She was the queerest craft in some ways that ever I was aboard of.

The food was a caution; there was nothing fit to put your lips to--but the lime-juice, which was from the end bin no doubt: it used to make me sick to see the men's dinners, and sorry to see my own.

The old man was good enough, I guess; Green was his name; a mild, fatherly old galoot.

But the hands were the lowest gang I ever handled; and whenever I tried to knock a little spirit into them, the old man took their part! It was Gilbert and Sullivan on the high seas; but you bet I wouldn't let any man dictate to me.

'You give me your orders, Captain Green,' I said, 'and you'll find I'll carry them out; that's all you've got to say.