Doctor at Sea

brought that down,’ he said. ‘Take a look at it.’
    I unfolded the paper. It was from the Fathom Line head office.
    TO CHIEF OFFICER SS. LOTUS. PLACE CAPTAIN ASHORE TENERIFFE IF DOCTOR SO ADVISES AND BRING VESSEL HOME UNDER YOUR COMMAND STOP PREPARE TAKE COMMAND IMMEDIATELY ON ARRIVAL UK SS PRIMROSE OWING RESIGNATION CAPTAIN BARSETT.
    ‘Well, Doc,’ he said smiling.’ Do you advise?’
    ‘Do I advise! Yes, sir! Yes, indeed!’ I grabbed his hand. ’Yes, Captain Hornbeam!’

19

    THE next day we arrived off the rocky, volcanic Canaries, sailed under the lee of the islands, and shortly after noon slipped into the tidy, clean harbour of Teneriffe. Archer and Trail took the bow and stern, tugs flying smoky red-and-yellow Spanish flags turned us round to face the sea, and we tied to the jetty between a smart Blue Star boat outward bound for Rio and a disconnected-looking craft flying the flag of Panama which had cows on the deck.
    At first Captain Hogg refused to be moved. We showed him the cablegram but he accused us of forgery. So I filled him up with morphine and sent him to sleep.
    He was carried out on the shoulders of the sailors, like Nelson’s bier, arranged in a derrick sling, and unloaded by the steam winches between two bales of cowhide.
    ‘You’ll find the full history in the letter,’ I said, handing the case report to the smiling, handsome Spanish doctor with the ambulance.’ The British Consul’s fixed everything else up.’
    The doctor shook hands, the ambulance doors swung shut, and Captain Vincent Hogg drove out of my life.
    ‘Get rid of him all right?’ Easter asked, as I reached the top of the gangway.
    ‘It seems so. I don’t think he’ll have much chance to throw his weight about in a Spanish hospital. Especially after that letter I sent with him.’
    ‘Wouldn’t mind going ashore here for a spell myself,’ Easter said meditatively.’ I’ve had some fun here, I have. I remember when I was on the South Africa run, the barber and me went…’
    ‘All right.Easter. Later will do.’
    ‘They got some lovely girls here,’ Easter continued.
    ‘Prettiest in the world, I reckon. Look at that one down there. See? They got the same as our girls at home, but they carry it around better.’ he pointed to a slim, dark girl, stepping along the quay with a grace that is unhappily forgotten on cold English parks and pavements.
    ‘Ho, they got some smashing bits here!’ Easter said enthusiastically.’ Mind you, you’ve got to be careful. Do you want a tablecloth?’
    ‘A tablecloth? What should I want a tablecloth for?’
    ‘This is the place to buy them.’ he pointed over the side, where the wide pipes ran towards the ship in a pool of black fuel oil. An informal market had been set up on the quay, offering thick brocaded tablecloths, scarves with vivid bullfights on them, canaries in cages, metal ornaments, and dolls four feet high.
    ‘Them dolls is all right,’ Easter advised me.’ I used buy a lot of them at one time.’
    ‘I’m pleased to hear you think of the children, Easter.’
    ‘Ho, crikey no! I used to buy ‘em here and flog ‘em in Pernambuco. Good business, that was. Canaries, too. Make a good few bob on canaries, you could. Unless the little bastards went and died on you. Or you got gyped. Some of ‘em’s sparrows fed on quinine.’
    ‘Well, I ought to buy a few presents, I suppose. But I haven’t got much in the way of money.’
    ‘They takes all kinds of junk here. Old clothes - a pair o’ boots, worn out, if you’ve got ‘em. Fags mostly. Get anything for a few hundred Woods.’
    I exchanged five hundred ship’s Woodbines for two scarves, a small bracelet, and a decorated picture of General Franco. I supposed I had better make a return with some of the assets of a seafarer.
    We stayed eight hours in Teneriffe; then we set off under Hornbeam’s command, our next stop England.
    The removal of Captain Hogg from the ship had the effect of dissolving a chronic state of anxiety. All hands walked about cheerfully, did their work amiably, and set to it with twice the effort.
    ‘Got to have her looking nice for home now,’ the Bos’n said, looking critically at the gang he had set painting the upper works.’ We can’t let Mr Hornbeam down, can we?’
    Hornbeam slipped easily into his new rank. He took over the Captain’s cabin and his seat at table. Our mealtimes now were lively with conversation, with the result that everyone ate more contentedly