基本信息
a water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically. his work consists in racing under sail, steam, or oars against other water-clerks for any ship about to anchor, greeting her captain cheerily, forcing upon him a card--the business card of the ship-chandler--and on his first visit on shore piloting him firmly but without ostentation to a vast, cavern-like shop which is full of things that are eaten and drunk on board ship; where you can get everything to make her sea-worthy and beautiful, from a set of chain-hooks for her cable to a book of gold-leaf for the carvings of her stern; and where her commander is received like a brother by a ship-chandler he has never seen before. there is a cool parlour, easy-chairs, bottles, cigars, writing implements, a copy of harbour regulations, and a warmth of welcome that melts the salt of a three months' passage out of a seaman's heart. the connection thus begun is kept up, as long as the ship remains in harbour, by the daily visits of the water-clerk. to the captain he is faithful like a friend and attentive like a son, with the patience of job, the unselfish devotion of a woman, and the jollity of a boon companion. later on the bill is sent in. it is a beautiful and humane occupation. therefore good water-clerks are scarce. when a water-clerk who possesses ability in the abstract has also the advantage of having been brought up to the sea, he is worth to his employer a lot of money and some humouring. jim had always good wages and as much humouring as would have bought the fidelity of a fiend. nevertheless, with black ingratitude he would throw up the job suddenly and depart. to his employers the reasons he gave were obviously inadequate. they said `confounded fool!' as soon as his back was turned. this was their criticism on his exquisite sensibility. to the white men in the waterside business and to the captains of ships he was just jim--nothing more. he had, of course, another name, but he was anxious that it should not be pronounced. his incognito, which had as many holes as a sieve, was not meant to hide a personality but a fact. when the fact broke through the inco
