THE LIFE OF PHILIP HENRY GOSSE. 



" she arrives at the wharf, two or three scramble up, and 

 "the rest, remaining in the boat, begin to throw the 

 " heavy pelts of greasy bloody fat up on the floor of the 

 "stage. At the same time one of the crew that has 

 " climbed up begins to lay them one by one, fur down- 

 " ward, on the barrow ; singing out, as he lays down 

 *' each, * One — two — three — four — tally,' I at each one 

 "making a mark on my paper. Five pelts make a 

 " barrow-load, and instead of the word ' five,' the word 

 " ' tally ' is used, for then I am to make a diagonal line 

 "across the four marks, and this formula is called *a 

 " tally.' Immediately the word ' tally ' is uttered by the 

 " loader, which is always with a loud emphasis, I also 

 " say * tally ; ' and then two labourers catch up the 

 ** barrow, and carry it into the recesses of the stage for 

 " the pelts to be skinned ; a second barrow meanwhile 

 "receiving its tally in exactly the same manner, while 

 " my marking goes on, but on the opposite side of the 

 " basal line ; so that the record assumes a form which 

 "represents fifty pelts. This is very easily counted, 

 "while mistake is almost impossible. I forgot to say 

 " that one of the more responsible hands, perhaps the 

 " mate, also stands by, and keeps a like tally with mine, 

 " on behalf of the owner and crew. 



" Of course this was by no means so pleasant an 

 " employment as that I had been used to in the warmth 

 " and comfort and congenial company of the counting- 

 " house. The dirty, brawling vulgar fellows crowding 

 "around, uttering their low witless jokes, or cursing 

 "and swearing, or abusing others, or bragging their 

 " achievements ; the filth everywhere ; the rancid grease, 

 " which could not fail to be absorbed by my shoes and 

 " scattered over my clothes ; so that whenever, at bell- 

 " ringing or in evening, I essayed to join my companions. 



