Henry Masterman Mist Diaries and Prisoners Pie Magazine
Diaries of Heny Masterman Mist and a copy of Prisoners’ Pie, the Ruhleben Camp magazine. Learn more.
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didn't hit blow! By an' by hi sees the mate come down ar. crawl aft to the Hole Man an' then the two of them starts starin' hap aloft, or wot 'ad been hup, an' I could see they woz hanxious.
"Then the men comes down, slow an' stiff like, an' watchin' their charnce, crawls along an' gathers hon the poop. 'eavings' thinks hi, 'hall is lost, an' me to be drowned all becos of that higorant skipper!' I woz nearly 'eart-broke I woz. Sez I, 'hif I gets hout of this hi'll give up goin' ter sea an' go in steamboats' I sez.
"Any'ow I goes scramblin' an' crawlin' aft an' up onto the poop. an' the sight uv their faces woz dreadful to behold boys --- faces o' despair they woz. Then the Ole Man beckins to us, an' starts shoutin' above the gale. 'Men - has you see - himpossible - cut away sails - if you don't cut somethin' - lost, must cut away masts, or won't ever come hup!'
"The men 'ears 'im, an' looks more huneasy than hever; wen all of a sudden the mate roars 'Look!' an' 'e points forrard wiv all 'is might. We hall looked, an' strike me bloomin' lucky, but there woz the three monkeys gettin' hup aloft an' doin' it quick too; yes, Simon hup the "Fore", 'Enery hup the "Main", an' dear little Alf hup the "Mizzen"! We watches them fascintaed like, wonderin' wot the devil was goin' to 'appen, an' strike me hendways up, but them monkeys wot 'ad been hunwillin' spek-taters of the 'ole haffair, runs out on each yard an' bites clean through the earings an' gear han' away goes each sail, one hafter the other, the ship comin' hup slowly hall the time!
"'Well!' I 'ears the Ole Man gasp, 'I'll be damned!!'
"'Strike my t'gallan' masts!,' sez the Mate, 'that beats hall!!'
"But the pore monkeys, boys, they come down from aloft, crawls haft, an' lays down at the Ole Man's feet --- an' --- just pegs out! --- the hexertion 'ad killed them! pore little beggars! Hi woz just 'eart-broke, I woz, --- refused to be consolidated, I did.
"My missus 'as big 'Enery stuffed in the drorin' room to this day, seein' she sez, as 'ow 'e saved 'er dear 'usbing; and the Ole Man an' Mate 'as Alf an' Simon, an' I do 'ear, boys as 'ow Capen Smiff-Piggit 'as a monkey fer a figur' ead on 'is new ship; so don't you fellers go runnin' down monkeys an' callin' them - - -"
"Lay aft the watch," roars a stentorian voice, "Lee fore brace!"
"Aye, aye Sir," respond ten or twelve voices; and the watch scampering and tumbling along aft leave Doctor minus his audience.
Nauticus.
Kohana
The cherry blossom gleams in the sunshine....
her silk robes trail on the pathway....
The butterflies follow her steps. R.H.P.
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