Light Freights
William Wymark Jacobs
Paperback
(General Books LLC, Feb. 4, 2012)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901. Excerpt: ... PRIVATE CLOTHES At half-past nine the crew of the Merman were buried in slumber, at nine thirty-two three of the members were awake with heads protruding out of their bunks, trying to peer through the gloom, while the fourth dreamt that a tea-tray was falling down a never-ending staircase. On the floor of the forecastle something was cursing prettily and rubbing itself. "Did you 'ear anything, Ted?" inquired a voice in an interval of silence. "Who is it?" demanded Ted, ignoring the question. "Wot d'yer want?" "I'll let you know who I am," said a thick and angry voice. "I've broke my blarsted back." "Light the lamp, Bill," said Ted. Bill struck a tandsticker match, and carefully nursing the tiny sulphurous flame with his hand, saw dimly some high-coloured object on the floor. He got out of his bunk and lit the lamp, and an angry and very drunken member of Her Majesty's foot forces became visible. "Wot are you doin' 'ere?" inquired Ted, sharply, "this ain't the guard-room." "Who knocked me over?" demanded the soldier sternly; "take your co--coat off lik' a man." He rose to his feet and swayed unsteadily to and fro. "If you keep your HT 'eads still," he said gravely, to Bill, "I'll punch 'em." By a stroke of good fortune he selected the real head, and gave it a blow which sent it crashing against the woodwork. For a moment the seaman stood gathering his scattered senses, then with an oath he sprang forward, and in the lightest of fighting trim waited until his adversary, who was by this time on the floor again, should have regained his feet. "He's drunk, Bill," said another voice, "don't 'urt 'im. He's a chap wot said 'e was coming aboard to see me--I met 'im in the Green Man this evening. You was coming to see me, mate, wasn't you?" The soldier looked up st...