By and by the sailors shouldered their sea bags and followed the boarding master and his crimp from the forecastle. Jukes towering heedless among them, they shoved and elbowed one another aside, making for the boat. Pointing to other ships near by, they cursed them. They cursed the ship they left. They chattered confidingly to the boarding master, who promised them one and all an easy job on the land. As Jukes grasped the stroke oar and set the pace ashore they shouted their approval. “Ol’ Jukey!” they cried, and “Good ol’ Jukey!” They laughed to see the way the boat drove through the water, with Jukes’s great muscles surging her along. They jumped ashore and turned their backs forever on the sea. Without a glance behind, they followed Jukes across the street; Jukes at the boarding master’s heels, the crimp behind them all. Hours passed. Besotted sailors lolled on dirty cots about a dirty room. They quarrelled, forgot their quarrels, and embraced each other. They smoked, and spat, and sang. The leering crimp came in, and went, and came, and went again, and called them each by name--quick-fitted names. “’Ere, old Cork-fender, lap it up now! It’s good for sailor’s gizzards.” “Gimme yer empty glass ’ere, Queer-fellow!” “Young Bandy-shanks, you’ve ’ad enough! You’re young.--Another? All right, then. Wot’d yer mommer say?” “Aw, haw! haw! haw!” “Drink hearty, Jimmie Bilge! There’s plenty more.” Ignoring their quarrels and embraces, taking no part in their noisy songs, Alf Jukes held out his glass for filling and refilling. The crimp winked at him deferentially. Evening came. Save for loud snores, heavy breathing, and now and then a mumbled, sleepy oath, the room was quiet. Steady-handed still, Jukes stood erect amidst the wreckage of his fellows and emptied his glass. In the barroom adjoining, the boarding master reached a black bottle from beneath the bar. Alf Jukes came from the back room as he replaced it. Resolve in his face, he stepped toward the street. Three brimming glasses stood upon the bar. Lifting one to his own lips, the boarding master pushed another out toward Jukes. “Here, big boy! Don’t run off so soon!” he quickly called. Jukes stopped and hesitatingly looked toward the bar. The crimp and boarding master raised their glasses. Jukes took the proffered glass, lifted, and drained it in one long straight swallow; then turned and strode toward the street door again. Midway, he staggered. The boarding master and the crimp came from behind the bar. They lifted Jukes, carried him to the dusky street, and dumped him in their boat. “That fills _her_ crew,” growled the boarding master with a nod to the riding light of a ship at anchor close inshore. * * * * *