Australian Tales - Setis

wonder that you did so.”
“Well, you see, sir, he is managing-man for Messrs. Codger and Bloke;
and as they are large shippers by our boats, I didn't wish to offend him;
besides, he would have stormed my ears, worse than great guns, if I had
refused. We are not always so jammed up as we are to-day; but there is a
great rise in corn and hay just now, so all the farmers are anxious to get
their stuff to market; and our agent up above has not very quiet times, I
can tell you, for he can't ship everything and please everbody.”
“But the shippers themselves ought to know that they run a great risk in
putting their goods on board in this unconscionable manner,” I remarked.
“Phoo! what do the bulk of them know about loading a ship?” replied
the captain, with a faint smile. “Look at happy old Paddy Murphy, sitting
on the fore-hatch, smoking his pipe; do you think you could persuade
him that his little ‘lock ov corrn’ made any difference in the trim of the
vessel? Not you, indeed; he would tell you it was only like a butterfly on
a bullock's back. He is, perhaps, thinking how lucky he was to get it on
board, and of the good price he will get for it to-morrow; but he has
never once thought of the probability of its going overboard. And I'll be
bound that that miller, who is fast asleep in the bath chair, is not
dreaming that his cylinder, and cog-wheels, are in danger of going down
to Davy Jones's locker. If I had not taken them on board, he would now
be at home blessing me for keeping his mill idle, and all his hungry grist
customers would have cried shame upon the captain, who wouldn't be so
obliging as to take three little bits of iron to Sydney, to save a whole
district from a potato diet.
“The captain of a coasting steamer has more anxiety than most persons
are aware of, Mr. Boomerang, and the ordinary risks of the sea are not
the main cause of it. Do you think I should be so fidgetty about those
clouds that are rising yonder, if my ship was in seaworthy trim? Not a bit
of it, sir. If I had no deck-load I shouldn't be afraid to face any weather,
for this is as good a sea-boat as ever floated; but what can a man do with
a whole farm-yard on his deck, and a flour-mill and a cab-stand beside?”
“I don't wonder that you feel anxious, captain; but pray, what remedy
would you suggest for this reckless system of overloading vessels, at the
imminent risk of life and property?”
“Why, the best remedy that I can see is to take no deck cargo at all; that
is a matter for the Legislature to look after, and the sooner they begin
about it the better. It would be easy enough for agents and captains, and
all concerned, to do their duty, if steamers were not allowed to take cargo
except under hatches; for the most unconscionable shipper could be
convinced, in a minute, when a ship was full below. Then passengers
might travel in safety and comfort; but it is plain enough they cannot do
that in my ship to-day.”
“But there is a law regulating deck cargo in steamers, captain,” I