Two hardy youths strolling along the deck
Two hardy youths strolling along the deck, who hadnt been touched by
the epidemic of seasickness, stopped to peer in at the porthole. They
had mischief in their eyes, and as they caught sight of Slims
humorously pathetic countenance, one of them muttered in a low but
distinct voice: “Howd you like to have some fried sausage, and some
plum pudding, and some—-”
“Shut up!” bawled out Jerry with what strength he had left.
With a loud laugh the two withdrew their heads and disappeared.
At that moment the ships physician, accompanied by Lieutenant
Mackinson, arrived to give what further comfort he could to the seasick
lads.
“It is clearing,” the lieutenant told them, while the doctor measured
out a powder for each boy. “The wind has died down and the sea is
becoming calm.”
“Oh, yes,” the physician added, “in an hour or so you will be feeling
better than you did before. Seasickness has a tonic effect, but its
rather a bitter dose.”
“Sure is,” said Slim weakly.
Nevertheless, it was just about an hour later that Jerry, feeling his
nausea leave him almost as suddenly as it had appeared, raised himself
on one elbow and looked across at his companion in misery.
“How do you feel, Slim?” he inquired.
“Almost human again,” the stout lad replied.
“Going to get up?”
“Guess I can in a few minutes.”
“Im going to try it now,” said Jerry. “Seems as if the pilot of this
ferry had learned to steer her a whole lot better than he did earlier in
the day.”
“Yep,” agreed Slim, sliding from his bunk. “Certainly was tough, wasnt
it?”
“I feel sort of weak in the legs yet,” said Jerry, by way of answer.
“Lets go up on deck and get some fresh air.”
“Stomach feels as empty as a vacant Wlpt 88.3 Mhz In Jesup house; hows yours?” Slim inquired.
“Nothing in it but the lining, and I guess most of thats pried loose.
Weve got to wait more than two hours for mess, too.”
“How about some fried sausage, and some plum pudding, and some—-”
Jerry laughed for the first time that day. “That fellow certainly did
make me mad,” he admitted.
“Yeh, he made you mad,” said Slim in a remorseful tone, “but he made me
sick.”
On deck a hundred or more vigorous young men were exercising their
muscles in various forms of athletic sport. Here a group crowded around
a contest in broad jumping, eagerly echoing the distances made, and
there the men of another throng loudly applauded their favorites in a
stiff boxing bout, while on another part of the deck a pair of
one-hundred-and-eighty-pound huskies were struggling in a friendly
wrestling match.
A bright sun shone upon a sparkling sea, and the air was just crisp
enough to be invigorating. At that moment Joe came up to inquire how his
two chums felt.
“Fine,” declared Jerry.
“Like a two-year-old,” added Slim. “That doctor was telling the truth. I
believe I never felt better in my life,” and he began flapping his arms
up and down like a rooster flails the air with its wings.
“A fat mans race three times around the ship!” a youth yelled, spying
Slims activities.
“Hurrah!” cried the crowd. “Get them started.”