Chapter 15 - Page 2

reeze found him, blew his
cap off and left him bareheaded in the doorway, and the smoking-room
steward, understanding that he was a voyager of experience, said that
the weather would be stiff in the chops off the Channel and more than
half a gale in the Bay. These things fell as they were foretold, and Dick
enjoyed himself to the utmost. It is allowable and even necessary at sea to
lay firm hold upon tables, stanchions, and ropes in moving from place to
place. On land the man who feels with his hands is patently blind. At sea
even a blind man who is not sea-sick can jest with the doctor over the
weakness of his fellows. Dick told the doctor many tales--and these are
coin of more value than silver if properly handled--smoked with him till
unholy hours of the night, and so won his short-lived regard that he
promised Dick a few hours of his time when they came to Port Said.

And the sea roared or was still as the winds blew, and the engines sang
their song day and night, and the sun grew stronger day by day, and Tom
the Lascar barber shaved Dick of a morning under the opened
hatch-grating where the cool winds blew, and the awnings were spread
and the passengers made merry, and at last they came to Port Said.

'Take me,' said Dick, to the doctor, 'to Madame Binat's--if you know
where that is.'

'Whew!' said the doctor, 'I do. There's not much to choose between 'em;
but I suppose you're aware that that's one of the worst houses in the
place. They'll rob you to begin with, and knife you later.'

'Not they. Take me there, and I can look after myself.'

So he was brought to Madame Binat's and filled his nostrils with the
well-remembered smell of the East, that runs without a change from the
Canal head to Hong-Kong, and his mouth with the villainous Lingua
Franca of the Levant. The heat smote him between the shoulder-blades
with the buffet of an old friend, his feet slipped on the sand, and his
coat-sleeve was warm as new-baked bread when he lifted it to his nose.

Madame Binat smiled with the smile that knows no astonishment when
Dick entered the drinking-shop which was one source of her gains. But
for a little accident of complete darkness he could hardly realise that he
had ever quitted the old life that hummed in his ears. Somebody opened a
bottle of peculiarly strong Schiedam. The smell reminded Dick of
Monsieur Binat, who, by the way, had spoken of art and degradation.

Binat was dead; Madame said as much when the doctor departed,
scandalised, so far as a ship's doctor can be, at the warmth of Dick's
reception. Dick was delighted at it. 'They remember me here after a
year. They have forgotten me across the water by this time. Madame, I
want a long talk with you when you're at liberty.