Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/378

288 rejected, so I was always " so unselfish" and refused to deprive them of one.

There was quite jealousy between the different ships over these young ladies.

One day, however, they had been invited on board a certain ship—the whole company. They always had to be fetched by the middies and brought safely back. This day the gallant sailors did not arrive at the proper time, and when half an hour had gone by, a whole shoal of indignant and offended damsels descended on me, voicing loud complaints. How dared the middies keep them waiting! No, they would not go at all—no, not they!

I pleaded the cause of the absent, endeavoured to reason—to reason with women, and these creatures were little women!—talked of duty and how " England expected," and all the rest. But when a full hour had gone, feeling rose to tragic heights. I was urged, entreated, threatened, cajoled, and I know not what, to go to the ship and find out the reason of this shocking desertion. Only the Belle of New York, sitting quietly on the foot of my long chair, was silent.

"But," said I, "if I went to the ship they might be angry and hit me with a marline-spike."

"What was a marline-spike?"

I had no idea.

"Oh! one of those things sailors hit people on the head with."

"Oh, do go!" they screamed in chorus, and they were wildly excited over this, and the ungrateful little hussies nearly pulled me out of my chair, imploring me to go and be marline-spiked! They urged and entreated and said, "But you are a man, and won't mind it."

Only the Belle of New York made dissenting gestures, and threw me entreating looks which