Page:The Voyage of the Norman D.pdf/43

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The Voyage of the Norman D.



I hardly heard the cook spinning us a yarn. This is something to the effect of the way he talked:

"The only disadvantage of your comin' along of us when we sail is 'at ye're powerful likely to be seasick. 'Most everyone is seasick for a few days. Me, when I first went to sea, I was seasick ten days, and I lay there in me bunk, and ate nuthin' at all nuthin' at all— nuthin' 'cepting a little cold water, an' I'd chuck that right up again. Now, the cap'n I was sailin' with, he was always nice to me, 'n' he didn't see me for ten days, so after a while he come forrard and asked me what was the matter. 'What's the matter with you, Si?' says he. 'Well, sir,' says I, 'I'm seasick. I've been here ten days.' 'Have you eaten anything, Si?' says he. 'No, sir,' says I. 'Well, but, Si, you must eat something, or you'll die. You must eat something, Si. Now come, get out of your bunk, and walk around a bit.' So I got out of my bunk, and I was so weak that he had to put his arm around me, or I should have fallen over. 'Now, Si, ain't there anything you'd like to eat?' 'No, sir, nothing,' says I. 'But, Si , you must eat something, or you'll die.' 'No, sir, I can't eat anything.' 'Now, Si, you jist take it easy, and think if there ain't something I can get you to eat.' 'No, sir, there ain't nuthing.' 'Now, Si, you jist think a minute, and see if there ain't anything.' 'Well, sir,' says I, 'I believe I'd like a little strong cold tea, without any sweetening in it.' So he got up

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