The Nut Gatherers

His last word, in striking contrast with the smoothness of his previous utterance, snapped like the lash of a whip. The cook quailed under it. ¡¡¡¡'Yes, sir,' was the meek reply, as the offending head disappeared into the galley. ¡¡¡¡At this rebuke the rest of the crew became uninterested and fell to work at one task or another. A number of men, however, who were lounging about a companionway between the galley and the hatch, and who did not seem to be sailors, continued talking in low tones with one another. These, I afterward learned, were the hunters, the men who shot the seals, and a very superior breed to common sailor-folk. ¡¡¡¡'Johansen!' Wolf Larsen called out. A sailor stepped forward obediently. 'Get your palm and needle and sew the beggar up. You'll find some old canvas in the sail-locker. Make it do.' ¡¡¡¡'What'll I put on his feet, sir?' the man asked, after the customary 'Aye, aye, sir.'