Argosy, September 1955 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

6-14-34 BOTH WATCHES OF THE HANDS IOl * That’s all right,’”’ said Michael, a little uncertainiy. They might, he felt, very easily be taking him for one almighty ride. But without waiting for any further advice or instruction, Brew opened the door of the wheelhouse, and pushed the unfortunate Puddenead out into the chilly air. ‘‘ You ’eard what the Captain said,” he muttered gruffly. ‘‘ Now get yourself organized, and give ’er a bleedin’ good scrub-down.” Puddenead turned once appealingly to Michael, and then, finding no salvation, took off his shoes and socks and rolled his trousers up to his knees. In the meantime, Brew had found him a bucket and squeegee, and thrust it into his hands. ‘“ Don’t know what them A.B.’s is coming to, these days, sir,”’ said Knocker, who'd been closely watching the proceedings. “They’re too flipping lazy to take a deep breaf.”’ . The Silver Streak moved on towards the point, and Michael went out on deck with the intention of collecting his fares. But Puddenead made him stop dead in his tracks. After his initial reluctance, he had settled down to his task with savage gusto, and was swilling buckets full of hissing green water along the sloping decks. On one occasion, without making any pretence of miscalculation, he emptied half a bucket over the small, snivelling boy, who had been immensely attracted by this unusual activity. Screaming with shock and cold, the boy ran aft to his mother, a big blowzy woman, who rose up in several layers from her seat, and demanded to see the Captain. Brew, who had also seen it all happen, took over at once. | ‘“ Now then, now then,” he said, walking menacingly down upon the astonished passengers like a master-at-arms who’d discovered a bottle of gin on the mess-decks. ‘‘ What’s all this ols oe aa ‘‘ T want to see the Captain at once. I’ll have the police on him when we get back .. .” “Calm down, lady,” said Brew. “‘ If you want to see the Cap- tain, you'll ’ave to put in a request chit in the usual way. We don’t want none of this ’ere mutinous ’abit, not aboard a naval weusel...” ‘This is not a naval vessel,” said the thin, sallow man who was standing sadly beside her, and who was patently her much- oppressed husband. It was a token protest, dictated not by any real desire to oppose the sudden startling turn of events, but from an instinctive loyalty to the woman who was his wife. “Oh?” said Brew, turning on him, with his hands on his hips, and screwing up his sharp, pale blue eyes. “ And ’oo says it’s not? ”’ comiclbooks conn