"That would be romantic, but hardly-" As the girl was speaking she turned her eyes to the water rushing past the hull, just as a dull, wallowing shape flashed by the bow, assuming form right under her eyes-a dark, soughing, coughing derelict, moving in the waves spinelessly, like a serpent; black, slimy, repulsive, with broken, hemp-littered masts and rusty chains clanking over the bow.
"Dan Merrithew"
Lawrence Perry
Vic launched himself in among them and slid spinelessly into his chair as only a lanky boy can slide.
"Starr, of the Desert"
B. M Bower