Stories of Ships and the Sea

A collection of Jack London sea stories. CHRIS FARRINGTON: ABLE SEAMAN (Excerpt) If you vas in der old country ships a liddle shaver like you vood pe only der boy und you vood wait on der able seamen. Und ven der able seaman sing out 'Boy der water-jug!' you vood jump quick like a shot und bring der water-jug. Und ven der able seaman sing out 'Boy my boots!' you vood get der boots. Und you vood pe politeful und say 'Yessir' und 'No sir.' But you pe in der American ship and you t'ink you are so good as der able seamen. Chris mine boy I haf ben a sailorman for twenty-two years und do you t'ink you are so good as me? I vas a sailorman pefore you vas borned und I knot und reef und splice ven you play mit topstrings und fly kites. But you are unfair Emil! cried Chris Farrington his sensitive face flushed and hurt. He was a slender though strongly built young fellow of seventeen with Yankee ancestry writ large all over him...