Page:A Mainsail Haul - Masefield - 1913.djvu/171

Rh Perhaps he was a little touched with fever, for of a sudden he refilled his pannikin and drank it dry. He rose unsteadily, clutching at the table, and at the shirts of his companions. He leaned his head through the window, flinging his empty can far astern into the still, blue sea.

"A rot on all salt water," he shouted. Then he collapsed over a Newgate man, who had long hoed tobacco in the Indies. Blood was trickling from under his rag, for the wound was broken out again. A little blood came from between his lips: he seemed in a bad way. He had had some sort of a stroke.

"Joe's got the shakes," said the Newgate man. "Help us hold of him, Bill; lay him among them prettiments."

He pointed to the loot on the deck. One of the dicers took hold of Joe's boots, and dragged him clear of the table. They dropped him roughly among the clutter, with his head on some lace. The Newgate man went through his pockets. There were only two copper charms, some tobacco plug, a steel for striking a light, and a ball of twine.