And you ain't had no more sense than to knock him over the head with a cutlass!" "I did not," protested Bill Adams.

"He took it accidental, you being otherwise engaged; an' I stuck to the creatur', thinkin' as how you _wanted_ him." "But _why_ should I want him ?" "Damned if I know.

If it comes to that"-- Bill Adams jerked a thumb towards the hammock containing Mr.Sturge--"what d'ye want _him_ for ?" "Oh, _him_ ?" answered Mr.Jope with a grin.

"In a gale off Pernambuco--" "What on earth are you two talking about ?" asked the surgeon, who had seated himself on the deck and, with the lantern between his feet, was busily preparing a blister.
"Beggin' your pardon, sir, but you haven't been on deck yet?
You haven't _seen_ the ducks we brought aboard last night ?" "My good man, can I be in two places at once?
I have been up all night with Mr.Wapshott, and the devil of a time he's given me.
When they brought me this poor fellow, I hadn't time to do more than order him into hammock--indeed I hadn't.

Now, then"-- he stood on his feet again and addressed the marine--"fetch me a basin of water and I'll bathe his head." "Is Mr.Wapshott bad, sir ?" asked Ben Jope.
"H'm," the surgeon hesitated.