“We wish to talk with you, captain,” returned Frank.
“Don’t want to talk,” was the surly retort. “Keep off.”
“We want to talk, I tell you. What’s the use to be so unsociable. Make yourself agreeable.”
“What do you want?”
“We saw you were having a little trouble on board and so——”
“Ain’t havin’ no trouble. Tell yer to mind your own business! If you nose round us, you’ll get hurt.”
“Who was the young lady who tried to jump overboard?”
“That was my gal,” answered the man, after some hesitation.
“Why did she try to leap over the rail?”
“She’s been sick, an’ she’s a little daffy in her upper deck, that’s all.”