NORTH SEA TRAMPS . 251 



at sea and in port, at an inclusive charge of 35. a day, 

 and modestly hopes that it is not too much ; and for 2d. 

 he will give you better and more lager than you can buy 

 in the West End or in a mail-boat or on board a railway 

 train for is. At the end of your round trip you 

 will get your bill, which is in reality a tally, a very 

 chevaux-de-frise of strokes, which stand for bottles ; but 

 emotionally you bless him again, for you have swum 

 in lager at the price of a West End lunch. He is a 

 married steward, and sometimes vaguely mentions his 

 wife and family, after the way of a man who alludes 

 to his bank balance when he is not quite sure that he 

 has one. 



Your home is in the little cabin aft, with old-time 

 maple and mahogany fittings, primitive oil lamps, and 

 faultlessly polished brass everywhere, even to the 

 chimney of the stove. There is the transom, almost 

 broad enough for bunks, the transom-lockers, where the 

 beer comes from, and the crimson-covered sofa, wide 

 and soft enough to sleep on. There are two won- 

 drous state-rooms, jutting out from each side, open- 

 ing into the cabin, just as they did in the old days of 

 steamboats, and there is a table which will seat six 

 people. 



If you are humorous and agile you can step out of 

 your bunk in your pyjamas, take breakfast, regain your 

 shelf, and go to sleep again, probably amid rounds of 

 applause. If you do not win the sleep you woo, it is not 

 for want of soothing music, because there is the ceaseless 

 vibration of the screw beneath your very head, nor for 

 want of snoring breezes from North or South or East or 

 West. 



