“What do you mean by that?” said Dean.
“Same as black Mak did, sir.”
“And what did black Mak mean?” cried Mark.
“Seems to me as he thought the poor old chap had dried up like and gone.”
“What nonsense!”
“Well, sir, it may be nonsense, but I had a good look at the poor old chap when we had him out. Why, you see him, sir. Look what his face was like. Walnut shell was nothing to his skin. I have been thinking about it a deal, sir, and I have heard what you gentlemen have said about this ’ere place as we have found. I have been about a deal, sir, all round the world, and seen and heerd much more than you would think.”
“Oh, of course you would see and hear a good deal, being aboard ship.”
“Yes, gentlemen, and it set me thinking a deal, both as I was going up and as I was coming back again with the empty tin. I thought a deal, Mr Mark, sir.”
“Perhaps it was the soup made you think so much, Dan,” said Mark sarcastically.
“Very like, sir,” said the man with an innocent look.