"But don't forget to put on a white collar, Mate. It is the consul
who is coming."
"Thank you, sir, thank you." And the first mate grinned all over his
face.
Then the captain tackled the second mate.
"I invite you to supper to-night at eight bells. The consul is
coming."
"Thank you, sir, thank you." The second mate wiped his mouth with
the back of his hand.
It was on a Saturday. I sat near the porthole of the galley,
patching my trousers and very busy at it. All the while I kept an
eye on Smutje preparing the ducks. They were roasted, stuffed with
prunes and apples, and I do love them that way. I was waiting for
the moment when Smutje would go aft to get something.
I didn't see the captain. He was sitting on the bridge reading his
newspaper, apparently. He had made a hole in the middle of the page,
through which he looked down into the open door of the galley and
kept his eye on the ducks. At first he did not see me. The mast was
in the way. Then he happened to lean to one side, and caught sight
of me near the porthole industriously mending my trousers.
Suddenly, a marlinespike came flying past me.
"You loafer, by Joe. What are you sniffing around the galley for?
And so you brought your pants along for wrapping purposes!"