“Hah!” ejaculated the sailor. “If the skipper has said that, sir, he has spoken out like a man. Hooroar! We shall do it, then, at last. But I dunno, though, sir,” added the man thoughtfully.
“Don’t know what?” asked Murray.
“Oh, nothing, sir.”
“Bother! Don’t talk like that,” cried Murray. “Nothing is more aggravating than beginning to say something and then chopping it off in that way. Speak out and say what you mean.”
“’Tain’t no good, sir,” said the man sulkily.
“No good?”
“No, sir. Why, if I was to say what I’d got inside my head you’d either begin to bullyrag me—”
“Nonsense, May! I’m sure I never do.”
“Well, then, sir, call me a hidjit, and say it was all sooperstition.”
“Well, that’s likely enough,” said Murray. “You sailors are full of old women’s tales.”