Argosy, September 1955 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

108 ROWAN AYERS Thwaites. The boy, with a finger jammed into his ear, was aim- ing the Verey pistol into the air, and the squeegee, propelled by Puddenead with the force of a torpedo, bounced hard against the stricken, pitching hull of the motor-boat, registering, as Puddenead called out ecstatically, “One ’it. Abaft the engine-room.” But most effective of all was the curving, hissing wave of the wash that reared up in the narrow space between the two hulls, and tumbled gleefully into the smaller boat, mixing with the oily water in her bilges and slopping about the deck boards in a thick, scummy stew. As Silver Streak pulled away, the gallant members of Number One Gun’s crew, led by Brewis and Puddenead, let out a spon- taneous, triumphant, heartfelt cheer. Michael, feeling weak and exhausted by the incident, had neither courage nor strength enough to turn towards the Mary Lou, from which he could hear the outraged ‘Thwaites screaming and threatening in the most emphatic nautical language. Fifteen minutes later they were approaching the jetty, and Brew, who had been busy with the hands clearing up after the action, gave another of his eerie whistles. ‘““ Both watches of the ’ands,”’ he called, “‘ fall in for entering ’arbour.”’ The passengers shuffled up again on to the foredeck, only this time without any noticeable resentment. Quietly and efficiently, they sorted themselves out to port and starboard, and were turned, after a little preliminary manceuvring, to face outwards. Knocker, handing the wheel back to Michael, went out and joined up with the starboard division. Only Leo, standing indolently in the bows, ready with the breast-rope, spoilt the splendid, ordered symmetry. Not until the vessel was finally secure against the landing-stage did Brewis allow them to move. ‘““Ship’s company,” he bawled, in a voice that surprised the anglers on the jetty and carried far inland, “ ship’s company, turn right . . . dismiss.”’ There was a moment’s hushed immobility; then gradually the lines disintegrated. Knocker turned to Brew and shook him warmly by the hand. “ All right, mate,’ he complimented him, “a bit of all right, that was.”’ Brew grinned. “ I reckon we’s wasting our time in the flipping Navy,” he said. The passengers seemed reluctant to leave. The thin, sallow man came up to Michael and smiled benignly. “I haven’t enjoyed anything so much,” he said, “‘ for a very long time.” comiclooks.conn