She knew, of course, but I never dreamed, how French Frank was raging down below.

Then Tess joined us, sitting on the cabin; and Spider, and Bob; and at the last, Mrs.
Hadley and French Frank.

And we sat there, glasses in hand, and sang, while the big demijohn went around; and I was the only strictly sober one.
And I enjoyed it as no one of them was able to enjoy it.

Here, in this atmosphere of bohemianism, I could not but contrast the scene with my scene of the day before, sitting at my machine, in the stifling, shut-in air, repeating, endlessly repeating, at top speed, my series of mechanical motions.

And here I sat now, glass in hand, in warm-glowing camaraderie, with the oyster pirates, adventurers who refused to be slaves to petty routine, who flouted restrictions and the law, who carried their lives and their liberty in their hands.