“Perfect or imperfect, what does it matter? Come on, sir. I want to begin harpooning.”
“What do you mean by that?” cried Roberts, turning upon him angrily.
“What do I mean?”
“Yes; by using the word sir to me in that meaning way.”
“You got on the stilts, and I only followed suit. There, there, don’t be so touchy. Go on and ask the skipper for leave.”
“No, thank you. I don’t want to play the idle boy.”
“Don’t you? Then I do, and what’s more, I know you do.”
“Then you are quite wrong.”
“If I’m wrong you told a regular crammer not half-an-hour ago, for you said you’d give anything for a turn with the grains this morning.”
“I have no recollection of saying anything of the kind,” said the lad angrily.