--"The _eccentricity_ is _less_ than _unity_!" screamed M'Nicholl.
"Talking of eccentricity--" put in Ardan.
--"Therefore it's a _parabola_, and must be!" cried Barbican,
triumphantly.
--"Therefore it's _hyperbola_ and nothing shorter!" was the Captain's
quite as confident reply.
"For gracious sake!--" resumed Ardan.
"Then produce your _asymptote_!" exclaimed Barbican, with an angry
sneer.
"Let us see the _symmetrical point_!" roared the Captain, quite
savagely.
"Dear boys! old fellows!--" cried Ardan, as loud as his lungs would let
him.
"It's useless to argue with a Mississippi steamboat Captain," ejaculated
Barbican; "he never gives in till he blows up!"
"Never try to convince a Yankee schoolmaster," replied M'Nicholl; "he
has one book by heart and don't believe in any other!"
"Here, friend Michael, get me a cord, won't you? It's the only way to
convince him!" cried Barbican, hastily turning to the Frenchman.
"Hand me over that ruler, Ardan!" yelled the Captain. "The heavy one!
It's the only way now left to bring him to reason!"
"Look here, Barbican and M'Nicholl!" cried Ardan, at last making himself
heard, and keeping a tight hold both on the cord and the ruler.
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