"
"Here I am. Here I've been ever since six o'clock. Didn't want to
interrupt the pleasant conversation. If you like to put in half of your
watch below jawing with a dear friend, that's not my affair. Funny taste
though."
"He isn't a bad chap," said the impartial Powell.
The mate snorted angrily, tapping the deck with his foot; then: "Isn't
he? Well, give him my love when you come together again for another nice
long yarn."
"I say, Mr. Franklin, I wonder the captain don't take offence at your
manners."
"The captain. I wish to goodness he would start a row with me. Then I
should know at least I am somebody on board. I'd welcome it, Mr. Powell.
I'd rejoice. And dam' me I would talk back too till I roused him. He's
a shadow of himself. He walks about his ship like a ghost. He's fading
away right before our eyes. But of course you don't see. You don't care
a hang. Why should you?"
Mr. Powell did not wait for more. He went down on the main deck. Without
taking the mate's jeremiads seriously he put them beside the words of Mr.
Smith. He had grown already attached to Captain Anthony.
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