The Argosy — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

2E0 THE ARGOSY. ‘Well, what do you want ?’’ “The captain is complaining about your unsociability,”’ ‘*T’m sorry.”’ He laughed. 3 “So are we. Won't you come out and join us?”’ “I’ve turned in.’’ ‘Well, turn out again.’’ The laughter of the other men rang out merrily, which convinced me that they were listening to our dialogue, and that they had made up their minds to plague me. Moreover, the drink was aboard, and the brutes might want humoring. It did. not take me half a minute to make up my mind. ‘“Very well. I’ll be out in a second.’’ I slipped on a coat over my pyjamas, nor did I forget to drop my pistol into one of the pockets. Then quickly opening the door, I stepped out into the saloon with a jauntiness I was far from feeling. At the head of the table sat Captain Macshiel. On one side of him was Mr. Gupp, on the other a dark, downy, foreign looking man, whom I knew to be the chief engineer. Murrell, the mate, stood by the sideboard just behind the captain. Before each man was a tumbler of whisky and water, and as each was pulling vigorously at a Manila cheroot, the density of the atmosphere may be imagined. I was greeted with uproarious cries of welcome. A cigar was shoved between my lips, a bottle of whisky placed in one hand and a tumbler in the other. 7 ‘‘’There you are, my lad,’’ cried the captain, whose little eyes were all aglow with devilment, or whisky, which is the same thing. ‘‘ Drink up, like a man. WHere’s to the good ship Pulo Way and the good things she means to do.’’ | At this there wasa great pretense of hurrahing, though I could see that it was all done for my benefit. Glasses were clicked, and the Portugee began a Portuguese version of ‘‘ For he’s a jolly good fellow.’’ Having no objection to drinking such a toast, I supplemented it with, ‘‘ And here’s to her captain and crew, and may they die peacefully in their beds like honest men !’”’ The toast might easily have been less ambiguous, though being in an irri- table mood, I cared little. Still, it was received in a way which made me doubt its wisdom ; for your rogue always harbors the absurd hope that he will be mistaken for an honest man. Two or three pairs of eyes fairly glared at me, and then the captain burst into a ringing laugh. | “Good !’’ he cried. ‘‘ Capital! We are all honest men here, Mr. Ravens- ford, and I have no doubt that we shall die peacefully in our beds.’’ Gupp looked at the Portugee and whispered ; but the captain, smiling graciously, struck a match, and held it to my cheroot. ‘Then he motioned me to a seat beside him, and, taking up a pack of cards from the table, sug- gested that we should have a game. As I could not well refuse, I imme- diately agreed. Something told me that this was a crucial moment | Ecomichbook