vely, now! ..."
At the door he turned, eyeing the floor, now awash. "Look here, young
'un"--to poor, woebegone Munro--"the Mate says you're not to come on
deck. You stay here and bale up, an' if the damn place isn't dry when
we come below I'll hide the life out o' ye! ... Oh, it's no use
screwin' your face up. 'Cry baby' business is no good aboard a packet!
You buck up an' bale the house ... or ... look out!" He heaved at the
door, sprawled over, and floundered out into the black night.

Munro turned a white, despairing face on us elders. We had no support
for him. Hansen was fumbling with his belt. I was drawing on my long
boots. Both of us seemed not to have heard. This was the way of the
half-deck. With Eccles it had been different. He was only a second
voyager, a dog-watch at sea--almost a 'greenhorn.' There was time
enough for him to 'chew the rag' when he had got the length of keeping
a regular 'wheel and look out.' Besides, it was a 'breach' for him to
start bossing about when there were two of his elders in the house. We
could fix him all right!

Ah! But Jones! ... It was not that we were afraid of him. Either of
us would have plugged him one at the word 'Go!' if it had been a
straight affair between us. But this was no business of ours. Jones
was almost a man. In a month or two his time would be out. There
could be no interference, not a word could be said; it was--the way of
the half-deck.

Swaying, sailor-like, on the reeling deck, we drew on our oilskins and
sea-boots, buckled our belts, tied down the flaps of our sou'westers,
and made ready. While we were at it Munro started on his task. He
filled the big bucket, dragged it half-way to the door, then sat down
heavily with a low cry of dismay.

"What's the matter, Kid, eh?" said Hansen kindly. "Got the blues, eh?
Buck up, man! Blue's a rotten colour aboard ship! Here, hand me the
bucket!"

He gripped the handle, stood listening for a chance, then swung the
door out an inch or two, and tipped the bucket.

"It ... it's ... not ... that," said the youngster. "It's ...
s-s-staying in here w-when you fellows are on d-deck! ... Ye ...
s-said th' house m-might go ... any time! ... Let me come!..."

"No, no! Th' Mate said you weren't t' come on deck! You stay here!
You'd only be in th' way! You'll be all right here; the rotten old box
'll stand a few gales yet! ... What's that?"

Above the shrilling of the gale we heard the