Part 1 (1/2)
Captains Courageous
by Rudyard Kipling
CHAPTER I
The weather door of the s, as the big liner rolled and lifted, whistling to warn the fishi+ng-fleet
”That Cheyne boy's the biggest nuisance aboard,” said a”He isn't wanted here He's too fresh”
A white-haired Gerrunted between bites: ”I know der breed Aa is full of dot kind I dell you you should imbort ropes' ends free under your dariff”
”Pshaw! There isn't any real har,” athe cushi+ons under the wet skylight ”They've dragged him around fro to hisShe's a lovely lady, but she don't pretend toto Europe to finish his education”
”Education isn't begun yet” This was a Philadelphian, curled up in a corner ”That boy gets two hundred a month pocket-money, he told me He isn't sixteen either”
”Railroads, his father, aind't it?” said the Ger Built one place at San Diego, the old eles; owns half a dozen railroads, half the lumber on the Pacific slope, and lets his wife spend the money,” the Philadelphian went on lazily ”The West don't suit her, she says She just tracks around with the boy and her nerves, trying to find out what'll as, New York, and round again He isn't much more than a second-hand hotel clerk now When he's finished in Europe he'll be a holy terror”
”What's theto him personally?” said a voice fro up the rocks 'Don't want to be disturbed, I guess
He'll find out his error a few years froood in the boy if you could get at it”
”Mit a rope's end; rowled the Gerht, sliarette hanging froh footway His pasty yellow complexion did not shoell on a person of his years, and his look was a mixture of irresolution, bravado, and very cheap smartness He was dressed in a cherry-coloured blazer, knickerbockers, red stockings, and bicycle shoes, with a red flannel cap at the back of the head After whistling between his teeth, as he eyed the coh voice: ”Say, it's thick outside You can hear the fish-boats squawking all around us Say, wouldn't it be great if we ran down one?”
”Shut the door, Harvey,” said the New Yorker ”Shut the door and stay outside You're not wanted here”
”Who'll stop e, Mister Martin? 'Guess I've as good right here as the next man”
He picked up soainst left
”Say, gen'elame of poker between us?”
There was no answer, and he puffed his cigarette, swung his legs, and druers Then he pulled out a roll of bills as if to count them
”How's your mamma this afternoon?” a man said ”I didn't see her at lunch”
”In her state-roo to give the stewardess fifteen dollars for looking after her I don't go down more 'n I can avoid It makes me feel mysterious to pass that butler's-pantry place Say, this is the first tiise, Harvey”
”Who's apologising? This is the first tien'elmen, and, except the first day, I haven't been sick one little bit No, sir!” He brought down his fist with a triu the bills
”Oh, you're a high-grade ht,” the Philadelphian yawned ”You'll blossom into a credit to your country if you don't take care”