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argument。 The mate of the Cicero was seeing his friend on board。
They would continue their senseless and muddled discourse in tones
of profound friendship for half an hour or so at the shore end of
our gangway； and then I would hear Mr。 B… insisting that he must
see the other on board his ship。 And away they would go； their
voices； still conversing with excessive amity； being heard moving
all round the harbour。 It happened more than once that they would
thus perambulate three or four times the distance； each seeing the
other on board his ship out of pure and disinterested affection。
Then； through sheer weariness； or perhaps in a moment of
forgetfulness； they would manage to part from each other somehow；
and by…and…by the planks of our long gangway would bend and creak
under the weight of Mr。 B… coming on board for good at last。
On the rail his burly form would stop and stand swaying。
〃Watchman！〃
〃Sir。〃
A pause。
He waited for a moment of steadiness before negotiating the three
steps of the inside ladder from rail to deck； and the watchman；
taught by experience； would forbear offering help which would be
received as an insult at that particular stage of the mate's
return。 But many times I trembled for his neck。 He was a heavy
man。
Then with a rush and a thump it would be done。 He never had to
pick himself up； but it took him a minute or so to pull himself
together after the descent。
〃Watchman！〃
〃Sir。〃
〃Captain aboard？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Pause。
〃Dog aboard？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Pause。
Our dog was a gaunt and unpleasant beast； more like a wolf in poor
health than a dog； and I never noticed Mr。 B… at any other time
show the slightest interest in the doings of the animal。 But that
question never failed。
〃Let's have your arm to steady me along。〃
I was always prepared for that request。 He leaned on me heavily
till near enough the cabin…door to catch hold of the handle。 Then
he would let go my arm at once。
〃That'll do。 I can manage now。〃
And he could manage。 He could manage to find his way into his
berth； light his lamp； get into his bed … ay； and get out of it
when I called him at half…past five； the first man on deck； lifting
the cup of morning coffee to his lips with a steady hand； ready for
duty as though he had virtuously slept ten solid hours … a better
chief officer than many a man who had never tasted grog in his
life。 He could manage all that； but could never manage to get on
in life。
Only once he failed to seize the cabin…door handle at the first
grab。 He waited a little； tried again； and again failed。 His
weight was growing heavier on my arm。 He sighed slowly。
〃D…n that handle！〃
Without letting go his hold of me he turned about； his face lit up
bright as day by the full moon。
〃I wish she were out at sea；〃 he growled savagely。
〃Yes； sir。〃
I felt the need to say something； because he hung on to me as if
lost； breathing heavily。
〃Ports are no good … ships rot； men go to the devil！〃
I kept still； and after a while he repeated with a sigh。
〃I wish she were at sea out of this。〃
〃So do I； sir；〃 I ventured。
Holding my shoulder； he turned upon me。
〃You！ What's that to you where she is？ You don't … drink。〃
And even on that night he 〃managed it〃 at last。 He got hold of the
handle。 But he did not manage to light his lamp （I don't think he
even tried）； though in the morning as usual he was the first on
deck； bull…necked； curly…headed； watching the hands turn…to with
his sardonic expression and unflinching gaze。
I met him ten years afterwards； casually； unexpectedly； in the
street； on coming out of my consignee office。 I was not likely to
have forgotten him with his 〃I can manage now。〃 He recognised me
at once； remembered my name； and in what ship I had served under
his orders。 He looked me over from head to foot。
〃What are you doing here？〃 he asked。
〃I am commanding a little barque；〃 I said； 〃loading here for
Mauritius。〃 Then； thoughtlessly； I added： 〃And what are you
doing； Mr。 B…？〃
〃I；〃 he said； looking at me unflinchingly； with his old sardonic
grin … 〃I am looking for something to do。〃
I felt I would rather have bitten out my tongue。 His jet…black；
curly hair had turned iron…gray； he was scrupulously neat as ever；
but frightfully threadbare。 His shiny boots were worn down at
heel。 But he forgave me； and we drove off together in a hansom to
dine on board my ship。 He went over her conscientiously； praised
her heartily； congratulated me on my command with absolute
sincerity。 At dinner； as I offered him wine and beer he shook his
head； and as I sat looking at him interrogatively； muttered in an
undertone：
〃I've given up all that。〃
After dinner we came again on deck。 It seemed as though he could
not tear himself away from the ship。 We were fitting some new
lower rigging； and he hung about； approving； suggesting； giving me
advice in his old manner。 Twice he addressed me as 〃My boy；〃 and
corrected himself quickly to 〃Captain。〃 My mate was about to leave
me （to get married）； but I concealed the fact from Mr。 B…。 I was
afraid he would ask me to give him the berth in some ghastly
jocular hint that I could not refuse to take。 I was afraid。 It
would have been impossible。 I could not have given orders to Mr。
B…； and I am sure he would not have taken them from me very long。
He could not have managed that； though he had managed to break
himself from drink … too late。
He said good…bye at last。 As I watched his burly； bull…necked
figure walk away up the street； I wondered with a sinking heart
whether he had much more than the price of a night's lodging in his
pocket。 And I understood that if that very minute I were to call
out after him； he would not even turn his head。 He； too； is no
more than a shadow； but I seem to hear his words spoken on the
moonlit deck of the old Duke … ：
〃Ports are no good … ships rot； men go to the devil！〃
XXXV。
〃Ships！〃 exclaimed an elderly seaman in clean shore togs。 〃Ships〃
… and his keen glance； turning away from my face； ran along the
vista of magnificent figure…heads that in the late seventies used
to overhang in a serried rank the muddy pavement by the side of the
New South Dock … 〃ships are all right； it's the men in 'em。 。 。〃
Fifty hulls； at least； moulded on lines of beauty and speed … hulls
of wood； of iron； expressing in their forms the highest achievement
of modern ship…building … lay moored all in a row； stem