“What’s your name?”
The first Brit perked up at Arthur’s interest in him; and he replied, “Groggy Jack, mate! And that snot there is Happy Jack.” He laughed, looked around, and in a low, cheeky voice, said, “And tonight you’ll find out why!” He laughed again as he continued stirring the steaming, odorous lard.
II
“Work’s almost finished, Black Jack!” exclaimed Groggy Jack. He turned to his other, less gregarious partner, and said, “Get the wash water ready, Happy Jack!” The other man snorted and grunted a mumbled agreement. “You can start getting ready for your bath, Black Jack.”
Arthur hesitated with uncertainty, looking around the beach. The roving watch told each party the time was just past six. Arthur could see several men from each group putting down their tools and standing fast. No whales had come in that day. It was early in the season, and the migratory whales would arrive when they wished. Arthur was lucky to see some of the waning warm weather of the South Pacific. Noticing the sun stood unusually high in the evening sky, Arthur was grateful to feel the last bit of Fall before the cold, wet winter set in.
With no whales being dragged in from the sea, and no new ships arriving, the men were free for the night. Arthur could see that the men of the beach were in a festive mood, even though he had heard throughout the day that riotous celebration normally followed a large catch.
“What are you doing, Black Jack?” Groggy asked. “Get those clothes off, and get ready.”
Arthur paused for another moment. He scanned the beach further, and saw men engaged in happy chatter undressing unceremoniously. Also, many women, both white and brown-skinned, had begun to move among the groups and collect the discarded garments, seemingly indifferent to the natural state of the nude whalers. Arthur finally began to undress.
“Mate, what the hell is wrong with that uniform?” demanded Groggy in a joking manner. “Did they issue the cabin boy’s spare to you?” he asked.
“I am the Cabin Boy.” Said Black Jack. He didn’t fully understand the sleight behind Groggy’s comment. “I think I grew a little bit on the trip.” Said Black Jack.
“A little bit?” exclaimed Groggy. “Mate, your hem is three inches above your ankle! Your shirt is above your belly hole. You look like one of those Arabian dancers!” he squealed.
Black Jack was embarrassed. “I suppose so.” he said. He had gone through a tremendous growth spurt during the four-month journey. Just under six-feet tall when he signed on in the harbor, he had not noticed a change at first during his adjustment to rigorous sea life. Underway for some time, he had noticed that his bunk seemed to be getting rather cramped; and he began to regularly bump his head on some of the higher passageway doors.
The ship’s doctor at first attributed the cabin boy’s awkwardness to inexperience and a case of ‘getting his sea legs on’; however, Arthur’s elongation progressed so rapidly that it became apparent to the naked eye of the physician. As Arthur stood towering over him one day midway through the voyage, the medicine man exclaimed, “Good God, boy, you’re becoming a giant!” The doctor became so fascinated with Arthur as a special case that he dedicated additional time and care to studying the Captain’s personal attendant. He eventually concluded that the added foods in a former slave’s diet; the rigorous exertion of operating a ship on open seas at full sail; and the healthy sun and salty air had all contributed to Arthur’s explosive growth.
The extra attention paid by the doctor had its influence on the rest of the crew, who before long elevated Arthur to a state of notoriety. In the galley
The first Brit perked up at Arthur’s interest in him; and he replied, “Groggy Jack, mate! And that snot there is Happy Jack.” He laughed, looked around, and in a low, cheeky voice, said, “And tonight you’ll find out why!” He laughed again as he continued stirring the steaming, odorous lard.
II
“Work’s almost finished, Black Jack!” exclaimed Groggy Jack. He turned to his other, less gregarious partner, and said, “Get the wash water ready, Happy Jack!” The other man snorted and grunted a mumbled agreement. “You can start getting ready for your bath, Black Jack.”
Arthur hesitated with uncertainty, looking around the beach. The roving watch told each party the time was just past six. Arthur could see several men from each group putting down their tools and standing fast. No whales had come in that day. It was early in the season, and the migratory whales would arrive when they wished. Arthur was lucky to see some of the waning warm weather of the South Pacific. Noticing the sun stood unusually high in the evening sky, Arthur was grateful to feel the last bit of Fall before the cold, wet winter set in.
With no whales being dragged in from the sea, and no new ships arriving, the men were free for the night. Arthur could see that the men of the beach were in a festive mood, even though he had heard throughout the day that riotous celebration normally followed a large catch.
“What are you doing, Black Jack?” Groggy asked. “Get those clothes off, and get ready.”
Arthur paused for another moment. He scanned the beach further, and saw men engaged in happy chatter undressing unceremoniously. Also, many women, both white and brown-skinned, had begun to move among the groups and collect the discarded garments, seemingly indifferent to the natural state of the nude whalers. Arthur finally began to undress.
“Mate, what the hell is wrong with that uniform?” demanded Groggy in a joking manner. “Did they issue the cabin boy’s spare to you?” he asked.
“I am the Cabin Boy.” Said Black Jack. He didn’t fully understand the sleight behind Groggy’s comment. “I think I grew a little bit on the trip.” Said Black Jack.
“A little bit?” exclaimed Groggy. “Mate, your hem is three inches above your ankle! Your shirt is above your belly hole. You look like one of those Arabian dancers!” he squealed.
Black Jack was embarrassed. “I suppose so.” he said. He had gone through a tremendous growth spurt during the four-month journey. Just under six-feet tall when he signed on in the harbor, he had not noticed a change at first during his adjustment to rigorous sea life. Underway for some time, he had noticed that his bunk seemed to be getting rather cramped; and he began to regularly bump his head on some of the higher passageway doors.
The ship’s doctor at first attributed the cabin boy’s awkwardness to inexperience and a case of ‘getting his sea legs on’; however, Arthur’s elongation progressed so rapidly that it became apparent to the naked eye of the physician. As Arthur stood towering over him one day midway through the voyage, the medicine man exclaimed, “Good God, boy, you’re becoming a giant!” The doctor became so fascinated with Arthur as a special case that he dedicated additional time and care to studying the Captain’s personal attendant. He eventually concluded that the added foods in a former slave’s diet; the rigorous exertion of operating a ship on open seas at full sail; and the healthy sun and salty air had all contributed to Arthur’s explosive growth.
The extra attention paid by the doctor had its influence on the rest of the crew, who before long elevated Arthur to a state of notoriety. In the galley
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