English
HIST!Didyouhearthatnoise,Cabaco?
Itwasthemiddle-watch:afairmoonlight;theseamenwerestandinginacordon,extendingfromoneofthefresh-waterbuttsinthewaist,tothescuttle-buttnearthetaffrail.
Inthismanner,theypassedthebucketstofillthescuttle-butt.
Standing,forthemostpart,onthehallowedprecinctsofthequarter-deck,theywerecarefulnottospeakorrustletheirfeet.
Fromhandtohand,thebucketswentinthedeepestsilence,onlybrokenbytheoccasionalflapofasail,andthesteadyhumoftheunceasinglyadvancingkeel.
Itwasinthemidstofthisrepose,thatArchy,oneofthecordon,whosepostwasneartheafter-hatches,whisperedtohisneighbor,aCholo,thewordsabove.
“Hist!didyouhearthatnoise,Cabaco?”
“Takethebucket,willye,Archy?whatnoised’yemean?”
“Thereitisagain-underthehatches-don’tyouhearit-acough-itsoundedlikeacough.”
“Coughbedamned!Passalongthatreturnbucket.”
“Thereagain-thereitis!-itsoundsliketwoorthreesleepersturningover,now!”
“Caramba!havedone,shipmate,willye?It’sthethreesoakedbiscuitsyeeatforsupperturningoverinsideofye-nothingelse.Looktothebucket!”
“Saywhatyewill,shipmate;I’vesharpears.”
“Aye,youarethechap,ain’tye,thatheardthehumoftheoldQuakeress’sknitting-needlesfiftymilesatseafromNantucket;you’rethechap.”
“Grinaway;we’llseewhatturnsup.Harkye,Cabaco,thereissomebodydownintheafter-holdthathasnotyetbeenseenondeck;andIsuspectouroldMogulknowssomethingofittoo.
IheardStubbtellFlask,onemorningwatch,thattherewassomethingofthatsortinthewind.”
“Tish!thebucket!”
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