The uproar in the saloon continues. An entertainer is giving a realistic imitation of a man mixing a cocktail. Tremendous applause, and shouts of “Great, old man!” A young water curate has volunteered to go among the noisy pirates and try to soothe them.
Later.—The water curate has been thrown down the companion-way.
Loud splash on the starboard side. We have dropped the pilot.
The Captain has ordered the First Mate to take the wheel. The Mate is in the saloon, bound hand and foot, and the passengers are singing “How Can I Bear to Leave Thee.” The Lithia is going around in a circle.
The Mate has been rescued, and has laid a course for Carbonic Light. I asked him if a mate’s wife is called a room-mate. He said he didn’t know, but the midshipmite.
The Captain has just taken soundings, but reports that he can’t hear a thing. So much noise in the saloon.
Tom Ginn, the noisiest of the bunch, has been put in irons for demanding an old-fashioned cocktail and inciting the passengers to mutiny. The clanking of his chains is having a quieting effect on the other pirates.
3 A. M.—Passed the trim little craft Coryphee, homeward bound, loaded with lobsters and champagne. Wigwagged to her that her starboard light was out and that her hair was coming down. She signalled back, “On your way.”
Ran afoul of a fleet of full-rigged Johnnies, stuck on Shanley’s oyster-beds. Offered to take them aboard the Wagon, but they vociferously refused. Said they’d just got off one.
The Captain took the Sun as soon as it came out, and reported that we were a hell of a way from the Equator.
Hennessy Martel, an amateur Ancient Mariner, got into the calcium for a minute by trying to shoot a nighthawk, claiming it was an albatross. The Captain gave him the water cure.
Spoke a tramp tank steamer, Red Booze Line, Captain Handout. “Ahoy! What ship is that?” hailed Captain Handout. “The Water Wagon,” I replied through the Captain’s megaphone. “Keep off!” he yelled, and crowded on all sail.
Shipped a heavy swell rolling in from the Faro Banks.
+Here endeth the first day of the cruise.+
Each full ticket entitles passenger to one load. A load and a hang-over will be charged as excess baggage.
All baggage must be checked by our regular inspector before departure. Contraband baggage, such as bottled cocktails, case goods, whiskey capsules, brandied cherries, etc., will be confiscated.