But as when a child is chastised he yells once and there follows a pause of many seconds while he gathers up lung and larynx for the prolonged outcry, so after his first bull-roar Captain Crang, of the _Vesuvius_ bomb, clung to the rail of the poop-ladder and wrestled for speech, while a little forward of the waist his crew huddled before the storm, yet (although the Major failed to perceive this) not without exchanging winks.
"Wha--_what_?
In the name of ten thousand devils, what the '-- --' is _that_ ?" yelled the Captain, and choked again.
"_In_ a gale--_off_ Pernambuco," murmured Mr.Jope.

"Steady, Bill; steady does it, mind!" Advancing to the foot of the ladder, he touched his forelock and stood at attention.

"Pressed men, sir.
Found in the theayter and brought aboard, as _per_ special order." The Captain's throat could be seen working within his disordered cravat.

"Them! But--Oh, help me--look at 'em, Bos'n!" "Sir!" "Look at' em!" "It's not for me to object, sir.

As you was sayin', they don't look it; but bein' ear-marked, so to speak--" "Where is Mr.Wapshott ?" "Below, sir, as I understand," answered Mr.Jope demurely.
"You mean to tell me, you '-- ' '-- ', that Mr.Wapshott allowed--" But just then, from a hatchway immediately behind Captain Crang, there slowly emerged--there uprose--a vision whereat our Major was not the only spectator to hold his breath.