The Lad
Went Up To Him With The Most Complete Assurance, And Raising His
Hat, Wished Him A Good Afternoon.
Captain T - - - turned round,
looked at him from head to foot, and saying coolly, "Hallo!
Who
the h - - are you?" kept on his walk. This was a rebuff not to
be mistaken, and the joke passed about among the crew by winks
and signs, at different parts of the ship. Finding himself
disappointed at headquarters, he edged along forward to the mate,
who was overseeing some work on the forecastle, and tried to begin
a yarn; but it would not do. The mate had seen the reception he
had met with aft, and would have no cast-off company. The second
mate was aloft, and the third mate and myself were painting the
quarter-boat, which hung by the davits, so he betook himself to
us; but we looked at one another, and the officer was too busy
to say a word. From us, he went to one and another of the crew,
but the joke had got before him, and he found everybody busy and
silent. Looking over the rail a few moments afterward, we saw him
at the galley-door talking to the cook. This was a great comedown,
from the highest seat in the synagogue to a seat in the galley with
the black cook. At night, too, when supper was called, he stood in
the waist for some time, hoping to be asked down with the officers,
but they went below, one after another, and left him.
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