"Where are you from, boys?" hailed the lookout, when the stranger was only a few yards off.
"Tarpaulin Island," answered Spurling.
The man put his hand behind his ear.
"Say that again louder, will you?" he shouted. "I'm a little deaf."
Jim raised his voice.
"I said we were from Tarpaulin Island."
The lookout passed the word back to the helms-man. The latter repeated it, evidently for the benefit of somebody in the cabin. Then the man at the wheel took up the conversation, prompted by the low voice of an unseen speaker below.
"How many fish have you got there?"
"Eighteen hundred of hake."
"What's that?"