“We’ve had that kind,” said the skipper. His mouth was hard Then it relaxed. “Damn cheating Arabe!” he said, “I told them I’d take no more of their pennyweight kings, Worth pounds to look at, and then when you get them aboard Go crazy so they have to be knocked on the head Or else just eat up their hearts and die in a week Taking up room for nothing.”

The mate hardly heard him, thinking of something else. “I’m afraid we’ll lose some more of the women,” he said. “Well, they’re a scratch lot,” said the skipper, “Any sickness?”