Crozet Joe Crosses the Line Cont.

As soon as they had resumed their places on the poop the wilder fun began,  One of the gentlemen passengers was an invalid, and he was let off with a fine, but the other two, who were young fellows going out to seek fortune in the Colonies, preferred to submit to the ordeal.  One of these, Jack Griffths, was led to the seat prepared for the victims  His only clothing was a shirt and a pair of trousers.  His conductors were the two policemen, acting in obedience to a solemn call by Neptune.  When Jack was seated the doctor examined him.  Having decided that the patient needed a draught, the doctor filled a tumbler with a mixture of various articles from his store, and ordered Jack to drink the compound.  He sipped the liquid, but immediately, with a wry face, spat it out again; whereupon Neptune and his consort indulged in a hearty guffaw, the other onlookers following the royal example.  The doctor turned his back to his victim.  When he faced about again his mouth was tightly closed and his cheeks distended.  He offered Jack something like a quarter of a pound of flour on a piece of paper, and by gestures bid him to swallow it.  Jack looked at the powder in dismay, evidently puzzled as to how he should dispose of it.  While he hesitated the doctor exploded, puffing the flour with which he had filled his own mouth over Jack's face and head, upon which loud peals of laughter resounded along the decks.
Then Joe was called for, and operations on him began.  The rough fun had rather frightened Elsie, but up to this point she had watched in silence.  She could not, however, bear to see Joe ill-used, although he submitted without resentment or complaint.  The barber was lathering the lad's face as if he were whitewashing a wall when everybody was startled by a cry from Elsie.
"Don't hurt him," she said, imploringly; "please don't hurt Joe."
How quiet the ship seemed when these revels were ended!  On deck, the intense tropical heat was tempered by the breeze which was speeding the Earwig towards her destination.

So we'll leave Crozet Joe and the Earwig now, speeding away on tropical breezes.  If you want to read more, please purchase your own copy of Crozet Joe, A Story of Adventure by J. Crowther Hirst.  I'm going out to sit in the garden at Aimo's House, to be alternately wafted by breezes, random thunder storms,  and warmed by the evening sun.