"Look here, George," said Woywod, "I'm about as rough as they make 'em an' there ain't no man as ever sailed with me that won't endorse that there statement, but I never done no harm to no woman an' if you've been--"
"You're on the wrong tack again, Bill," interposed Harnash, smiling. "It's a woman I love and who loves me."
"Well, I don't reckon I can help you there unless you want me to be best man at the weddin'."
That suggestion struck Harnash as intensely comical, as it well might, but he hastened to add diplomatically:
"I couldn't wish a better man if there were going to be any wedding, but--"
"Do you love a married woman?" asked Woywod, going directly to the point.
"Not exactly."
"What d'ye mean?"
"I'll explain if you'll only give me a chance," answered Harnash, and in as few words as possible he put the sailor in possession of the facts.
"So you want to get rid of the man, do you?" he asked, when the story had been told.