AN INVETERATE SPITTER. 419 



Among the passengers on board the Asia there were 

 very few Americans, and indeed only one bad spitter, 

 who, with the usual contempt for all decency and the cus 

 toms of other nations, continued to soil the smart floor. 

 Like his compatriots, he would not even condescend to 

 spit over the side of the ship into the sea. One morning 

 after breakfast, on coming on deck, I found Capt. Lott 

 standing warming himself, with his back against the chim 

 ney, so I went and took a place at his side. Presently after 

 I saw the American hat that covered the human syringe 

 of a head coming up the stairs, but ere it had ascended 

 much above the level of the deck it stopped and curiously 

 regarded, and I thought moved, to give way to something, 

 or some other than its own body, immediately behind it. 

 Having thus stopped in momentary observation, it began 

 its ascent again, and when its knees were on a level with 

 the deck, the body and head too turned round and again 

 contemplated some coming event whose presence was not 

 yet indicated by any shadow, and again the head and 

 body made way for whatever was behind it to pass, but 

 nothing came. With a sort of desperation, then, the in 

 veterate spitter stood on deck, and instantly there ap 

 peared the round, rough bullet-head of some sailor behind 

 him, on his hands and knees, and in his hand a " swab." 

 The spitter again curiously inspected the fore parts of thia 

 figure, for it was only half on deck, but made no more 

 motion for room for it to pass, as there was plenty of room, 

 so the spitter walked the deck, but ere he had gone half 

 its length, again stopped to contemplate this very queer- 

 looking individual, who crept close after him like a dog. 

 The spitter then walked on at a brisk, after-breakfast pace, 

 but walk where he would, or as fast as he would, his shadow 

 on all-fours stuck to him like a leech, and on one or two 



