Question

The cook's arm was around the oiler's shoulders, and, with their fragmentary clothing and haggard faces, they were the babes of the sea, a grotesque rendering of the old babes in the wood.

Later he must have grown dull at his work, for suddenly there was a growling of water, and a crest came with a roar and a swash into the boat, and it was a wonder that it did not set the cook afloat in his life belt. The cook continued to sleep, but the oiler sat up, blinking his eyes and shaking with the new cold.

"Oh, I'm awful sorry, Billie," said the correspondent contritely.

"That's all right, old boy," said the oiler, and lay down again and was asleep. Presently it seemed that even the captain dozed, and the correspondent thought that he was the one man afloat on all the oceans. The wind had a voice as it came over the waves, and it was sadder than the end.

Answer 1

oh, well that’s depressing.

Answer 2

In the given passage, the author describes the scene of two individuals, the cook and the oiler, who are on a boat at sea. The author uses descriptive language to portray their appearance and compares them to "b`abes of the sea" and the "b`abes in the wood." The cook's arm is around the oiler's shoulders, indicating a sense of ca`maraderie or support between them.

Step-by-step explanation:

Later, as they continue their work, a wave crashes into the boat, posing a danger to the cook. However, he remains asleep, while the oiler wakes up, feeling the cold. The correspondent, expressing remorse, apologizes to the oiler, but the oiler reassures him. The captain also seems to doze off, leaving the correspondent feeling like the only one on the vast ocean.

The passage creates a somber atmosphere, with the wind's voice adding to the overall sense of sadness. It highlights the challenging and perilous nature of being at sea and the bond between the cook and the oiler in the face of adversity.

The passage does not explicitly mention the reason for their presence on the boat or the context of their situation. It provides more of a snapshot or moment within a larger narrative.