CHAPTER III
A TALE OF NO MAN'S SEA
Inside the cabin Hungerford closed the door, gripped me by the arm, and
then handed me a cheroot, with the remark: "My pater gave them to me last
voyage home. Have kept 'em in tea." And then he added, with no appearance
of consecutiveness: "Hang the bally ship, anyhow!"
I shall not attempt to tone down the crudeness of Hungerford's language.
It contents me to think that the solidity of his character and his worth
will appear even through the crust of free-and-easy idioms, as they will
certainly be seen in his acts;--he was sound at heart and true as steel.
"What is the matter, Hungerford?" I asked lighting the cheroot.
"Everything's the matter. Captain, with his nose in the air, and trusting
all round to his officers. First officer, no good--never any use since
they poured the coal on him. Purser, ought to be on a Chinese junk.
Second, third, fourth officers, first-rate chaps, but so-so sailors.
Doctor, frivolling with a lovely filly, pedigree not known. Why, confound
it! nobody takes this business seriously except the captain, and he sits
on a golden throne.
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