fond of reading.
Old Dan pretended he was too ill to hear what I was saying, an' afore I
could take it away