On mounting the deck the
captain took a long look at the stranger that had just hove in sight
over the starboard bow; then laid his glasses on the skylight and looked
around for his pipe. When he saw the sketch he reached forth his
hand to pick it up. Being convinced by the suppressed murmur of
merriment he heard among the sail-sewers that they knew of the joke, he
quickly disappeared down the hatchway. The sailors drove sail needles
into each other in their hilarity. As he captain made no remark, the
incident was forgotten.
The following Sunday morning the captain called Paul down and told him
to order all hands on deck and get the chain hooks. This order surprised
Paul as it was very unusual for any work to be done on Sunday except to
stand watch, steer and trim sail. He made no remark, however, but
proceeded to the deck and ordered all hands out. The men let their
washing, sewing, and other domestic duties to which they generally
devoted their attention on Sunday, and came on deck more astonished than
Paul was. He then told the boatswain to get out the chain hooks. The
captain now appeared and gave the order to "hoist away that starboard
chain and trice it along the deck." This was a terrible job as
fully sixty fathoms of the heavy anchor chain lay stowed away in the
chain locker below.
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