The carpenter used horrible language, but for his vexation I could have forgiven him if he had expressed it more decently, for he never had a moment's rest by day; and though a ship's carpenter is exempt from watches and allowed to sleep at night as a rule, I doubt if he had two nights' rest between Halifax and New York.
As Dennis put it, there was "any amount of chicanery about the whole affair." Some of our pay was "set against" supplying "duds" for Dennis to do dirty work in; Alister was employed as sail-maker, and then, like the carpenter, was cheated of his rest.

As to food, we were nearly starved, and should have fared even worse than we did, but that the black cook was friendly towards us.
"Dis _Water-Lily_ ob ours a leetle ober-blown, Dennis, I'm tinking," said Alfonso, showing all his white teeth.

"Hope she not fall to pieces dis voyage." "Hope not, Alfonso.

She hasn't lost her scent, anyhow!" At which allusion to our unsavoury cargo Alfonso yelled with laughter.
For our favour with the cook (and it means hot coffee, dry socks, and other little comforts being in favour with the cook) we had chiefly to thank Dennis.

Our coal-black comrade loved jokes much, but his own dignity just a little more; and the instinctive courtesy which was as natural to Dennis as the flow of his fun, made him particularly acceptable to Alfonso.
And for the rest, we came to feel that if we could keep the _Water-Lily_ afloat to the end of her voyage, most other considerations were minor ones..