I'll take care of your dunnage. Is there anything special you want to save, sir?"
A respectable hill of case goods, water-kegs, and personal dunnage was piled on the deck alongside.
"I think, sir, it would be advisable to part-load the boat; then, right after the next time the whale hits us, lower away on the run, chuck the rest of the dunnage in, and ourselves, and get clear."
"I was just fearin' you'd be wantin' me along, sir.--Kwaque, you take 'm my fella dunnage belong me, put 'm in other fella boat along other side."
The starboard boat, fended off by sailors, rose and fell in the water alongside while the remainder of the dunnage and provisions showered into her.
Shoving clear, they roughly stored the supplies and dunnage out of the way of the thwarts and took their places, Ah Moy pulling bow- oar, next in order Big John and Kwaque, with Daughtry (Cocky still perched on his shoulder) at stroke.
And out of the snow flurries they saw appear a tall, gaunt form, with whiskers of flying white that blended with the storm, bending under a sixty-pound pack of camp
dunnage.
The second sea filled the Petite Jeanne'S decks flush with the rails; and, as her stern sank down and her bow tossed skyward, all the miserable
dunnage of life and luggage poured aft.