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Kipling, Rudyard, 1865-1936

"The Day's Work - Volume 1"

'I
was wrong, McRimmon; but when a man's shown the door for doin' his
plain duty he's not always ceevil.'
"'So I hear,' says McRimmon. 'Ha' ye ony objection to a tramp
freighter? It's only fifteen a month, but they say the Blind Deevil
feeds a man better than others. She's my Kite. Come ben. Ye can
thank Dandie, here. I'm no used to thanks. An' noo,' says he, 'what
possessed ye to throw up your berth wi' Holdock?'
"'The new timin',' said I. 'The Breslau will not stand it.'
"'Hoot, oot,' said he. 'Ye might ha' crammed her a little - enough
to show ye were drivin' her - an' brought her in twa days behind.
What's easier than to say ye slowed for bearin's, eh? All my men
do it, and - I believe 'em.'
"'McRimmon,' says I, 'what's her virginity to a lassie?'
"He puckered his dry face an' twisted in his chair. 'The warld an'
a',' says he. 'My God, the vara warld an' a' (But what ha' you or
me to do wi' virginity, this late along?'
"'This,' I said. 'There's just one thing that each one of us in his
trade or profession will not do for ony consideration whatever. If
I run to time I run to time barrio' always the risks o' the high
seas.


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