68 SUGAR 



and from the tank, but no one ever manages to catch 

 him having a nap, a romp with the engine-room boys, 

 or a gossip over a dainty morsel with the cook's junior 

 factotum. When an exasperated, thirsty member of 

 the rest-gang does happen to go off in search of him, 

 he is always found leisurely pursuing some stage of 

 his task. And the exasperated one knows better than 

 to insist on more haste if the boy is carrying water ; 

 he would certainly consider it his duty, under such 

 provocation, to stumble and drop the pail oJBf his 

 head. 



On arriving at the hatch, the water-boy lets down 

 the full bucket at the end of a rope, impatient hands 

 seize it and pass it round as a loving-cup, and within 

 a very few minutes the boy is hauling up an empty 

 bucket. 



Upon leaving the steamer, you walk over to the side 

 of the wharf, to watch the lighters and punts being 

 unloaded. The bags are handed up and weighed under 

 the supervision of a licensed weigh-master, the weights 

 duly recorded by him being those accepted by the 

 importers ; they are then taken on trucks to the 

 warehouse, where they are stored until their turn 

 comes for leaving home. 



At a quarter to six in the evening the order is given 

 to cease work. Trucks are speedily stacked up in the 

 gangways, and all hands muster round the manager's 

 box-office to answer the roll-call. Five minutes later, 

 the day's noisy, merry scene of animation has given 

 place to a peaceful arena, deserted save by the night- 

 watchman, and the piles of sugar-bags that are stacked 

 in the warehouse. 



