Beyond the Horizon A Play in Three Acts Author:Eugene O'Neill Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: are pretending an interest which is belied by the absent-minded expressions on their faces. The Captain—(Chuckling.] And that mission woman, she hails me on t... more »he dock as I was acomin' ashore, and she says—with her silly face all screwed up serious as judgment—"Captain," she says, "would you be so kind as to tell me where the sea-gulls sleeps at nights ? " Blow me if them warn't her exact words! [He slaps the table with the palm of his hands and laughs loudly. The others force smiles.] Ain't that just like a fool woman's question? And I looks at her serious as I could, " Ma'm," says I, " I couldn't rightly answer that question. I ain't never seed a sea-gull in his bunk yet. The next time I hears one snorin'," I says, " I'll make a note of where he's turned in, and write you a letter 'bout it." And then she calls me a fool real spiteful and tacks away from me quick. [He laughs again uproariously.] So I got rid of her that way. [The others smile but immediately relapse into expressions of gloom again. ] Mrs. Mayo—[Absent-mindedly—feeling that slie has to say something.] But when it comes to that, where do sea-gulls sleep, Dick? Scott—[Slapping the table.] Ho! Ho! Listen to her, James. 'Nother one! Well, if that don't beat all hell—'scuse me for cussin', Kate. Mayo—[With a twinkle in his eyes.] They unhitch their wings, Katey, and spreads 'em out on a wave for a bed. Scott—And then they tells the fish to whistle to 'em when it's time to turn out. Ho! Ho! Mbs. Mayo—[With a forced smile.] You men folks are too smart to live, aren't you? [She resumes her knitting. Mayo pretends to read his paper; Andkew stares at the floor.] Scott—[Looks from one to the other of them with a puzzled air. Finally he is unable to bear the thick silence a minute longer, and blurts out:] Y...« less