“Eh? No, m’lad, I won’t wear out the mat. You see we don’t have no mats afloat. I say! my!”
The man bent down, as if seized with a cramping internal pain, and gave his right leg a slap with his horny paw, whose back was as hairy as that of a monkey.
“What’s the matter?” said Mark.
“Matter! I was only larfin. My! you are like the skipper! Wheer is he?”
“This way,” said Mark, leading him to the comfortable room, where, as soon as he entered and saw Mrs Strong, the man began ducking his head and kicking out one leg.
Mrs Strong nodded and smiled at the man, feeling a kindly leaning toward one of those who would be under her husband’s orders for the next six months, and perhaps his guardians in some storm.
“I’ll leave you now, dear,” she said.
“Oh, you need not go!” said the captain; but Mrs Strong left the room.
“Shall I go, father?” asked Mark.
“No, my boy, no. Sit down. Well, Billy, what news?”