After a good night's rest he was on hand early at the great steamer,
where there was such a scene of bustle and confusion as he had never
seen before, not even in New York. There was a throng of men with
trucks who were loading the late freight, and there was a constant din
of noisy voices, which, combined with the shrieks of escaping steam,
made it impossible to carry on a conversation. Archie hurried aboard
to find the steward, who immediately took him into the galley and
introduced him to the cook, a large, fat Frenchman, with small, blue
eyes set far back in his head. He seemed to be a pleasant man, and
Archie thought that he would like him very much.
"Well, does ze youngster vant to vork, eh! Eef he do, I say you pare
zis potate for dinee as quick you can." And the fellow pointed to a
great bag of potatoes and a paring-knife. "Now you sit zere in da
corner," continued the cook, "and keep out uf my vay." Archie found a
stool and sat down, and, having brought an apron with him, he put it
on and began work. The cook watched him closely, so that Archie soon
learned to pare the potatoes very nicely, and of course he was able to
get along faster and faster as he became more and more experienced. He
managed, through great effort, to get the bag finished in time for
dinner, or luncheon, as it was called on the bill of fare, and then he
soon had to begin on other vegetables, which were to be served at the
more complete evening meal.
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