In this thrilling episode, we dive into the gripping tale of "Typhoon" by Joseph Conrad, brought to life by the Columbia Broadcasting System. Set in the tumultuous China Seas, the story follows the crew of the China coast steamer Nan Shan, led by the seemingly obtuse Captain McWhirr. As they navigate through a fierce typhoon, the crew faces not only the wrath of nature but also the chaos among the 200 coolies aboard, who are driven to madness by the loose silver dollars rolling across the deck.
Amidst the storm's fury, Chief Mate Jukes grapples with the challenges of maintaining order and safety, while Captain McWhirr's steadfastness is put to the ultimate test. The episode captures the essence of Conrad's narrative, highlighting themes of duty, leadership, and the unpredictable power of the sea. Join us as we explore this classic maritime adventure, where survival hinges on the crew's resilience and the captain's unwavering resolve.
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Escape tonight, the China Sea in Typhoon. The Columbia Broadcasting
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System and its The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations presents escape, a new series of programs of which this, the fourth, is typhoon by Joseph Conrad, produced and directed by William n Robson.
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Of all the great authors who wrote of the sea, none so captured the wonder and the horror of it as did Joseph Conrad. Tonight, we escape to the China Seas in his great story, Typhoon, told in the words of a certain mister Dukes, chief mate of the China coast steamer Nan Shan, a young man of very remarkable perception.
[00:01:43] Unknown:
I've been sailing with China Sea long enough to see some strange and terrible things, but nothing as bad as that was. My god himself forgot us, and the whole Glicken universe set out to do us in that night. It was the oh, that comes later. I guess you can't really understand what happened on board the Ananshan without knowing something about our skipper, captain McQuerre. Stupid McQuerre, I called him. And And after sailing with him for three years, I ought to know what I'm talking about. I I tagged him right off first day he came aboard to take command. In Liverpool, it was, and mister Siggs, who was one of the owners, were showing him around the deck. It is a more modern ship afloat.
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I might say again that you've come to us very highly recommended, captain Macquarie. We have a great deal of confidence in you. Uh-huh. Thank you, mister Siggs. She's a brand new ship and a good ship. There's no reason why you shouldn't continue in command of her as long as you like. Well, that's, that's fine. She'll be the smartest thing afloat in the China trade. Why? She's put together like a Swiss watch,
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Precision built from stem to stern. Wait. Just a minute, mister Singh. What is it? That lock.
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Lock? What lock?
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Here on the cabin door.
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What about it?
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You'll notice how it's been set in the frame, somewhat cocked at an angle. The ship starts rolling a bit, and the first thing you know, it snaps open and leaves the door swinging. It really should be fixed, mister Siggs.
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That's captain McClure, the best birth he'd ever had. New command, a brand new ship. But instead of pinching himself to see if he's awake, he complains about a lock on the cabin door. See what I mean?
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McWhirr, I I see what you mean. I'll have it attended to right away. I I think you'll do alright.
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Thank you, mister Simmons.
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Well, everybody knows what the China Coast is. You haul out of Bangkok for a quick run up to Singapore and then shove off to Hong Kong. Two days ashore, you do it all over again. Three years of it. Three years of heat, smells, weather, copalis, hilt, and tea. Along in there somewhere, the owners decided to transfer the ship's registry to the Siamese flag. Don't ask me why. They just did. That's all. Anyway, I can tell you I didn't like it. When you grow up under the union jack, you'll figure to go on sailing under it. Not that the skipper, of course, didn't understand that kind of a feeling.
Oh, no. Not all stupid McQuirk.
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Aye.
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What is that, mister Jukes? They, just sent the new flag out from shore, sir. Here it is. Oh, fine. Fine.
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Unroll it. Let's have a look. Oh, yes.
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In my opinion, sir, it's a queer kind of flag for a man to sail under. Oh, and what's the matter with it? Well, it, just looks queer to me. That's all. Well, now let's see.
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A white elephant on a red eel. Oh, just a minute. I'll look it up in the book. Here we are. Siam, white elephant on a field of bright bread, length exactly twice the breadth. So, oh, there's nothing wrong with this flag, mister Duke. Oh, isn't there? Not a thing. I hardly thought that could be. After all, these people ought to know how to make their own flag, it stands to reason. Does it, love? You must have it confused with some other flag, mister Duke. Well, all I can say is Of course, you'll have to take care of the seam and don't hoist the elephant upside down. That is before they're quite used to it. I I I presume it might be taken for a signal of distress. And in that case, the way I see it, that elephant stands for something like the nature of a union jack in the British flag. Oh, you think so?
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Well, it's like a bloom in Noah's Ark. That's what it is. Mister Jukes.
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I'm sorry, sir. I can't see where the color of a flag could any wise affect the navigation of a ship. I did,
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alright, sir. I'll instruct the hands. It'd certainly be a most distressful sight to see that elephant hoisted upside down. Well, that was captain McQuarrie. Couldn't get a thing through his head if you drew him a picture. And that's the skipper we had to sail under on the maddest, wildest trip that any coaster ever took. We were loading out in Singapore. Half the cargo had already come aboard. The sun was blazing, and the smoke from our stacks hung over the decks like a blanket. The Nanshan's winches puffed away aft. Cargo chains creaked and crowded across the.
I was in the way supervising the loading when mister Rauch, the chief engineer, came up. Their jukes.
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What's going on down there on the dock? Looks like a blooming army.
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I don't know, mister Ralph. Must be a mob of coulees on the move. Here comes the captain. Could be some of his doing it. Mister Cook. Hi, sir. Chief the port between deck here of cargo.
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There'll be 200 coulees coming aboard, and we'll plan to bounce them down there.
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Good lord. Where are they both?
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We'll have to put in there this trip. Yeah. But we're not fixed to handle passengers, sir. No. They'll bring supplies aboard with them. Every man's got a camper wood chest, so you'll have to nail deck buttons down there to keep them from sliding. Yes, sir. I'll see to it. I've all been working on a plantation north somewhere. Two year contract. They're dying to get home. It wouldn't have been quite right to turn them down. You may as well start them coming aboard, mister Dukes. Alright, sir.
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Ollie number one, boy, Ollie Seim. Listen, you savvy.
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Only fellow catch him here. Topside. Catch him. Step step. Bottom side. All he time. Chop chop.
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Single foul now. One fellow, one time, all the time. What do you suppose they carry in those boxes?
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Oh, I suppose their personal belongings, mister Duke, and, of course, their two year pay in silver dollars.
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Hell, there is vicious a lucky bunch of murderers that I've ever seen, Adrian.
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Oh, come now, mister Jukes. One or two of them maybe, but in the name I'd say their honest workman have to be to stick out a two year contract on one of these plantation Just to say, sir. We better not take any chance. Oh, I checked the nading way carefully, mister Shook. We can carry them without any overloading at all. I mean
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Alright, sir. I better go hide the silverware on the officer's list.
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It's a hard time to understand sometimes.
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I could say I had a premonition right then, and I wouldn't be lying. Anyway, that's how it started. At the hottest time of the year, February half civilized coolies aboard, a captain with no more imagination than you could stick in your ear, we steamed out from Singapore and laid a course for the Port Of Fucho.
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I tell you, Jukes, I don't like it. I don't like it a bit.
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But what don't you like about it, mister Wells? It's a looks of things. Something ominous about it. Oh, there's a bit of a swell running alright. Not a breath of wind. It's uncommonly hot. That's all. He's the man that jumps. You're as bad as the second mate. He's been groaning around like the voice of doom all day. Oh, that's the old man. I'll see you later. Hit your steam up. Are you calling me, captain? I was, mister Jukes. What was all the long conversation with mister Raut? Oh, I why nothing much, sir. I I didn't see any harm in talking a bit. I'm not on watch, you know? Oh, no. No. Nothing wrong with it. Nothing at all.
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I just wondered what you could find to talk about.
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Well,
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different things. I don't know. I've seen people on shore sit around the table and talk for two or three hours. I never could understand it. It's just conversation.
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That's all about loving in particular.
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Seems pretty silly. Well, you've noticed the barometer, no doubt. Yes, sir. It's traveling. Falling fast. Quite low now. Take a look. I'll say it's troubling. Bad time of the year for that sort of thing. Very bad. Anything you want me to do, sir? Oh, no. No. Must be some uncommonly dusty weather knocking about somewhere. Hey, mister Duke? Yes. Well, that's all. It's thought you ought to know about it. That's all. Carry on, sir. Carry on.
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Woah. There's a heavy one alright, mate. Them coolies must be having a time of it down below. Lucky for them, the old girl rolls easier than any ship I've ever seen. You just wait. Oh, you think we may be in for it? Oh, no. I don't think anything. You're not gonna make a fool out of me that way, mister Jukes. I didn't say a word. What's the matter with you, second? Why shouldn't you say what you think if you're a minor? No. You don't catch me.
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Woah. There's another one.
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That's pretty rough. Now whatever is about, we're steaming right into it.
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You just try telling the old man that. And why shouldn't I?
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Matter of fact, I think I'll ask him about this cross swell. It's getting worse all the time. I've known skippers to break some right good men for seeing a whole wrong leg. Captain McQuirk.
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Yes, mister Dukes. What is it? Swell is getting a good deal worse, sir. Yes. I noticed that in here. Anything wrong?
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Well, I, I was thinking about the passengers.
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What passengers? Why the coolies, sir. Then if you mean coolies, say coolies, mister Dukes. A man ought to say what he means.
[00:13:15] Unknown:
What about the coolies? She's rolling her decks full of water, sir. I thought you might wanna put her head at the swell for a bit until this goes down, of course. Now that's it, Put ahead of the swell four points off the coast. Well, it's just for a while, sir. As well as high as this can't last long, it stands to reason. Mister Pughs,
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take a look at the barometer. Good lord. Yeah. Exactly. It's a dead calm outside, isn't it? It's not a breath of air stirring, sir. Only that cross swell. I've been reading in the book here about storms. Funny thing. If a man believed everything written down here, he'd spend half his life running to get behind the weather. If I was to go by what this fellow says, I'd alter my course and come booming into Foucalt from the north. Four days late, 300 extra miles in distance,
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and a pretty bill for coal on top of it.
[00:14:11] Unknown:
I tell you, mister Jukes, if I knew every word in here was gospel true, I couldn't bring myself to do that. No, sir. I guess so. And how's the man to know the book is right? If you dodge around the spot of dusty weather, how do you ever find out it was there in the first place? Answer me that. No, mister Deuce. There are things that a man can't get from books. I've thought it all out this afternoon. We'll hold her steady as she goes. Whatever you say, sir. You're the captain.
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I guess I'd better write up the log. I'm going on watch. Good.
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I'd just say we're heading into something a bit out of the ordinary. Call me at once if anything shows up in the night, mister Jukes. Alright, sir. I'll see to it. And, mister Jukes? Yes, sir. If you're going into the taproom, please close that blinking door.
[00:15:04] Unknown:
A crump, come to hear the door banging.
[00:15:08] Unknown:
Yes, sir. 8PM. Swell increasing. Ship laboring heavily and taking water on all decks. Still a dead calm and very hot. Batten down the coolies for the night. The barometer is still forming. All appearances indicate an approaching typhoon.
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Alright. Hackett, hold us steady as she goes. That's all we can do. Aye, sir. I'll sure try to. Well, do the best you can. Aye aye, sir. Mister Duke? Mister Duke? Aye, captain. I'm coming. And I over here, mister Duke. Downward six rails, tractor, coming over of mister Duke's. Why didn't you call me? Well, there was no warning, sir. It is all of a sudden about five minutes ago blasted right out of a dead car. The book was nice and dumb. Anyhow,
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how's it going in the wheelhouse? Hacking is Look out, sir. Hang on. What about Hackett? He's on the wheel. Second is putting up shutters. To win the glass of gold, she starts breaking any higher. Oh, she'll break higher, mister Dukes. What the Higher.
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It's a happy thought. To have an order, of course? No, sir. Heading straight at the wind. Good. Still riding. Alright. That one broke over the wheelhouse. We're done for for sure. What's that, mister Dukes? You say something? I said,
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is there any chance at all, sir? Can she live through it? She may.
[00:17:44] Unknown:
We can hope so long. At least, she's a good ship. Man shouldn't be on that deck if he has to. It's a bit dangerous. Over here. What's the double boson in Chinese, sir, then? Wait. Hang on. Look. The Chinese, What about them? They've all fetched away, sir. One big lump. It's horrible. Yeah. Now what do you mean fetched away, rolling around in a hole in one big lump, screaming like grooming maniacs, sir, over drift, mister Duke. Yes, sir. I can't make head or tail of this. I guess you'd let it all blow secret. Put things in order, ma'am. So what shall I do, sir? I can't tell you up here. Find out what's wrong.
Straighten it out. That's all. That's all. I'm going to try for the wheelhouse. Alright, sir. Come on, Just straighten it out. That's all.
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Well, how's the wheel stand, Haggard? Yes. Steady as she goes, sir. You realize, of course, we've hit the typhoon. Aye, sir. Sorry. I can't give you a relief.
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Can you manage to wait longer? I'll hold it in the course, sir, as long as there's a ship by night, pal. Sure. That won't be long. Oh, anything wrong, second? Wrong.
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We're always good at dead when that's what's wrong. Oh, now I wouldn't say that. You're still a floater. And we've got it lucky here on deck. Twentieth chance to see what's coming before he hits us. A man always feels better when he can see what's coming. But it's a different story down below
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there, not having knowledge of what's going on, not knowing if we're afloat or sinking. Now there's a bunch that's got it done by one down there in the engine room.
[00:20:09] Unknown:
No time now for the steam to drop. Here, ride that throttle, and let her rip her shaft out when she breaks clear of those wells. Hello, Bridge. Hello, Bridge. How why don't they answer the speaking to them? Can't tell if they're dead or alive up there.
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Hello? Hello? Yes, Guzman. Captain, how is it on deck? Part of them. It depends Captain,
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how is it on deck? Five of them. It depends closely on you. Well, so far so good. We're holding a full head of steam. Good. We'll need it. Don't let me drive her under, sir. Have to take a chance.
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I'll see 20 feet up here.
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Hello?
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Hello? That's the captain, mister Brown. I've gotta talk to him right away. Wait a minute, Jukes.
[00:21:08] Unknown:
Something's happened up there. Hello?
[00:21:11] Unknown:
Hello, bridge. You're still there, mister Brown? Right. Anything wrong, sir? No. Not now. The second place, Over what?
[00:21:23] Unknown:
Awkward circumstance.
[00:21:26] Unknown:
Too bad. You hear that, Jukes? Yes. Let me talk to her. Him. Captain, Duke's here. The boats and I just took a look at the tween deck. It's them blooming foxes, sir. They've all broke loose and smashed to bits, and the coolies are fighting like crazy men for them silver dollars that's rolling around. There are 200 of them, sir. They're all trying to kill each other. I can't have it, mister Duke.
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What a stop doing that what? What
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a stop doing how they're crazy men. They'll kill anybody
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Gee, Arcepah. There's the one that does it. That, that must have swept the deck from stem to stern. Hello? Hello, captain McGuire. You all right up there? Sir. It is all right, mister Marsh.
[00:22:34] Unknown:
All the boats and half the Star Wars rail carried away. Seven Nothing to worry about. Carry
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on. Nothing to worry about. Carry on.
[00:22:46] Unknown:
You're alright, captain.
[00:22:47] Unknown:
As you say, sir, carry on. Carry on. Hey, now. Hey, now. Where are you going? Where are you going, Where do you think I'm going, you loudmouth old windbag? Out on that deck to get myself murdered. Nothing serious, Jukes. Nothing to worry about. The whole blooming world's falling apart, and I'm out picking up silver dollars. Captain's orders. Come on, Paulson.
[00:23:12] Unknown:
Don't visit y'all, Jukes. Carry on, boy. Carry on.
[00:23:30] Unknown:
No help, Fred. Our gallows skipper says to stop the fighting. You are a pirate.
[00:23:36] Unknown:
Alright then. Quiet down. Come on, boss. Are you sure? Show us there, you fool. Cut it out now. Do you hear me?
[00:23:44] Unknown:
I'm sorry. They're clean out of their heads. We gotta drive them with the bulkheads. Back up, though.
[00:23:51] Unknown:
Hey. None of that. Take that, brother. Get to it, folks. You gotta show them what's more. Nothing
[00:24:11] Unknown:
What about back there? No fight. The last shiver's order.
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I'm just thinking. Oh, yes. Don't. It was an oddity
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to see me now. She'd say, oh, you jolly sailor langer.
[00:24:25] Unknown:
Keep over there. Jam them up, Jose, into the buffet.
[00:24:38] Unknown:
Captain. Where are you, captain?
[00:24:41] Unknown:
Over here, mister Duke. You got everything cleared up down below? Oh oh, yes. We we took care of everything, sir. I thought you would. The wind fell all at once, stopped cold. It's been like this for ten minutes now. If you, think it was an easy job to bring that mob under control. Oh, the coolies? Oh, I dare say it wasn't. I could do what's fair by them, though. Mister Dukes, that barometer in there stands at the lowest point I've ever seen a glass in my life. You mean there'll be more of it? The worst yet according to the book. It'll break sudden now any minute.
A puff or two of wind and then hits. She's taken a horrible beating, sir. She has indeed. And she's in for a worse one. We haven't much chance, have we, sir? She may come through it. She's a good chip.
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There's the first puff.
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It'll hit us hard when it comes. You left them pretty safe, did you? The coolies?
[00:25:42] Unknown:
We strung lifelines. Gives them something to hold on to. Good. I'd like to give them all the chance we can, whatever happens. Oh, they'll be alright, sir. I broke out rifles. Parade the crew, put them to garnering all the companion weights, leading off the team, Dick. You armed the crew, mister Duke? Oh, sure. We won't have any trouble with them now, sir. Mister Duke,
[00:26:00] Unknown:
please have those rifles returned to the magazines at once. What? There'll be work for every man aboard in a few minutes. I can't spare steam and to stand around and hold rifles when it isn't necessary. Isn't necessary? Don't you realize those savages will think we stole our money? They'll tear us to bits if they ever get out of that deck. Oh, I think they'll understand we're dealing fair by them. Collect rifles, mister Joe. Captain, it's suicide.
[00:26:25] Unknown:
The best thing we can do is turn the whole mess over to the authorities and fu jiao if we ever get there. Well, I don't know.
[00:26:32] Unknown:
I figured that when anything happens on shipboard, it's up to me to settle it on shipboard. Part of the duties of commanding a vessel, mister Dukes. I have no doubt, dear, I'll be able to reach an understanding with these men later. Understanding?
[00:26:46] Unknown:
You wanna seen him a while ago when me and the Folsom was down there? Lost their heads a bit, I guess. No wonder at that when
[00:26:54] Unknown:
here she comes.
[00:26:56] Unknown:
Pick up those rifles, mister Duke, and something else. Yes, captain. If anything happens to me, you'll be in charge. Only advice, keep for fainting it. Best point to get through, fainting it. That's enough for anyone. Alright, captain. I'll remember one thing more, mister Duke. Yes, sir. Something night,
[00:27:22] Unknown:
a night a rolling stone. What in the name of heaven do you do with a man like that? There was a clear blue sky and bright sunshine in the morning we steamed in the Fuzhou Harbor. Mister Rott was leaning on a hatch combing, smoking a pipe, and the bosun lounge on the foredeck waiting to pick up a line from the wharf. And the captain, well, he was engaged in the most unusual occupation. He was sitting at the table on the foredeck, handing out silver dollars to them blinking coolies, all divided up even the same amount to each one. Craziest thing you ever heard of in your life.
You see, the way the captain figured it, since those gliders had all worked for two years at the same rate of pay, then their savings ought to all be about equal. As you can see, of course, it wasn't necessarily true by any means. It wasn't even legal, but you couldn't tell him anything.
[00:28:40] Unknown:
Well,
[00:28:43] Unknown:
mister Duke Yes, sir. Coming, captain.
[00:28:46] Unknown:
Well, mister Duke, I've disposed of our little connection of silver dollars. Now that's great.
[00:28:52] Unknown:
Only wait till those boys get a sure and filed claims against Oh, no. They won't do that.
[00:28:57] Unknown:
As a matter of fact, they were quite pleased with having it arranged that way. Figured it might avoid a lot of arguments later. See, this is a spokesman for facts. Well, I'll be mister Dukes, you may as well give all the hand six hours leave before we start working the cargo. Whatever you say, captain. Oh, yes. And, before the carpenter leaves, I wish you'd have him fixed and locked on that port cabin door. What? That seems to have got broken somehow during the storm, I suppose. I I can't come to hear a door banging, mister Joseph. Aye, sir. I,
[00:29:32] Unknown:
I don't suppose it matters that the ship is battered from stem to stern, half her topside carried away and smashed so she looks like a Bloomingtonsen freighter. Mister Jukes, I don't understand you. You don't understand me, sir. Do you understand that we've been through the worst typhoon in the China Seas in twenty years? We're the only ship that got through. It's true. I suppose we were a bit lucky. Lucky, sir? With 200 murdering cutthroats running loose aboard and the very heavens doing their worst? We had a job to do, and we did it. That's all, mister Jukes. That's the important thing? Yes, sir. That's, that's all.
That's all, he says. A job to do. A bit lucky. What can you do with a man as thick as that? But then as I started to turn away, captain McClure said something else that surprised me. With emotion rung from the very bottom of his soul, he he uttered words I never thought I'd hear coming from so so stupid a man. But I'm glad we brought her through, mister Jukes. Truly, I am.
[00:30:37] Unknown:
She's a good ship, mister Jukes. A good ship. I should have hated to lose her.
[00:30:44] Unknown:
I I should have hated to lose her.
[00:31:05] Unknown:
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Escape tonight, the China Sea in Typhoon. The Columbia Broadcasting
[00:00:42] Unknown:
System and its The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations presents escape, a new series of programs of which this, the fourth, is typhoon by Joseph Conrad, produced and directed by William n Robson.
[00:01:05] Unknown:
Of all the great authors who wrote of the sea, none so captured the wonder and the horror of it as did Joseph Conrad. Tonight, we escape to the China Seas in his great story, Typhoon, told in the words of a certain mister Dukes, chief mate of the China coast steamer Nan Shan, a young man of very remarkable perception.
[00:01:43] Unknown:
I've been sailing with China Sea long enough to see some strange and terrible things, but nothing as bad as that was. My god himself forgot us, and the whole Glicken universe set out to do us in that night. It was the oh, that comes later. I guess you can't really understand what happened on board the Ananshan without knowing something about our skipper, captain McQuerre. Stupid McQuerre, I called him. And And after sailing with him for three years, I ought to know what I'm talking about. I I tagged him right off first day he came aboard to take command. In Liverpool, it was, and mister Siggs, who was one of the owners, were showing him around the deck. It is a more modern ship afloat.
[00:02:29] Unknown:
I might say again that you've come to us very highly recommended, captain Macquarie. We have a great deal of confidence in you. Uh-huh. Thank you, mister Siggs. She's a brand new ship and a good ship. There's no reason why you shouldn't continue in command of her as long as you like. Well, that's, that's fine. She'll be the smartest thing afloat in the China trade. Why? She's put together like a Swiss watch,
[00:02:55] Unknown:
Precision built from stem to stern. Wait. Just a minute, mister Singh. What is it? That lock.
[00:03:03] Unknown:
Lock? What lock?
[00:03:05] Unknown:
Here on the cabin door.
[00:03:07] Unknown:
What about it?
[00:03:08] Unknown:
You'll notice how it's been set in the frame, somewhat cocked at an angle. The ship starts rolling a bit, and the first thing you know, it snaps open and leaves the door swinging. It really should be fixed, mister Siggs.
[00:03:30] Unknown:
That's captain McClure, the best birth he'd ever had. New command, a brand new ship. But instead of pinching himself to see if he's awake, he complains about a lock on the cabin door. See what I mean?
[00:03:44] Unknown:
McWhirr, I I see what you mean. I'll have it attended to right away. I I think you'll do alright.
[00:03:53] Unknown:
Thank you, mister Simmons.
[00:04:02] Unknown:
Well, everybody knows what the China Coast is. You haul out of Bangkok for a quick run up to Singapore and then shove off to Hong Kong. Two days ashore, you do it all over again. Three years of it. Three years of heat, smells, weather, copalis, hilt, and tea. Along in there somewhere, the owners decided to transfer the ship's registry to the Siamese flag. Don't ask me why. They just did. That's all. Anyway, I can tell you I didn't like it. When you grow up under the union jack, you'll figure to go on sailing under it. Not that the skipper, of course, didn't understand that kind of a feeling.
Oh, no. Not all stupid McQuirk.
[00:04:52] Unknown:
Aye.
[00:04:53] Unknown:
What is that, mister Jukes? They, just sent the new flag out from shore, sir. Here it is. Oh, fine. Fine.
[00:05:00] Unknown:
Unroll it. Let's have a look. Oh, yes.
[00:05:05] Unknown:
In my opinion, sir, it's a queer kind of flag for a man to sail under. Oh, and what's the matter with it? Well, it, just looks queer to me. That's all. Well, now let's see.
[00:05:18] Unknown:
A white elephant on a red eel. Oh, just a minute. I'll look it up in the book. Here we are. Siam, white elephant on a field of bright bread, length exactly twice the breadth. So, oh, there's nothing wrong with this flag, mister Duke. Oh, isn't there? Not a thing. I hardly thought that could be. After all, these people ought to know how to make their own flag, it stands to reason. Does it, love? You must have it confused with some other flag, mister Duke. Well, all I can say is Of course, you'll have to take care of the seam and don't hoist the elephant upside down. That is before they're quite used to it. I I I presume it might be taken for a signal of distress. And in that case, the way I see it, that elephant stands for something like the nature of a union jack in the British flag. Oh, you think so?
[00:06:12] Unknown:
Well, it's like a bloom in Noah's Ark. That's what it is. Mister Jukes.
[00:06:17] Unknown:
I'm sorry, sir. I can't see where the color of a flag could any wise affect the navigation of a ship. I did,
[00:06:26] Unknown:
alright, sir. I'll instruct the hands. It'd certainly be a most distressful sight to see that elephant hoisted upside down. Well, that was captain McQuarrie. Couldn't get a thing through his head if you drew him a picture. And that's the skipper we had to sail under on the maddest, wildest trip that any coaster ever took. We were loading out in Singapore. Half the cargo had already come aboard. The sun was blazing, and the smoke from our stacks hung over the decks like a blanket. The Nanshan's winches puffed away aft. Cargo chains creaked and crowded across the.
I was in the way supervising the loading when mister Rauch, the chief engineer, came up. Their jukes.
[00:07:21] Unknown:
What's going on down there on the dock? Looks like a blooming army.
[00:07:25] Unknown:
I don't know, mister Ralph. Must be a mob of coulees on the move. Here comes the captain. Could be some of his doing it. Mister Cook. Hi, sir. Chief the port between deck here of cargo.
[00:07:38] Unknown:
There'll be 200 coulees coming aboard, and we'll plan to bounce them down there.
[00:07:43] Unknown:
Good lord. Where are they both?
[00:07:46] Unknown:
We'll have to put in there this trip. Yeah. But we're not fixed to handle passengers, sir. No. They'll bring supplies aboard with them. Every man's got a camper wood chest, so you'll have to nail deck buttons down there to keep them from sliding. Yes, sir. I'll see to it. I've all been working on a plantation north somewhere. Two year contract. They're dying to get home. It wouldn't have been quite right to turn them down. You may as well start them coming aboard, mister Dukes. Alright, sir.
[00:08:17] Unknown:
Ollie number one, boy, Ollie Seim. Listen, you savvy.
[00:08:23] Unknown:
Only fellow catch him here. Topside. Catch him. Step step. Bottom side. All he time. Chop chop.
[00:08:30] Unknown:
Single foul now. One fellow, one time, all the time. What do you suppose they carry in those boxes?
[00:08:37] Unknown:
Oh, I suppose their personal belongings, mister Duke, and, of course, their two year pay in silver dollars.
[00:08:45] Unknown:
Hell, there is vicious a lucky bunch of murderers that I've ever seen, Adrian.
[00:08:50] Unknown:
Oh, come now, mister Jukes. One or two of them maybe, but in the name I'd say their honest workman have to be to stick out a two year contract on one of these plantation Just to say, sir. We better not take any chance. Oh, I checked the nading way carefully, mister Shook. We can carry them without any overloading at all. I mean
[00:09:12] Unknown:
Alright, sir. I better go hide the silverware on the officer's list.
[00:09:18] Unknown:
It's a hard time to understand sometimes.
[00:09:26] Unknown:
I could say I had a premonition right then, and I wouldn't be lying. Anyway, that's how it started. At the hottest time of the year, February half civilized coolies aboard, a captain with no more imagination than you could stick in your ear, we steamed out from Singapore and laid a course for the Port Of Fucho.
[00:10:03] Unknown:
I tell you, Jukes, I don't like it. I don't like it a bit.
[00:10:06] Unknown:
But what don't you like about it, mister Wells? It's a looks of things. Something ominous about it. Oh, there's a bit of a swell running alright. Not a breath of wind. It's uncommonly hot. That's all. He's the man that jumps. You're as bad as the second mate. He's been groaning around like the voice of doom all day. Oh, that's the old man. I'll see you later. Hit your steam up. Are you calling me, captain? I was, mister Jukes. What was all the long conversation with mister Raut? Oh, I why nothing much, sir. I I didn't see any harm in talking a bit. I'm not on watch, you know? Oh, no. No. Nothing wrong with it. Nothing at all.
[00:10:53] Unknown:
I just wondered what you could find to talk about.
[00:10:56] Unknown:
Well,
[00:10:57] Unknown:
different things. I don't know. I've seen people on shore sit around the table and talk for two or three hours. I never could understand it. It's just conversation.
[00:11:08] Unknown:
That's all about loving in particular.
[00:11:10] Unknown:
Seems pretty silly. Well, you've noticed the barometer, no doubt. Yes, sir. It's traveling. Falling fast. Quite low now. Take a look. I'll say it's troubling. Bad time of the year for that sort of thing. Very bad. Anything you want me to do, sir? Oh, no. No. Must be some uncommonly dusty weather knocking about somewhere. Hey, mister Duke? Yes. Well, that's all. It's thought you ought to know about it. That's all. Carry on, sir. Carry on.
[00:12:01] Unknown:
Woah. There's a heavy one alright, mate. Them coolies must be having a time of it down below. Lucky for them, the old girl rolls easier than any ship I've ever seen. You just wait. Oh, you think we may be in for it? Oh, no. I don't think anything. You're not gonna make a fool out of me that way, mister Jukes. I didn't say a word. What's the matter with you, second? Why shouldn't you say what you think if you're a minor? No. You don't catch me.
[00:12:29] Unknown:
Woah. There's another one.
[00:12:33] Unknown:
That's pretty rough. Now whatever is about, we're steaming right into it.
[00:12:40] Unknown:
You just try telling the old man that. And why shouldn't I?
[00:12:44] Unknown:
Matter of fact, I think I'll ask him about this cross swell. It's getting worse all the time. I've known skippers to break some right good men for seeing a whole wrong leg. Captain McQuirk.
[00:12:56] Unknown:
Yes, mister Dukes. What is it? Swell is getting a good deal worse, sir. Yes. I noticed that in here. Anything wrong?
[00:13:03] Unknown:
Well, I, I was thinking about the passengers.
[00:13:07] Unknown:
What passengers? Why the coolies, sir. Then if you mean coolies, say coolies, mister Dukes. A man ought to say what he means.
[00:13:15] Unknown:
What about the coolies? She's rolling her decks full of water, sir. I thought you might wanna put her head at the swell for a bit until this goes down, of course. Now that's it, Put ahead of the swell four points off the coast. Well, it's just for a while, sir. As well as high as this can't last long, it stands to reason. Mister Pughs,
[00:13:34] Unknown:
take a look at the barometer. Good lord. Yeah. Exactly. It's a dead calm outside, isn't it? It's not a breath of air stirring, sir. Only that cross swell. I've been reading in the book here about storms. Funny thing. If a man believed everything written down here, he'd spend half his life running to get behind the weather. If I was to go by what this fellow says, I'd alter my course and come booming into Foucalt from the north. Four days late, 300 extra miles in distance,
[00:14:08] Unknown:
and a pretty bill for coal on top of it.
[00:14:11] Unknown:
I tell you, mister Jukes, if I knew every word in here was gospel true, I couldn't bring myself to do that. No, sir. I guess so. And how's the man to know the book is right? If you dodge around the spot of dusty weather, how do you ever find out it was there in the first place? Answer me that. No, mister Deuce. There are things that a man can't get from books. I've thought it all out this afternoon. We'll hold her steady as she goes. Whatever you say, sir. You're the captain.
[00:14:44] Unknown:
I guess I'd better write up the log. I'm going on watch. Good.
[00:14:48] Unknown:
I'd just say we're heading into something a bit out of the ordinary. Call me at once if anything shows up in the night, mister Jukes. Alright, sir. I'll see to it. And, mister Jukes? Yes, sir. If you're going into the taproom, please close that blinking door.
[00:15:04] Unknown:
A crump, come to hear the door banging.
[00:15:08] Unknown:
Yes, sir. 8PM. Swell increasing. Ship laboring heavily and taking water on all decks. Still a dead calm and very hot. Batten down the coolies for the night. The barometer is still forming. All appearances indicate an approaching typhoon.
[00:15:47] Unknown:
Alright. Hackett, hold us steady as she goes. That's all we can do. Aye, sir. I'll sure try to. Well, do the best you can. Aye aye, sir. Mister Duke? Mister Duke? Aye, captain. I'm coming. And I over here, mister Duke. Downward six rails, tractor, coming over of mister Duke's. Why didn't you call me? Well, there was no warning, sir. It is all of a sudden about five minutes ago blasted right out of a dead car. The book was nice and dumb. Anyhow,
[00:16:19] Unknown:
how's it going in the wheelhouse? Hacking is Look out, sir. Hang on. What about Hackett? He's on the wheel. Second is putting up shutters. To win the glass of gold, she starts breaking any higher. Oh, she'll break higher, mister Dukes. What the Higher.
[00:16:37] Unknown:
It's a happy thought. To have an order, of course? No, sir. Heading straight at the wind. Good. Still riding. Alright. That one broke over the wheelhouse. We're done for for sure. What's that, mister Dukes? You say something? I said,
[00:17:40] Unknown:
is there any chance at all, sir? Can she live through it? She may.
[00:17:44] Unknown:
We can hope so long. At least, she's a good ship. Man shouldn't be on that deck if he has to. It's a bit dangerous. Over here. What's the double boson in Chinese, sir, then? Wait. Hang on. Look. The Chinese, What about them? They've all fetched away, sir. One big lump. It's horrible. Yeah. Now what do you mean fetched away, rolling around in a hole in one big lump, screaming like grooming maniacs, sir, over drift, mister Duke. Yes, sir. I can't make head or tail of this. I guess you'd let it all blow secret. Put things in order, ma'am. So what shall I do, sir? I can't tell you up here. Find out what's wrong.
Straighten it out. That's all. That's all. I'm going to try for the wheelhouse. Alright, sir. Come on, Just straighten it out. That's all.
[00:18:59] Unknown:
Well, how's the wheel stand, Haggard? Yes. Steady as she goes, sir. You realize, of course, we've hit the typhoon. Aye, sir. Sorry. I can't give you a relief.
[00:19:11] Unknown:
Can you manage to wait longer? I'll hold it in the course, sir, as long as there's a ship by night, pal. Sure. That won't be long. Oh, anything wrong, second? Wrong.
[00:19:21] Unknown:
We're always good at dead when that's what's wrong. Oh, now I wouldn't say that. You're still a floater. And we've got it lucky here on deck. Twentieth chance to see what's coming before he hits us. A man always feels better when he can see what's coming. But it's a different story down below
[00:19:40] Unknown:
there, not having knowledge of what's going on, not knowing if we're afloat or sinking. Now there's a bunch that's got it done by one down there in the engine room.
[00:20:09] Unknown:
No time now for the steam to drop. Here, ride that throttle, and let her rip her shaft out when she breaks clear of those wells. Hello, Bridge. Hello, Bridge. How why don't they answer the speaking to them? Can't tell if they're dead or alive up there.
[00:20:28] Unknown:
Hello? Hello? Yes, Guzman. Captain, how is it on deck? Part of them. It depends Captain,
[00:20:39] Unknown:
how is it on deck? Five of them. It depends closely on you. Well, so far so good. We're holding a full head of steam. Good. We'll need it. Don't let me drive her under, sir. Have to take a chance.
[00:20:46] Unknown:
I'll see 20 feet up here.
[00:21:02] Unknown:
Hello?
[00:21:04] Unknown:
Hello? That's the captain, mister Brown. I've gotta talk to him right away. Wait a minute, Jukes.
[00:21:08] Unknown:
Something's happened up there. Hello?
[00:21:11] Unknown:
Hello, bridge. You're still there, mister Brown? Right. Anything wrong, sir? No. Not now. The second place, Over what?
[00:21:23] Unknown:
Awkward circumstance.
[00:21:26] Unknown:
Too bad. You hear that, Jukes? Yes. Let me talk to her. Him. Captain, Duke's here. The boats and I just took a look at the tween deck. It's them blooming foxes, sir. They've all broke loose and smashed to bits, and the coolies are fighting like crazy men for them silver dollars that's rolling around. There are 200 of them, sir. They're all trying to kill each other. I can't have it, mister Duke.
[00:21:50] Unknown:
What a stop doing that what? What
[00:21:53] Unknown:
a stop doing how they're crazy men. They'll kill anybody
[00:22:20] Unknown:
Gee, Arcepah. There's the one that does it. That, that must have swept the deck from stem to stern. Hello? Hello, captain McGuire. You all right up there? Sir. It is all right, mister Marsh.
[00:22:34] Unknown:
All the boats and half the Star Wars rail carried away. Seven Nothing to worry about. Carry
[00:22:42] Unknown:
on. Nothing to worry about. Carry on.
[00:22:46] Unknown:
You're alright, captain.
[00:22:47] Unknown:
As you say, sir, carry on. Carry on. Hey, now. Hey, now. Where are you going? Where are you going, Where do you think I'm going, you loudmouth old windbag? Out on that deck to get myself murdered. Nothing serious, Jukes. Nothing to worry about. The whole blooming world's falling apart, and I'm out picking up silver dollars. Captain's orders. Come on, Paulson.
[00:23:12] Unknown:
Don't visit y'all, Jukes. Carry on, boy. Carry on.
[00:23:30] Unknown:
No help, Fred. Our gallows skipper says to stop the fighting. You are a pirate.
[00:23:36] Unknown:
Alright then. Quiet down. Come on, boss. Are you sure? Show us there, you fool. Cut it out now. Do you hear me?
[00:23:44] Unknown:
I'm sorry. They're clean out of their heads. We gotta drive them with the bulkheads. Back up, though.
[00:23:51] Unknown:
Hey. None of that. Take that, brother. Get to it, folks. You gotta show them what's more. Nothing
[00:24:11] Unknown:
What about back there? No fight. The last shiver's order.
[00:24:15] Unknown:
I'm just thinking. Oh, yes. Don't. It was an oddity
[00:24:20] Unknown:
to see me now. She'd say, oh, you jolly sailor langer.
[00:24:25] Unknown:
Keep over there. Jam them up, Jose, into the buffet.
[00:24:38] Unknown:
Captain. Where are you, captain?
[00:24:41] Unknown:
Over here, mister Duke. You got everything cleared up down below? Oh oh, yes. We we took care of everything, sir. I thought you would. The wind fell all at once, stopped cold. It's been like this for ten minutes now. If you, think it was an easy job to bring that mob under control. Oh, the coolies? Oh, I dare say it wasn't. I could do what's fair by them, though. Mister Dukes, that barometer in there stands at the lowest point I've ever seen a glass in my life. You mean there'll be more of it? The worst yet according to the book. It'll break sudden now any minute.
A puff or two of wind and then hits. She's taken a horrible beating, sir. She has indeed. And she's in for a worse one. We haven't much chance, have we, sir? She may come through it. She's a good chip.
[00:25:35] Unknown:
There's the first puff.
[00:25:37] Unknown:
It'll hit us hard when it comes. You left them pretty safe, did you? The coolies?
[00:25:42] Unknown:
We strung lifelines. Gives them something to hold on to. Good. I'd like to give them all the chance we can, whatever happens. Oh, they'll be alright, sir. I broke out rifles. Parade the crew, put them to garnering all the companion weights, leading off the team, Dick. You armed the crew, mister Duke? Oh, sure. We won't have any trouble with them now, sir. Mister Duke,
[00:26:00] Unknown:
please have those rifles returned to the magazines at once. What? There'll be work for every man aboard in a few minutes. I can't spare steam and to stand around and hold rifles when it isn't necessary. Isn't necessary? Don't you realize those savages will think we stole our money? They'll tear us to bits if they ever get out of that deck. Oh, I think they'll understand we're dealing fair by them. Collect rifles, mister Joe. Captain, it's suicide.
[00:26:25] Unknown:
The best thing we can do is turn the whole mess over to the authorities and fu jiao if we ever get there. Well, I don't know.
[00:26:32] Unknown:
I figured that when anything happens on shipboard, it's up to me to settle it on shipboard. Part of the duties of commanding a vessel, mister Dukes. I have no doubt, dear, I'll be able to reach an understanding with these men later. Understanding?
[00:26:46] Unknown:
You wanna seen him a while ago when me and the Folsom was down there? Lost their heads a bit, I guess. No wonder at that when
[00:26:54] Unknown:
here she comes.
[00:26:56] Unknown:
Pick up those rifles, mister Duke, and something else. Yes, captain. If anything happens to me, you'll be in charge. Only advice, keep for fainting it. Best point to get through, fainting it. That's enough for anyone. Alright, captain. I'll remember one thing more, mister Duke. Yes, sir. Something night,
[00:27:22] Unknown:
a night a rolling stone. What in the name of heaven do you do with a man like that? There was a clear blue sky and bright sunshine in the morning we steamed in the Fuzhou Harbor. Mister Rott was leaning on a hatch combing, smoking a pipe, and the bosun lounge on the foredeck waiting to pick up a line from the wharf. And the captain, well, he was engaged in the most unusual occupation. He was sitting at the table on the foredeck, handing out silver dollars to them blinking coolies, all divided up even the same amount to each one. Craziest thing you ever heard of in your life.
You see, the way the captain figured it, since those gliders had all worked for two years at the same rate of pay, then their savings ought to all be about equal. As you can see, of course, it wasn't necessarily true by any means. It wasn't even legal, but you couldn't tell him anything.
[00:28:40] Unknown:
Well,
[00:28:43] Unknown:
mister Duke Yes, sir. Coming, captain.
[00:28:46] Unknown:
Well, mister Duke, I've disposed of our little connection of silver dollars. Now that's great.
[00:28:52] Unknown:
Only wait till those boys get a sure and filed claims against Oh, no. They won't do that.
[00:28:57] Unknown:
As a matter of fact, they were quite pleased with having it arranged that way. Figured it might avoid a lot of arguments later. See, this is a spokesman for facts. Well, I'll be mister Dukes, you may as well give all the hand six hours leave before we start working the cargo. Whatever you say, captain. Oh, yes. And, before the carpenter leaves, I wish you'd have him fixed and locked on that port cabin door. What? That seems to have got broken somehow during the storm, I suppose. I I can't come to hear a door banging, mister Joseph. Aye, sir. I,
[00:29:32] Unknown:
I don't suppose it matters that the ship is battered from stem to stern, half her topside carried away and smashed so she looks like a Bloomingtonsen freighter. Mister Jukes, I don't understand you. You don't understand me, sir. Do you understand that we've been through the worst typhoon in the China Seas in twenty years? We're the only ship that got through. It's true. I suppose we were a bit lucky. Lucky, sir? With 200 murdering cutthroats running loose aboard and the very heavens doing their worst? We had a job to do, and we did it. That's all, mister Jukes. That's the important thing? Yes, sir. That's, that's all.
That's all, he says. A job to do. A bit lucky. What can you do with a man as thick as that? But then as I started to turn away, captain McClure said something else that surprised me. With emotion rung from the very bottom of his soul, he he uttered words I never thought I'd hear coming from so so stupid a man. But I'm glad we brought her through, mister Jukes. Truly, I am.
[00:30:37] Unknown:
She's a good ship, mister Jukes. A good ship. I should have hated to lose her.
[00:30:44] Unknown:
I I should have hated to lose her.
[00:31:05] Unknown:
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