“Whereabouts, sir?”
“Away there through the canes yonder. Didn’t you?”
“No, sir,” said the man gloomily; “I didn’t hear no oars.”
“I did, quite plainly,” said Murray, leaning forward and straining his ears. “No, it’s stopped now.”
“Yes, sir,” said the man, shaking his head; “it’s stopped now.”
“Well, don’t talk like that, Tom. You look as if you didn’t believe me.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t go for to say as I don’t believe anything you say, sir,” said the sailor; “but all the same it do seem queer.”
“Yes, queer because they’ve stopped rowing to listen. Don’t you see?”
“No, sir,” said the man, shaking his head sadly. “I don’t see nothing, on’y as you’re a bit overdone, sir, in the head, and gets fancying things.”
“Fancy, man!” cried the middy angrily. “It was no fancy, I tell you. Now then, listen.”