“Poor lad!” he said to himself; “how’s he going to take it when he knows all?”
“You do not speak,” said Nic excitedly. “Ah! I am beginning to think clearly now. You came with the men after the salmon?”
“Ay, worse luck. I didn’t want to, but I had to go.”
“Come,” said Nic sharply. “To-night, wasn’t it?”
“Nay. It’s ’bout three weeks ago, master.”
This announcement, though almost a repetition, seemed to stun Nic for the time; but he began again:
“We had a desperate fight, didn’t we?”
“Worst I was ever in.”
“And—yes, I remember; we were struggling in the pool when the sailors came.”
“That’s it, master; you’ve got it now.”