I couldn’t say “I don’t,” for his words tickled and yet annoyed me, so that I felt that I really did want to deluge him with the water from head to foot.
“Will you promise me not to squirt if I go that way?” he shouted.
“Honour—bright,” I yelled. “Couldn’t see you.”
That was a fact, for from cut of the hold, and spreading all over the ship, the dense white fumes hid everything; and though Mr Preddle was now only about a yard away, I could not see anything but a dim, blurred patch; while facing me a dull, luminous disk all blurred and hidden from time to time showed where the sun was dealing his slanting beams.
“Well, I’m going to trust you,” said Mr Preddle, “and I beg you will not do it again.”
“All right,” I shouted; and the next minute I felt that I was alone to carry on the war against the enemy below.
“How stupid of him to think that!” I said aloud, with a laugh.
“I don’t see anything stupid. It was stupid of you to play tricks at such a time,” said Mr Preddle.
“Why I thought you were gone,” I shouted.
“No; I waited to see whether you were going to keep your word,” he replied; and then I heard no more till Mr Brymer shouted—