“That’s a good yarn that, eh? My God, she screeched, ha, ha!” Tears trickled out of his eyes at the memory.
“Told you a good few yarns, I expect?”
“Yes, sir, many.”
“Remember ’em?”
“I think so, sir.”
“Do you? Hum-hurr!” He looked at Ortho again, seemed to be considering.
“Do you?—ah, hem! Yes, very good. Well, you must go now. Time to snug down. Ahmed!”
The guide stood to attention, received some instructions in Arabic and led Ortho away. At the galley door he stopped, went inside, and came out bearing a lump of meat and a small cake which he thrust on Ortho, and made motions to show that it was by the captain’s orders.
Three minutes later he was shackled down again.
“How did you fare?” the Brixham man grunted drowsily.