In Search of an Unknown Race — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

14 _ VAN. care ta secure the negro Tom, who, with two other sailors, composed his watch. In the captain’s were Smith, a dwarfed fellow with immensely broad shoulders, long arms, and dispropor- tionately short legs, and an English sailor calling him- self Carson, while the third, who had shipped under the name of Bates, was a good-looking young man seem- ingly not much more than twenty years old. Strangely enough, Bates—if that was his real name —soon showed himself to be the smartest man in the crew. And not only that, but Van, who at once was interested in the young sailor’s appearance, noticed two curious things. His language at times suggested that he might have moved in very different society from that of a ship’s forecastle, yet perhaps in the next breath it would be replete with sailor slang and oaths. This was one. The other, that he was a sort of leader among his four shipmates. I say four, for the reason that the five white sailors had come on board in company, while the negro, Tom, had applied personally to Captain Peter- son for a berth in the Rattler after he learned her desti- nation. The others ignored their colored companion as far as possible and seemed to regard him with a cer- tain distrust. ‘‘ Rather a hard-looking set—all but that good-look- ing fellow in your watch, don’t you think, sir?” queried Van, as after all was made snug for the night, one watch was sent below, while Van and Captain Peterson stood on the quarter comparing nautical notes. ‘‘ Tf you’d been at seaas many years asI have,” re- turned the captain with a rather grim smile, ‘ you'd Gomichookssco