ANNA--[Disgustedly.] Oh, rats! [After a pause she speaks
musingly.] Was the men in our family always sailors--as far back
as you know about?

CHRIS--[Shortly.] Yes. Damn fools! All men in our village on
coast, Sveden, go to sea. Ain't nutting else for dem to do. My
fa'der die on board ship in Indian Ocean. He's buried at sea. Ay
don't never know him only little bit. Den my tree bro'der, older'n
me, dey go on ships. Den Ay go, too. Den my mo'der she's left all
'lone. She die pooty quick after dat--all 'lone. Ve vas all avay
on voyage when she die. [He pauses sadly.] Two my bro'der dey gat
lost on fishing boat same like your bro'ders vas drowned. My oder
bro'der, he save money, give up sea, den he die home in bed. He's
only one dat ole davil don't kill. [Defiantly.] But me, Ay bet you
Ay die ashore in bed, too!

ANNA--Were all of 'em yust plain sailors?

CHEIS--Able body seaman, most of dem. [With a certain pride.] Dey
vas all smart seaman, too--A one. [Then after hesitating a moment--
shyly.] Ay vas bo'sun.

ANNA--Bo'sun?

CHRIS--Dat's kind of officer.

ANNA--Gee, that was fine. What does he do?

CHRIS--[After a second's hesitation, plunged into gloom again by