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shorter on account of the enormous proportions of
his shoulders and chest. His face is massive and
deeply lined, with gray-blue eyes of a bleak hard-
ness, and a tightly clenched, thin-lipped mouth.
His thick hair is long and gray. He is dressed in
a heavy blue jacket and blue pants stuffed into his
seaboots.
[He is followed into the cabin by the Second
Mate, a rangy six-footer with a lean weather-
beaten face. The Mate is dressed about the same
as the captain.    He is a man of thirty or so.]
Keeney—[Comes toward the Steward—with a
stern look on his face. The Steward is visibly
frightened and the stack of dishes rattles hi his
trembling hands. Keeney draws back his fist and
the Steward shrinks away. The fist is gradually
lowered and Keeney speaks slowly..] 'Twould be
like hitting a worm. It is nigh on two bells, Mr.
Steward, and this truck not cleared yet.
The Steward—[Stammering.]    Y-y-yes, sir.
Keeney—Instead of doin' your rightful work
ye've been below here gossipin' old woman's talk
with that boy. [To Ben, fiercely.] Get out o' this,
you! Clean up the chart room. [Ben darts past
the Mate to the open doorway."] Pick up that
dish, Mr. Steward !
The Steward—[Doing so with difficulty.] Yes,
sir.
Keeney—The next dish you break, Mr. Steward,