I felt that it was time I intervened.
"Gentlemen," I said to the group which had gathered in the waist, "this is Mrs. Sausalito, our sewing woman...."
Then Triplett fairly spiked my guns by adding,—
"And my wife!"
I could have killed the old fool! I hustled them both below and turned back to face an indignant ship's company.
Block bustled up officiously. "See here, Traprock," he blustered, "we don't like this. You know...."
"STOP!" I commanded in a voice that shook the Kawa to the place where her keel would have been had she had one. "To begin with, I want you, Plock, to know that I am not 'Traprock' to you or to any one else. I am 'Doctor Traprock, Sir'—do you understand?"
Plock growled an uneasy assent as I continued.
"I know perfectly well what is in your minds, namely, that the understanding was that there should be no wives on this voyage. This Sausalito woman was engaged by me as seamstress. If she is Triplett's wife, as he says, it is news to me. In any case I want it thoroughly understood that I am Boss on this ship. To your posts! Ready-about to wear ship. Triplett, take the helm." (He had come smirking out of the cabin.)
With surly "Aye, aye, sirs," they took up their duties, as I struck sharply on the table-bell which was screwed to the combing, the faithful Tatbury began its revolutions and once more the little Kawa slid gracefully through the long Atlantic swells.