"I dare say," ses George, "I dare say. But you'll come along with me to
the wharf and see the skipper. I'm not going to lose five-and-twenty
quid through your carelessness."
I marched along in front of 'im with my 'ead in the air, and when he
spoke to me I didn't answer him. He went aboard the ship when we got to
the wharf, and a minute or two arterwards 'e came to the side and said
the skipper wanted to see me.
The airs the skipper gave 'imself was sickening. He sat down there in
'is miserable little rat-'ole of a cabin and acted as if 'e was a judge
and I was a prisoner. Most of the 'ands 'ad squeezed in there too, and
the things they advised George to do to me was remarkable.
"Silence!" ses the skipper. "Now, watchman, tell me exactly 'ow this
thing 'appened."
"I've told you once," I ses.
"I know," ses the skipper, "but I want you to tell me again to see if you
contradict yourself. I can't understand 'ow such a clever man as you
could be done so easy."
I thought I should ha' bust, but I kept my face wonderful.
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