Many Cargoes

"Many Cargoes" by W. W. Jacobs is a collection of stories set in the late 1800's that tells humorous, sometimes absurd, adventures that happen to sailors. The stories follow the lives of different ships' crews and the interesting characters on board. One of the stories, told by a night-watchman, is about a ship called the "John Elliott" and its strange skipper who is obsessed with medicine. The skipper's funny attempts to treat ailments make the crew act out in funny ways, even pretending to be sick just be noticed. This story kicks off a series of funny stories with unique characters and situations that pull the reader into a world of nautical fun.