I had to serve at the meals , which the captain took at regular hours , sitting down with the officer who was off duty ; all the day through I would be running with a dram to one or other of my three masters ; and at night I slept on a blanket thrown on the deck boards at the aftermost end of the round-house , and right in the draught of the two doors . It was a hard and a cold bed ; nor was I suffered to sleep without interruption ; for some one would be always coming in from deck to get a dram , and when a fresh watch was to be set , two and sometimes all three would sit down and brew a bowl together . How they kept their health , I know not , any more than how I kept my own . And yet in other ways it was an easy service . There was no cloth to lay ; the meals were either of oatmeal porridge or salt junk , except twice a week , when there was duff : and though I was clumsy enough and -LRB- not being firm on my sealegs -RRB- sometimes fell with what I was bringing them , both Mr. Riach and the captain were singularly patient . I could not but fancy they were making up lee-way with their consciences , and that they would scarce have been so good with me if they had not been worse with Ransome . As for Mr. Shuan , the drink or his crime , or the two together , had certainly troubled his mind . I can not say I ever saw him in his proper wits . He never grew used to my being there , stared at me continually -LRB- sometimes , I could have thought , with terror -RRB- , and more than once drew back from my hand when I was serving him . I was pretty sure from the first that he had no clear mind of what he had done , and on my second day in the round-house I had the proof of it . We were alone , and he had been staring at me a long time , when all at once , up he got , as pale as death , and came close up to me , to my great terror . But I had no cause to be afraid of him . `` You were not here before ? '' he asked . `` No , sir , '' said I. '' `` There was another boy ? '' he asked again ; and when I had answered him , `` Ah ! '' says he , `` I thought that , '' and went and sat down , without another word , except to call for brandy . You may think it strange , but for all the horror I had , I was still sorry for him . He was a married man , with a wife in Leith ; but whether or no he had a family , I have now forgotten ; I hope not . Altogether it was no very hard life for the time it lasted , which -LRB- as you are to hear -RRB- was not long .
I was as well fed as the best of them ; even their pickles , which were the great dainty , I was allowed my share of ; and had I liked I might have been drunk from morning to XXXXX , like Mr. Shuan .
Leith Ransome Shuan duff first hours lee-way night right round-house