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rusty hull with paint。 It was a situation that must have appealed to
Strickland's sardonic humour。 I asked Captain Nichols how he bore
himself during these hardships。
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〃Never knew him say a cross word；〃 answered the Captain。 〃He'd be a
bit surly sometimes； but when we hadn't had a bite since morning； and we
hadn't even got the price of a lie down at the Chink's； he'd be as lively as a
cricket。〃
I was not surprised at this。 Strickland was just the man to rise
superior to circumstances； when they were such as to occasion
despondency in most； but whether this was due to equanimity of soul or to
contradictoriness it would be difficult to say。
The Chink's Head was a name the beach…combers gave to a wretched
inn off the Rue Bouterie； kept by a one…eyed Chinaman； where for six sous
you could sleep in a cot and for three on the floor。 Here they made
friends with others in as desperate condition as themselves； and when they
were penniless and the night was bitter cold； they were glad to borrow
from anyone who had earned a stray franc during the day the price of a
roof over their heads。 They were not niggardly； these tramps； and he who
had money did not hesitate to share it among the rest。 They belonged to
all the countries in the world； but this was no bar to good…fellowship； for
they felt themselves freemen of a country whose frontiers include them all；
the great country of Cockaine。
〃But I guess Strickland was an ugly customer when he was roused；〃
said Captain Nichols； reflectively。 〃One day we ran into Tough Bill in
the Place； and he asked Charlie for the papers he'd given him。〃
〃‘You'd better come and take them if you want them；' says Charlie。
〃He was a powerful fellow； Tough Bill； but he didn't quite like the look
of Charlie； so he began cursing him。 He called him pretty near every
name he could lay hands on； and when Tough Bill began cursing it was
worth listening to him。 Well； Charlie stuck it for a bit； then he stepped
forward and he just said： ‘Get out； you bloody swine。' It wasn't so much
what he said； but the way he said it。 Tough Bill never spoke another
word； you could see him go yellow； and he walked away as if he'd
remembered he had a date。〃
Strickland； according to Captain Nichols； did not use exactly the words
I have given； but since this book is meant for family reading I have
thought it better； at the expense of truth； to put into his mouth expressions
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familiar to the domestic circle。
Now； Tough Bill was not the man to put up with humiliation at the
hands of a common sailor。 His power depended on his prestige； and first
one； then another； of the sailors who lived in his house told them that he
had sworn to do Strickland in。
One night Captain Nichols and Strickland were sitting in one of the
bars of the Rue Bouterie。 The Rue Bouterie is a narrow street of one…
storeyed houses； each house consisting of but one room； they are like the
booths in a crowded fair or the cages of animals in a circus。 At every
door you see a woman。 Some lean lazily against the side…posts； humming
to themselves or calling to the passer…by in a raucous voice； and some
listlessly read。 They are French。 Italian； Spanish； Japanese； coloured；
some are fat and some are thin； and under the thick paint on their faces；
the heavy smears on their eyebrows； and the scarlet of their lips； you see
the lines of age and the scars of dissipation。 Some wear black shifts and
flesh…coloured stockings； some with curly hair； dyed yellow； are dressed
like little girls in short muslin frocks。 Through the open door you see a
red…tiled floor； a large wooden bed； and on a deal table a ewer and a basin。
A motley crowd saunters along the streets Lascars off a P。 and O。； blond
Northmen from a Swedish barque； Japanese from a man…of…war； English
sailors； Spaniards； pleasant…looking fellows from a French cruiser； negroes
off an American tramp。 By day it is merely sordid； but at night； lit only
by the lamps in the little huts； the street has a sinister beauty。 The
hideous lust that pervades the air is oppressive and horrible； and yet there
is something mysterious in the sight which haunts and troubles you。 You
feel I know not what primitive force which repels and yet fascinates you。
Here all the decencies of civilisation are swept away； and you feel that
men are face to face with a sombre reality。 There is an atmosphere that is
at once intense and tragic。
In the bar in which Strickland and Nichols sat a mechanical piano was
loudly grinding out dance music。 Round the room people were sitting at
table； here half a dozen sailors uproariously drunk； there a group of
soldiers； and in the middle； crowded together； couples were dancing。
Bearded sailors with brown faces and large horny hands clasped their
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partners in a tight embrace。 The women wore nothing but a shift。 Now
and then two sailors would get up and dance together。 The noise was
deafening。 People were singing； shouting； laughing； and when a man
gave a long kiss to the girl sitting on his knees； cat…calls from the English
sailors increased the din。 The air was heavy with the dust beaten up by
the heavy boots of the men； and gray with smoke。 It was very hot。
Behind the bar was seated a woman nursing her baby。 The waiter； an
undersized youth with a flat； spotty face； hurried to and fro carrying a tray
laden with glasses of beer。
In a little while Tough Bill； accompanied by two huge negroes； came
in； and it was easy to see that he was already three parts drunk。 He was
looking for trouble。 He lurched against a table at which three soldiers
were sitting and knocked over a glass of beer。 There was an angry
altercation； and the owner of the bar stepped forward and ordered Tough
Bill to go。 He was a hefty fellow； in the habit of standing no nonsense
from his customers； and Tough Bill hesitated。 The landlord was not a
man he cared to tackle； for the police were on his side； and with an oath he
turned on his heel。 Suddenly he caught sight of Strickland。 He rolled
up to him。 He did not speak。 He gathered the spittle in his mouth and
spat full in Strickland's face。 Strickland seized his glass and flung it at
him。 The dancers stopped suddenly still。 There was an instant of
complete silence； but when Tough Bill threw himself on Strickland the lust
of battle seized them all； and in a moment there was a confused scrimmage。
Tables were overturned； glasses crashed to the ground。 There was a
hellish row。 The women scattered to the door and behind the bar。
Passers…by surged in from the street。 You heard curses in every tongue
the sound of blows； cries； and in the middle of the room a dozen men were
fighting with all their might。 On a sudden the police rushed in； and
everyone who could made for the door。 When the bar was more or less
cleared； Tough Bill was lying insensible on the floor with a great gash in
his head。 Captain Nichols dragged Strickland； bleeding from a wound in
his arm； his clothes in rags； into the street。 His own face was covered with
blood from a blow on the nose。
〃I guess you'd better get out of Marseilles before Tough Bill comes out
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of hospital；〃 he said to Strickland； w