When I got to the _Early and
Late_, though, I was pretty dead beat, and it cost me half a dozen
tries before I could heave myself on to the accommodation-ladder.
Hows'ever, once on board I had a strip and a good rub-down, and
tumbled to bed glowin' like a babby.
"I slept like a top, too, this time. What woke me was a voice close
abeam, hailin' the _Early and Late_; and there was a brisk,
brass-bound young chap alongside in a steam-launch, explainin' as
he'd brought out the boat, and why the harbour-master hadn't sent her
out last night. 'As requested by your crew, Cap'n.' 'That's very
polite o' them and o' you, and o' the harbour-master,' said I; 'and I
wish you the compliments o' the season.' For I liked the looks of
him there, smiling up in an obliging way, and Plymouth bells behind
him all sounding to Church together for Christmas. 'Same to you,
Cap'n!' he called out, and sheered off with a wave o' the hand,
having made the boat fast astern.
"I stared after him for a bit, and then I turned my attention to the
_Maid in Two Minds_. Her boat, too, lay astern of her; and one of
her crew was already on deck, swabbin' down.
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