The principle he believed in was that sailors should expect nothing, and that he was to see they got it. His prejudices broke through his discretion when he turned out at midnight to take the middle watch.
'Has the old man bin letten' you into his sailor-cockerin' scheme for doin' this Healy in the eye?' he asked.
'No,' replied Gregg.
'His notion is to feed 'em on the fat of Oregon, and give them hot whisky and water before they turn in. And you and I have got to tuck the dears up, and bring them shavin'-water in the mornin'!'
'Who are you getting at?' asked the incredulous second greaser.
'You'll see,' said the mate, 'it's as near that as a toucher. And there'll be a dance on board every night, and private theatricals every other day, and every day Sunday with no work in between.'
And though his imagination did run away with him, the skipper's notions as he expounded them to the assembled crowd next morning were certainly novel.
'I've sent for you, men, to tell you that to-night we shall be in Portland River,' he began.
The men stared at him eagerly. They wondered 'what kind of a game was up.'
And Ticehurst leant over the rail at the break of the poop.