I guess he's asked this White Henshaw to try a hand.

What have they got lined up for me ?" "You're to scrub down the bridge an' while your hands are still soft you go down to the fireroom an' pass coal.

It'll tear your hands off, that work." Harrigan was gray, but he answered.

"That's an old story.

McTee worked me like that all the time." "An' you didn't break ?" gasped Hovey.
Harrigan grinned, but his smile stopped when he noticed a certain calculation in the face of the bos'n.
"Mate," said Hovey, "I guess you're about ripe for something I'm goin' to say to you one of these days.