“But you lads never thought to give your jack-knives a whet, I’ll be bound.”
Joe Cross turned to the crew.
“Show knives, lads!” he shouted. “The skipper wants to try them all on his beard.”
“Steady!” growled the skipper. “That’s right, then. Well, Mr Rodd,” he continued, “I suppose everything’s all right. No; where’s that there extra coil of new signal line?”
“Starn locker, sir,” said Joe.
“And an extra line with new grapnel?”
“Fore-locker, sir,” said Joe.
The captain grunted.
“Here, get the grapnel out of the jolly-boat and lash it under one of the thwarts. You might lose one again.”
“There it is, sir,” said Joe—“lashed just amidships out of the way.”