Page 69 of The Irish Gypsy
Chapter 19
Kitty took one look at the captain, Big JimHarding, and felt terrified. He was a huge man with a barrel chest.He had a full beard of golden curls, but his head was shaved bald.When he raised his voice to shout orders to the men, it could beheard from one end of the ship to the other. His laugh wasfull-bellied and his mouth showed the glint of gold teeth. "Jemmy!Jemmy! Take this lady to the small cabin next to mine. Ma'am, I'llbe sailing on the evening tide, I'd be obliged if you can keep toyour cabin until after we sail." He nodded a curt dismissal, andKitty followed the cabin boy below decks.
The cabin was small with a neat wooden bunkbuilt into the wall. There was a tall sea chest that doubled as atable, with a stool beside it. There was no cupboard or wardrobefor her clothes, but only wooden pegs on the walls. The floor wasbare boards without covering, and the room boasted only threethings to add to her comfort: an oil lamp, a tin bowl for washing,and a chamber pot. Kitty was quite pleased with the cabin. Itsmelled salty fresh. The floorboards had obviously been scrubbedwith seawater, and she was thankful the bed was clean. When she laydown on the bunk to rest, the gentle rocking motion of the waterlulled her to sleep.
She awoke when Jemmy brought her supper. Thefood was good. When she finished, there was a knock on the door.Captain Harding entered and filled the cabin with his presence.Kitty gave a little gasp of fear, at which he laughed. His presencewas so overpowering in the small room, Kitty could hardly breathe.He was so male, it was tangible in the air.
"Are you Isaac Bolt's woman?" he askedbluntly.
"Of course not!" she said angrily. "I'm noone's woman!"
"Then how's your sex life?" he asked with agrin.
She gasped. "Captain Harding, how dare youshow me such disrespect?"
He threw back his head and laughed. "Go onwith you, I'm just pulling your leg. Don't you think I know howVictorian girls are brought up in England? Damned unnatural. Allthem clothes you wear from your earholes to the floor. I tell you,seductions have become damned difficult, so take that worried lookoff your face."
"I assure you, Captain Harding, Inever...."
"I'll bet you never," he said, grinning. "Youdon't know what you're missing. Why, do you know, in certain partsof the world the young women run about naked?"
She was sure he enjoyed shocking her, so shesaid repressively, "Please, Captain, I should like to be alone. Wasthere something you wished of me?"
"Call me Big Jim. Do you know why they callme Big Jim?"
She paled visibly.
"No, no, it's not what you're thinking!Mine's no bigger than the next man's." He laughed then winked,"It's just harder."
"Good night, Captain Harding," and sheblushed over his name.
After he had gone, she found that she wastrembling. "Such a coarse, uncouth man. So vulgarand...and...male!" She feared she would be raped in her bed beforethe night was over, and lay for hours not daring to close hereyes.
She was awakened by a knock on the cabindoor, and was amazed to find that it was morning. She let Jemmy inwith her breakfast. "I was afraid it was the captain."
"You're never afraid of the captain, are youma'am? He's a wonderful man."
"Yes, I am afraid. He's so big and coarse andvulgar. He scares me out of my wits with that shaved head ofhis."
"Oh, his looks are deceivin' all right. Icould see where he'd frighten you if you met him in a dark alley,but once you get to know him, he's a real gentleman."
"Gentleman? That's not how I'd describe him.What do you mean?"
"You should see him in port when he walksdown the street. If he meets a little girl, he gives her a flower;a little lad, and he hands out money."
"Really?"
"That's the captain. Now, eat hearty beforeit's stone cold."
Kitty pulled up the little stool to the tableand cracked open her boiled egg. The tea began to slosh about inthe cup and splashed over into the saucer. The plate slid about onthe tray, and the tray slid about on the table. The table seemed tobe heaving up and down, and all at once her stomach was keepingtime with it. She moaned and covered her mouth. She feared she wasgoing to be sick, but as her insides churned miserably for such aninterminable length of time, she began to fear that she was notgoing to be sick and obtain blessed relief. She arose and as shemoved toward her bunk, the floor went up under her right foot anddown under her left. At last she vomited into the washbowl. Allseemed well for a moment. She wiped her mouth on the towel andleaned against the wall. She began rolling with the ship, and thenausea arose again. Acid, stinging her throat; sour smellassaulting her nostrils, she vomited again. She shuddered at herown nastiness and sank down upon her bunk.
Jemmy took away her dirty bowl, ignoring herprotests that she could clean up her own mess. She drank a littlewater and lay down again. The seasickness was with her all the nextday. She refused all food but kept down some water.
Late in the afternoon Captain Harding cameinto her cabin. "You need some fresh air. Come on, now, out ofthere and get up on deck."
"Please, just leave me," she beggedfeebly.
"No chance. You are going up if I have tocarry you."
