But Hemstead grumbled from habit, Tommy
revolted only for the moment, and there was underneath
a real and general acquiescence in these hardships.
For besides onions and potatoes, the CURRENCY LASS
may be said to have gone to sea without stores. She
carried two thousand pounds' worth of assorted trade,
advanced on credit, their whole hope and fortune. It
was upon this that they subsisted--mice in their own
granary. They dined upon their future profits; and
every scanty meal was so much in the savings bank.
Republican as were their manners, there was no
practical, at least no dangerous, lack of discipline.
Wicks was the only sailor on board, there was none to
criticise; and besides, he was so easy-going, and so
merry-minded, that none could bear to disappoint him.
Carthew did his best, partly for the love of doing it,
partly for love of the captain; Amalu was a willing
drudge, and even Hemstead and Hadden turned to upon
occasion with a will. Tommy's department was the trade
and traderoom; he would work down in the hold or over
the shelves of the cabin, till the Sydney dandy was
unrecognisable; come up at last, draw a bucket of sea-
water, bathe, change, and lie down on deck over a big
sheaf of Sydney HERALDS and DEAD BIRDS, or
perhaps with a volume of Buckle's HISTORY OF
CIVILISATION, the standard work selected for that
cruise.
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