按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 70…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
advantage of the opportunity and went soundly asleep standing up。
Now； about the Salvation Army in general I know nothing； and
whatever criticism I shall make here is of that particular portion of the
Salvation Army which does business on Blackfriars Road near the Surrey
Theatre。 In the first place； this forcing of men who have been up all
night to stand on their feet for hours longer； is as cruel as it is needless。
We were weak； famished； and exhausted from our night's hardship and
lack of sleep； and yet there we stood； and stood； and stood； without rhyme
or reason。
Sailors were very plentiful in this crowd。 It seemed to me that one
man in four was looking for a ship； and I found at least a dozen of them to
be American sailors。 In accounting for their being 〃on the beach；〃 I
received the same story from each and all； and from my knowledge of sea
affairs this story rang true。 English ships sign their sailors for the voyage；
which means the round trip； sometimes lasting as long as three years； and
they cannot sign off and receive their discharges until they reach the home
port； which is England。 Their wages are low； their food is bad； and their
treatment worse。 Very often they are really forced by their captains to
desert in the New World or the colonies； leaving a handsome sum of
wages behind thema distinct gain； either to the captain or the owners； or
to both。 But whether for this reason alone or not； it is a fact that large
numbers of them desert。 Then； for the home voyage； the ship engages
whatever sailors it can find on the beach。 These men are engaged at the
somewhat higher wages that obtain in other portions of the world； under
the agreement that they shall sign off on reaching England。 The reason
for this is obvious； for it would be poor business policy to sign them for
any longer time； since seamen's wages are low in England； and England is
always crowded with sailormen on the beach。 So this fully accounted for
the American seamen at the Salvation Army barracks。 To get off the
beach in other outlandish places they had come to England； and gone on
the beach in the most outlandish place of all。
There were fully a score of Americans in the crowd； the non…sailors
being 〃tramps royal；〃 the men whose 〃mate is the wind that tramps the
world。〃 They were all cheerful； facing things with the pluck which is
70
… Page 71…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
their chief characteristic and which seems never to desert them； withal
they were cursing the country with lurid metaphors quite refreshing after a
month of unimaginative； monotonous Cockney swearing。 The Cockney
has one oath； and one oath only； the most indecent in the language； which
he uses on any and every occasion。 Far different is the luminous and
varied Western swearing； which runs to blasphemy rather than indecency。
And after all； since men will swear； I think I prefer blasphemy to
indecency； there is an audacity about it； an adventurousness and defiance
that is better than sheer filthiness。
There was one American tramp royal whom I found particularly
enjoyable。 I first noticed him on the street； asleep in a doorway； his head
on his knees； but a hat on his head that one does not meet this side of the
Western Ocean。 When the policeman routed him out； he got up slowly
and deliberately； looked at the policeman； yawned and stretched himself；
looked at the policeman again as much as to say he didn't know whether
he would or wouldn't； and then sauntered leisurely down the sidewalk。
At the outset I was sure of the hat； but this made me sure of the wearer of
the hat。
In the jam inside I found myself alongside of him； and we had quite a
chat。 He had been through Spain； Italy； Switzerland； and France； and had
accomplished the practically impossible feat of beating his way three
hundred miles on a French railway without being caught at the finish。
Where was I hanging out？ he asked。 And how did I manage for
〃kipping〃？which means sleeping。 Did I know the rounds yet？ He was
getting on； though the country was 〃horstyl〃 and the cities were 〃bum。〃
Fierce； wasn't it？ Couldn't 〃batter〃 （beg） anywhere without being
〃pinched。〃 But he wasn't going to quit it。 Buffalo Bill's Show was
coming over soon； and a man who could drive eight horses was sure of a
job any time。 These mugs over here didn't know beans about driving
anything more than a span。 What was the matter with me hanging on and
waiting for Buffalo Bill？ He was sure I could ring in somehow。
And so； after all； blood is thicker than water。 We were fellow…
countrymen and strangers in a strange land。 I had warmed to his battered
old hat at sight of it； and he was as solicitous for my welfare as if we were
71
… Page 72…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
blood brothers。 We swapped all manner of useful information
concerning the country and the ways of its people； methods by which to
obtain food and shelter and what not； and we parted genuinely sorry at
having to say good…bye。
One thing particularly conspicuous in this crowd was the shortness of
stature。 I； who am but of medium height； looked over the heads of nine
out of ten。 The natives were all short； as were the foreign sailors。 There
were only five or six in the crowd who could be called fairly tall； and they
were Scandinavians and Americans。 The tallest man there； however； was
an exception。 He was an Englishman； though not a Londoner。
〃Candidate for the Life Guards；〃 I remarked to him。 〃You've hit it；
mate；〃 was his reply； 〃I've served my bit in that same； and the way things
are I'll be back at it before long。〃
For an hour we stood quietly in this packed courtyard。 Then the men
began to grow restless。 There was pushing and shoving forward； and a
mi