Nosey Murphy held the turn.
When they stopped from sheer exhaustion Murphy's glance chanced to
fall on Charles Davis, the one man who had not worked since the
outset of the voyage and who was not working now.
"Bear a hand, Davis," the gangster called.
Margaret gurgled low laughter in my ear as she caught the drift of
the episode.
The sea-lawyer looked at the other in amazement ere he answered:
"I guess not."
After nodding Sundry Buyers over to him to take the turn Murphy
straightened his back and walked close to Davis, then said very
quietly:
"I guess yes."
That was all. For a space neither spoke. Davis seemed to be giving
the matter judicial consideration. The men at the capstan panted,
rested, and looked on--all save Bombini, who slunk across the deck
until he stood at Murphy's shoulder.
Under such circumstances the decision Charles Davis gave was
eminently the right one, although even then he offered a compromise.
"I'll hold the turn," he volunteered.
"You'll lump around one of them capstan-bars," Murphy said.
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