" Cap'n Amazon was much more friendly with Lawford
than Louise might have expected him to be. But, of course, hospitality
was a form of religion with the Silt brothers. They could neither of
them have treated a guest shabbily.
Indeed, under the influence of the cigar and the presence of another
listener, the captain expanded. With little urging he related incident
after incident of his varied career--stories of stern trial, of
dangerous adventure, of grim fights with the ravening sea; peril by
shipwreck, by fire, by savages; encounters with whales and sharks, with
Malay pirates; voyaging with a hold full of opium-crazed coolie
laborers, and of actual mutiny on the hermaphrodite brig, _Galatea_,
when Cap'n Amazon alone of all the afterguard was left alive to fight
the treacherous crew and navigate the ship.
Those two hours were memorable--and would remain so in Louise's mind
for weeks. Lawford Tapp, too, quite gave himself up to the charm of
the old romancer. To watch Cap'n Amazon's dark intent face and his
glowing eyes, while he told of these wonders of sea and land, would
have thrilled the most sophisticated listener.
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