But to be
mending things that haven't no insides to them appears
to me the height of foolishness." And doubtless these
continual pleasantries helped to reassure the landsmen,
who went to and fro unmoved, under circumstances that
might have daunted Nelson.
The weather was from the outset splendid, and the wind
fair and steady. The ship sailed like a witch. "This
CURRENCY LASS is a powerful old girl, and has more
complaints than I would care to put a name on," the
captain would say, as he pricked the chart; "but she
could show her blooming heels to anything of her size
in the Western Pacific." To wash decks, relieve the
wheel, do the day's work after dinner on the smoking-
room table, and take in kites at night--such was the
easy routine of their life. In the evening--above all,
if Tommy had produced some of his civilisation--yarns
and music were the rule. Amalu had a sweet Hawaiian
voice; and Hemstead, a great hand upon the banjo,
accompanied his own quavering tenor with effect. There
was a sense in which the little man could sing.
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