hinese cook representing the afterguard until
the advent of Murphy and Hennesey. To properly equip this afterguard,
Murphy pried out six more bricks from under the galley stove, solemnly
distributed them with instructions as to their use, and then he and
Hennesey replevined the half-empty bottles from the sleepers, an easy
task for such skilled craftsmen.

About noon the twenty-four awakened and clamored for their dinner. It
was served, and as it contained meat in plenty it was satisfactory;
then, smoking their clay pipes, they mustered on deck and, more or less
unconsciously, divided into two parts, the Galways separate from the
Limericks.

"Loose the foretopsail, Hennesey," said Murphy, as he looked at them.
"Overhaul the gear and stop it so ye can come down. Thin take the
halyards to the fo'c'stle capstan. I'll take the main."

The first mate was content to remain out of the proceedings for the
present. Murphy and Hennesey went aloft, performed their part, and came
down; then, when the two falls of the halyards were led to the two
capstans, Murphy, with his hand in his pocket and his heart in his
mouth, went among them.

"I want," he said, sourly, "twilve good min, but I don't know that I
can git them. Ye're a lot o' bog-trotters that don't know enough to
heave on a capstan."

"The hill we don't!" uttered a Galway man close to him.

"We l'arned thot in Checa-a-go."

"Ye mane," said Murphy, "that the Limerick boys _tried_ to l'arn, but
they couldn't. The wark's too hard."

"Fwat's too ha-a-rd?" answered the Galway. "Ye domned murderer, fwat's
too hard? D'y' think we can't wurruk?"

"D'ye think ye _can_ wark?" said Murphy. "Thin git at that capstan, you
Galway min. And git busy, quick, or I'll give the job to the Limerick
boys. They're passably good min, I think."

"To hill wi' thim! Hurrah, here, b'ys. C'm'an and pull the mon's rope.
Who says we can't wurruk?"

They joyously and enthusiastically surrounded the forecastle capstan,
shipped the brakes, and began to heave, with black looks at the envious
Limericks, to whom Murphy now addressed himself.

"Are yez lookin' for wark?" he demanded.

"Yis," they chorused.

"Man that 'midship capstan, thin. Beat these Galway sogers and I'll
give ye wark right along."

With whoops and shouts they flocked to the capstan amidships, and began
to compete, shoving on the bars, cheering and encouraging each other
and deriding those on the forecastle deck, who respon