Part 35 (2/2)
After changing their clothes, Luke and Carr breakfasted together at the after-end of the second officer's table in the saloon. With a certain humour the captain allowed of no relaxation in the discipline of the s.h.i.+p. The breakfast bell was rung at the usual time, the meal was served with the usual profusion, even the menus were written as carefully as ever; and some good ladies opined that the captain must be a G.o.dless man, because forsooth he did not cringe beneath the wing of the pa.s.sing Angel of Death.
”I am glad I saw that,” said Carr, neat and clean, hearty and smiling as usual.
Luke looked up from a generous plate. He thought that Carr was indulging in bravado, but he relinquished this opinion when he saw the man's face and his helping of bacon and eggs. Carr seemed to have enjoyed the cyclone, as he had no doubt enjoyed many a game of football in his youth, and many a spin across country later. For this man kept his hunters. He was moved thereto by that form of self-respect which urges some men to live like gentlemen, to, as they express it, ”do themselves well,” whether their mere monetary circ.u.mstances allow of it or no; and some one usually pays for these philosophers--that is the annoying part of it.
”By gad! I didn't think it could blow like that, though!” Carr went on, with his mouth full.
”I don't think it can often,” replied Luke. He could not help liking this man, despite his first prejudice against him. Besides, they had stood shoulder to shoulder, with death around them, and such moments draw differing men together. It is the required touch of Nature, this same death, which frightens us before it comes and seems so gentle when it is here.
”I always wanted to see a cyclone,” went on Carr conversationally, ”and now I'm satisfied. I have had enough. I shouldn't have cared for more. Pa.s.s, cyclones!”
”It is not many men who have your laudable thirst for experience,”
said Luke. ”It is rather a strenuous form of pleasure.”
”Pleasure!” answered Carr, with one of his sharp glances.
”Pleasure, be d--d! It's business, sir, business. I mean to make money out of cyclones.”
”How? Bottle them up and make them turn a windmill?”
”No, sir.”
Carr turned round to make sure that he could not be overheard.
”No, sir. Your idea is not bad in the main, though hardly practicable. No. I know a dodge worth two of that! I told you before that I am in the marine insurance line. Now, the funny part of the marine insurance line is that the majority of the men engaged in it do not know their business. Now I propose to teach these gentlemen their business.”
”Will they thank you for it?” asked Luke.
”They'll pay me for it, which is better, by a long chalk! Ha, ha!
b.u.t.ter, please.”
”And what have cyclones got to do with it?”
Again one of the sharp glances which sat so strangely on Carr's open countenance.
”I understand there is a science of cyclones,” he said quietly.
”Yes.”
”Which means that you chaps knew what was coming forty-eight hours ago?”
”Yes,” replied Luke.
”That that steamer flying signals yesterday was talking to you about it?”
”Yes.”
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