.
"I'm glad we're getting off to-morrow," I remarked.
"--we might not. We lack a man for the crew yet."
"--thought we had the full number?"
"We did. But one of the boys in your party strayed away ... went to
another saloon and had a few more drinks ... and someone stuck him with
a knife in the short ribs ... he's in the hospital."
"But can't Captain Schantze pick up another man right away?"
"The consulate's closed till ten to-morrow morning. We're to sail at
five ... so he can't sign on a new sailor before ... of course he might
shanghai someone ... but the law's too severe these days ... and the
Sailors' Aid Society is always on the job ... it isn't like it used to
be."
* * * * *
But in spite of what the sailmaker had told me, the captain decided to
take his chance, rather than delay the time of putting forth to sea.
Around ten o'clock, in the full of the moon, a night-hawk cab drew up
alongside the ship where she lay docked, and out of it jumped the first
mate and the captain with a lad who was so drunk or drugged, or both,
that his legs went down under him when they tried to set him on his
feet.
They tumbled him aboard, where he lay in an insensate heap, drooling
spit and making incoherent, bubbling noises.
Without lifting an eyebrow in surprise, the sailmaker stepped forward
and joined the mate in jerking the man to his feet.
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