Its nobodys business but Capn Bartletts, and Ive
told him.
Cut up some of the cabin berth boards, he said. The
whole affair was irregular, so one more breach of regulationsmade little difference.
He was lying where he had fallen, his face white, and groaningbetween his set
teeth.
Then he and Gammon went to the galley to make the
fires and boilthe coffee.
His first move, after entering, was to go straight
to the skippersroom.
But, as it happened, no one went to the villagethat
day, or the next. He andthe men from Setuckit Station had saved the Flyaway and the
livesof those aboard her. You used to be in the service, Philander. Homer, not
stopping to knock or hail, threw open thedoor of the keepers room.
He left them in the cabin, tearing the mates berth
to pieces, andwent on deck. Crazy as a June bug, bellowed Seleucus, from the kitchen
doorway. Thecrowd, therefore, promptly followed him.
Heisnt fit to stay here and he shant stay. Homer,
though equally sympathetic, was too busy to groan. If that durn stove dont cave in,
he observed, well havesomethin hot to load up our bilers with. He did not feel that
he should enjoy smoking justthen. Hewas keeping out of the way, they opined; perhaps
he was writing tohis wife ashore. His authority had been defied andassumed by
another.
He returned at four, dragged Seleucus from his cot,
and sent himforth.
Its nobodys business but Capn Bartletts, and Ive
told him.
When sheisnt, and if she needs us, well go, I
suppose.