'Cos I ain't a nigger,' ses Bill.

"'Well, but you might be,' ses Joe, very softly. 'Black your face an'
'ands an' legs, and dress up in them cotton things, and go ashore and
get in 'is way.'

"'If you will, I will, Bill,' ses a chap called Bob Pullin.

"Well, they talked it over and over, and at last Joe, who seemed to take
a great interest in it, went ashore and got the duds for 'em. They was a
tight fit for Bill, Hindoos not being as wide as they might be, but Joe
said if 'e didn't bend about he'd be all right, and Pullin, who was a
smaller man, said his was fust class.

"After they were dressed, the next question was wot to use to colour
them with; coal was too scratchy, an' ink Bill didn't like. Then Ted
Hill burnt a cork and started on Bill's nose with it afore it was cool,
an' Bill didn't like that.

"'Look 'ere,' ses the carpenter, 'nothin' seems to please you,
Bill--it's my opinion you're backing out of it.'

"'You're a liar,' ses Bill.

"'Well, I've got some stuff in a can as might be boiled-down Hindoo for
all you could tell to the difference,' ses the carpenter; 'and if you'll
keep that ugly mouth of yours shut, I'll paint you myself.'

"Well, Bill was a bit flattered, the carpenter being a very superior
sort of a man, and quite an artist in 'is way, an' Bill sat down an' let
'im do 'im with some stuff out of a can that made 'im look like a Hindoo
what 'ad been polished. Then Bob Pullin was done too, an' when they'd
got their turbins on, the change in their appearance was wonderful.

"'Feels a bit stiff,' ses Bill, working 'is mouth.

"'That'll wear off,' ses the carpenter; 'it wouldn't be you if you
didn't 'ave a grumble, Bill.'

"'And mind and don't spare 'im, Bill,' ses Joe. 'There's two of you, an'
if you only do wot's expected of you, the mate ought to 'ave a easy time
abed this v'y'ge.'

"'Let the mate start fust,' ses Ted Hill. 'He's sure to start on you if
you only get in 'is way. Lord, I'd like to see his face when you start
on _'im_.

"Well, the two of 'em went ashore arter dark with the best wishes o' all
on board, an' the rest of us sat down in the fo'c's'le spekerlating
as to what sort o' time the mate was goin' to 'ave. He went ashore
all right, because Ted Hill see 'im go, an' he noticed with partikler
pleasure as 'ow he was dressed very careful.

"It must ha' been near eleven o'clock. I was sitting with Smith on the
port side o' the galley, when we heard a 'ubbub approaching