I shall sleep as usual, an' as for your
rhoobarb,' ses the cap'n, working hisself up into a passion--'damme,
sir, I'll--I'll dose the whole crew with it, from first mate to cabin-
boy, if I have any impertinence.'
"Well, Mr. Salmon, who was getting very mad, stalks down below, followed
by the cap'n, an' Mr. McMillan was that excited that he even started
talking to me about it. Half-an-hour arterwards the cap'n comes running
up on deck again.
"'Mr. McMillan,' ses he excitedly, 'steer nor'-nor'-west until further
orders. I've heard it again, an' this time it nearly split the drum of
my ear.'
"The ship's course was altered, an' after the old man was satisfied he
went back to bed again, an' almost directly arter eight bells went, an'
I was relieved. I wasn't on deck when the fust mate come up, but those
that were said he took it very calm. He didn't say a word. He just sat
down on the poop, and blew his cheeks out.
"As soon as ever it was daylight the skipper was on deck with his
glasses. He sent men up to the masthead to keep a good look-out, an' he
was dancing about like a cat on hot bricks all the morning.
"'How long are we to go on this course, sir?' asks Mr. Salmon, about ten
o'clock in the morning.
"'I've not made up my mind, sir,' ses the cap'n, very stately; but I
could see he was looking a trifle foolish.
Pages:
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156