“Yes, sir, that’s so, and the lads are getting so hot to begin that we all feel warm enough to set fire to the place without matches.”
“Well, it is hot, Tom,” said Murray, smiling, while the man showed his big white teeth in a broad grin.
“I expeck we shall be ’vided into squads, sir, and there’s about half-a-dozen of my messmates will fall nat’ral along o’ me. Couldn’t manage, I s’pose, sir, to have us under your command, could you?”
“I don’t know, Tom,” replied the young man. “You’ll see that Mr Anderson will settle all that.”
“Yes, sir; I know, sir; but I thought p’raps that if you happened to be standing along with us just as if you and us was ready for a start, it might happen as the first luff, sir, would see as it was all sootable like. They’re a handy lot, so I promise you, and used to work with me.”
“Oh, I know all about that, Tom, and I should be glad to have you.”
“Thankye, sir; and you’ll try, sir?”
“I will, Tom.”
“Thankye again, sir, and I’ll tell the lads.”
“I make no promise, mind,” said the midshipman.