cowcatcher – a metal frame on the front of a locomotive to remove obstructions from the tracks
TO PAGE 161
The author spent the earlier part of his life in Greece, hence his knowledge of the language.
to run to earth – here to find after a long search (a hunting term used jocularly; cf. other instances of its use on pp. 99, 121)
TO PAGE 162
forty-odd cages – more than forty cages; the word odd when mentioned in round numbers, means 'additional to a whole'
TO PAGE 163
to come into one's own – to start performing one's duties
TO PAGE 164
to doll up (colloq.) - to dress carefully and stylishly or showily
Martin Fierro - an epic poem by Jose Fernandez, a well-known poet of Argentina
TO PAGE 165
Bosun ['bousn] = boatswain, the ship's officer who is in charge of the crew, the boats, rigging, etc.
TO PAGE 166
pale into insignificance – become insignificant, seem of no importance
full of beans (sl.) - full of energy, lively, brisk, vivacious
to husband – here to economize, to spend thriftily
TO PAGE 167
the Great Fire of London – the fire that destroyed the most part, of London in 1666
beautifully appointed – very nicely furnished
at the double – at a run, at double speed
a whacking great shot (sl.) - a very big dose
TO PAGE 168
kill or cure – here a remedy that would either cure a patient very quickly or kill him
for all I knew – as far as I knew
allergic to something – having an allergy, not able to stand something (allergy – a hypersensitivity to a specific substance, such as certain foods, dust, etc., or condition, as heat or cold, which in similar amounts is harmless to most people)
she's right out – she has passed out, i.e. lost consciousness
terrific (colloq.) - wonderful, magnificent
"hostesses" – a euphemistic name for the local prostitutes
port of call – a harbour where merchant ships discharge and take in cargo; figuratively, a place regularly visited by someone
to stand someone a drink – to treat to a drink
TO PAGE 169
carnavalitos (Sp.) - gay songs
pobrecita (Sp.) - poor thing
TO PAGE 170
she never looked back – she never returned to her previous bad state
by leaps and bounds – very quickly, with very rapid progress
porcine – pertaining to or characteristic of pigs (cf. equine charges on p. 27, feline tribe on p. 121)
The Pit and the Pendulum - a story by Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), American poet, critic and prose writer. The main personage who tells the story was sentenced to death by the Spanish inquisition and thrown into a dark dungeon, where he lay bound hand and foot, with dozens of rats running all over his body.
TO PAGE 171
to pull somebody round – to cause somebody to recover from an illness, to save
despachante (Sp.) - a Customs official who is in charge of dispatching, i.e. sending off goods
TO PAGE 172
We had twenty minutes to go. – We had twenty minutes at our disposal.
TO PAGE 174
stop press – the latest news inserted in a special-column of a newspaper after printing has begun
