He stooped to find them underneath the boat.

He found them all obliterated, slimed,

Blotted, erased, gone from him line and note.

They were all spoiled: a lump came in his throat,

Being vain of his attempts, and tender skinned--

Beneath the skylight watching reefers grinned.

He clambered down, holding the ruined things.

"Bosun," he called, "look here, did you do these:

Wipe off my paints and cut them into strings,

And smear them till you can't tell chalk from cheese?