Argosy, September 1955 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

ra BOTH WATCHES OF THE HANDS 103 _ The passengers huddled nervously together against the guard- rail; but not for long. _ “°Ere, you, you, you, and you,” selected the irrepressibie Brewis, “ get fell in on the port side. You'll be the port watch from now on. And, you, Lofty,’ he addressed the small boy _ who was clinging, shivering, to his mother’s voluminous skirt, “you'll be in charge of the starboard watch. O.K.? Now, sort yourselves out in two ranks, and look lively about it.” Michael watched the dreary assortment break up into two __ separate divisions and form up into lines on either side of the — foc’sle. Puddenead, who had by now relinquished his bucket, __ joined up with the port watch, to make five a side. Knocker, with _____ the stoicism of a veteran, regarded them disparagingly. a ‘““ Rough lot o’ lubbers, if you arst me,” was his only comment. Brew stood majestically between the two ranks; monarch or at least acting monarch of all he surveyed. “Now then,” he boomed, “ when I calls you to attention I want to see it done smart and proper, both legs together, back up straight, chest out, chin in, and no shuffling. ‘That goes for ______- you too, dearie,”’ he glared at a giggling little blonde in the port watch; then, as she stopped, wiped his hand across his mouth. ‘“ Both watches of the ’ands,” he bellowed, so that even Michael felt as if something had hit him hard in the solar plexus, “both watches... shun!” 'There was a slow, untidy response _ that could almost be interpreted as defiance. Only the man with the sallow face moved smartly, and, as a result, received a withering look of condemnation from his wife. ‘““As you were!”’ Brew screamed, and put them through it --_-—s again. ~=‘This time it was better, but still not good enough. At the fourth attempt, he was satisfied, and turning smartly on his heels, came-aft to report to Michael. : ‘“ Both watches of the ’ands fallen in, sir,” he said, saluting b a ae ¥ . smartly. “ All present and correct.” “Thank you, Brewis,’ said Michael nonchalantly, and he followed him onto the foredeck. ‘‘ Stand them at ease, will you.” aie “Ay, ay, sir.” Brewis swung on his victims again. ‘“ Ship’s _-~- companee—stand at—ease.”’ Michael still could not believe the situation. Before him, on either side, stood ten solemn men and women, ostensibly at ease. Neither their sex nor their age seemed to intrude any more into the neat pattern of well-established naval discipline, and he felt - that he had to make no concessions, even to himself. He was the Captain, this was his ship, and these were his crew. _ Nothing else could now be allowed to challenge the fantastic COMlCOOKS.COM