“What’s the matter, Mr. Kemp?” called the captain.
The second mate turned and glanced up. “It’s this greenie, sir,” he replied. “Just up from the foc’sle, an’ jus’ stands here and looks silly, twiddlin’ his thumbs. Don’t answer back or nothin’ and won’t obey orders. Don’t know if it’s some new kind of jag or if he’s just plain crazy.”
“Aye tank he bane daf an’ doomb, sir,” put in the cooper, approaching and touching his cap. “Aye haf daf an’ doomb coosin bane twoggle fingers same vay. Mebbe Aye bane able talk mit him.”
“Reckon Ole’s right,” agreed Cap’n Pem.
“Try it and see, Swanson,” ordered the skipper.
Standing before the man, the cooper moved his big, knotted fingers, and instantly, a look of understanding passed over the other’s features and his hands moved swiftly.
Presently, the Swede turned towards the watching officers. “Yas,” he said “he bane daff an’ doomb. He say he bane shanghaied. He never bane sailor man before.”
“’Spect like enough he was shanghaied,” growled Cap’n Pem, “but we can’t help that none. What we goin’ fer to do with him, Cap’n? Blow me if I ever run afoul o’ a dummy han’ on a whaleship afore.”
“He can work just as well if he is deaf and dumb,” replied Captain Edwards.
“Yes, but how’n tarnation’s he goin’ fer ter take orders?” exploded the old whaleman. “’Twouldn’t do no harm if ev’ry one o’ the critters was dumb. Wish t’ they was. But a deaf han’ ain’t worth nothin’. Dern the shark what shipped him!”