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Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924

"A Tale Of The Forecastle"

.. See her through it yet;" and unexpectedly,
with loud angry outbursts, blew up Knowles for cutting off a long
piece from the fall of the relieving tackle. "Ough!------Ashamed
of yourself------Relieving tackle------Don't you know
better!------Ough!------Able seaman! Ough!" The lame man was crushed.
He muttered, "Get som'think for a lashing for myself, sir."--"Ough!
Lashing------yourself. Are you a tinker or a sailor------What?
Ough!------May want that tackle directly------Ough!------More use to
the ship than your lame carcass. Ough!------Keep it!------Keep it, now
you've done it."
He crawled away slowly, muttering to himself about some men being "worse
than children." It had been a comforting row. Low exclamations were
heard: "Hallo... Hallo."... Those who had been painfully dozing asked
with convulsive starts, "What's up?... What is it?" The answers came
with unexpected cheerfulness: "The mate is going bald-headed for lame
Jack about something or other." "No!".... "What 'as he done?" Some one
even chuckled. It was like a whiff of hope, like a reminder of safe
days. Donkin, who had been stupefied with fear, revived suddenly and
began to shout:--"'Ear 'im; that's the way they tawlk to us.


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