“You stole his straw hat.”
“Nay, nay, only borrowed it, skipper.”
“Stole his hat, sir.”
“Say took, and I won’t argue, skipper: I was obliged to.”
“Left him asleep, and stole aboard in the ship’s boat.”
“Yes, that’s right,” said the American. “I thought you were going to say I stole the boat. That’s right. The men wouldn’t have rowed me aboard if it hadn’t been for the mate’s hat.”
“And for aught you cared I might have sailed and left that poor fellow behind—eh, Lynton?”
“That seems about the size of it,” said the second mate.
“Gammon!” cried the American good-humouredly. “You’re too good a seaman, Captain Banes, to go off and leave one of your officers ashore.”
“That’s oil,” said the captain sharply; “but I’m not going to be greased, sir. You’re going ashore: if only for playing me and my second officer such a dirty trick.”