They think of
nothing but themselves. They're damned greedy, selfish fellows.' He
would not hear of the decadence of England. 'They say they send us
beef from America,' he argued; 'but who pays for it? All the money
in the world's in England.' The Royal Navy was the best of possible
services, according to him. 'Anyway the officers are gentlemen,'
said he; 'and you can't get hazed to death by a damned non-
commissioned - as you can in the army.' Among nations, England was
the first; then came France. He respected the French navy and liked
the French people; and if he were forced to make a new choice in
life, 'by God, he would try Frenchmen!' For all his looks and rough,
cold manners, I observed that children were never frightened by him;
they divined him at once to be a friend; and one night when he had
chalked his hand and clothes, it was incongruous to hear this
formidable old salt chuckling over his boyish monkey trick.
In the morning, my first thought was of the sick man. I was afraid I
should not recognise him, baffling had been the light of the lantern;
and found myself unable to decide if he were Scots, English, or
Irish.
Pages:
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82