And when all was done, I gave up like a woman and rolled upon the deck in the agony of exhaustion.
In the meantime Thomas Mugridge, like a drowned rat, was being dragged out from under the forecastle head where he had cravenly ensconced himself.

I saw him pulled aft to the cabin, and noted with a shock of surprise that the galley had disappeared.

A clean space of deck showed where it had stood.
In the cabin I found all hands assembled, sailors as well, and while coffee was being cooked over the small stove we drank whisky and crunched hard-tack.

Never in my life had food been so welcome.

And never had hot coffee tasted so good.