Ching Ching's Novelettes No. 1: Snapson of the 'Snake' — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

( 9 ) Will looked eagerly at them as if he expected they would do something to resist the brutality of Dopper, and he was evidently disappointed when he saw there was no movement on their part. Perhaps he hoped for a mutiny, and thought it a possibility of his being saved from further persecution. We shall hear by-and-bye what were his real thoughts upon that point. After the kicking the man got up and limped forward, and then set himself to work curling a lot of loose ropes that were lying about. Will was astounded. It was so unlike what he had read and heard of life at sea. And yet it was real life. The world had many such ships like the “ Snake” afloat, and untold num- bers of Doppers and Grips, Bullying is rife everywhere, even on the large vessels, although it is not done quite so openly. Not a man on board saw anything very outrageous in Dopper's brutality, and they dispersed to their labours as if nothing had happened. With the scene ended Dopper’s brief course of instruction to Will, which of course was no instruction at all, He was not going to waste his time in teaching a boy who, according to his way of thinking, would never have any use for it. So he left Will to himself, and the boy moved about the deck, talking first to one man and then to the other. He told his story briefly to all, and asked them to befriend him, but not one promised to do so. One said it “wasn’t His business” ; another only grunted out that he did not want to be bothered; a third told him plainly that he did not believe his yarn. ‘All you boys who come to sea,” he said, “ pitch that sort of thing about. You take to heart that you ain’t the only kid who has gone through the mill.” Another said he would not help him if he could, and added by way of a rider that “he had just as well be dead as living.” Sickened and weary Will turned away, and, throwing himself down under the lee of the ship's side to escape the rush of the wind, gave himself up to meditation. ——— a ——_—_ —— CHAPTER IV. NIGHT—-THE EAVESDROPPER AND WITNESS OF THE A DARK DEED ON A DARK BARGAIN. CRIME—-MAKE THE BEST OF A BAD © oa QE next day the wind lulled, and towards evening it became almost a calm. With a heavy swaying motion the old “ Snake ” lumbered along Be about a knot an hour, accompanied by the execrating comments ot he sailors on her make, shape, and sea-going qualities. GOMLGIOO S (SO)