Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven.

 

 

Cabin Boy is not yet certain where he might find rum and dark beer, but he imagines the kitchen is a good place to start. The cook is beginning to portion out the evening meal, reminding Cabin Boy that the sun is about to set.

“Cookie, can I have some rum and some dark beer?”

The cook looks rather astonished, until Cabin Boy explains to him that it is for the first mate. “So,” the cook says, “He’ll be wanting a kill-devil flip, then.”

“That’s right,” says Cabin Boy. “However did you know that?”

“Lad, that man always wants a kill-devil flip.” He nods his head towards some barrels in the far corner of the kitchen. “There be yer rum and yer dark beer.”

“Do you have a measure? Mr Manners was particular that it had to be four parts rum to one part dark beer.”

“Well, I have here a three pint jug and a five pint jug. You’ll want the three pints and then some in the five pint jug, and then add the dark beer. Pour the man a mug full of the brew, and ye’ll have his kill-devil flip.”

“Three pints and then some?”

“Aye, a jug and a little more.”

“I think Mr Manners is expecting an exact measure of four parts rum to one part dark beer.”

“Lad, there is no way you can use a three pint jug and a five pint jug to get the exact measures needed for a kill-devil flip.”

Cabin Boy looks from the jugs, to the barrels, and back to the jugs. He wonders if there is a way to use the pair of jugs to measure the exact amounts of rum and dark beer needed to make a kill-devil flip. He wishes he had learned to add. Then it occurs to him that he might know someone who knows his sums.