On the other hand, it made a shambles of the cabin. Most Captain’s stewards would have cried out at seeing their housekeeping blasted to every wind that blew, their cherished brass, paintwork, checkered sailcloth, deck, windows, desecrated as though by battle; and Killick, old in insubordination and dumb insolence, indulged for old times’ sake and grown tyrannical, was perhaps the most crabbed steward in any rated ship, an Attila to the swabbers and ship’s boys under his sway, and a source of anxiety to his Captain. But Jack was happily inspired to invite him to touch off the first discharge,
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