Maybe novels sell for just as much. _I_ don't know."
His companion laughed heartily. "I'm afraid not, Captain," he said.
"Few, at any rate. I should be satisfied with considerably less, to
begin with. Are you living here in town?"
"Well--we-ll, I don't know. I ain't exactly livin', and I ain't exactly
boardin', but--Say! ain't that the doctor callin' you?"
It was the steward, and there was an anxious ring in his voice. Pearson
excused himself and hurried out of the cabin. Captain Elisha lingered
for a final look about. Then he followed leisurely, becoming aware, as
he reached the open air, of loud voices in angry dialogue.
Entrances to the Empress of the Ocean's cabins were on the main deck,
and also on the raised half-deck at the stern, near the wheel, the
binnacle and the officers' corned-beef tubs, swinging in their frames.
From this upper deck two flights of steps led down to the main deck
below. At the top of one of these flights stood young Pearson, cool and
alert. Behind him half crouched the Japanese steward, evidently very
much frightened. At the foot of the steps were grouped three rough
looking men, foreigners and sailors without doubt, and partially
intoxicated. The three men were an ugly lot, and they were all yelling
and jabbering together in a foreign lingo.
Pages:
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107