"Reach into the locker there, get a bailer and set to work," ordered the skipper of the Spoondrift. "You need exercise, Runt."
"I didn't ship aboard this old hooker to work."
"We know you came to give us the pleasure of your society, but right now it's up to you to imitate the busy little bee."
"Didn't you tell us this would be a pleasure trip?" demanded Hicks. "I thought I could bank on your word, Rex Kingdon."
"Of all the ungrateful persons!" cried Red Phillips. "You shipped as cabin boy, and you haven't done a lick of work yet."
"I feel like I'd been working for the last hour, all right. Hand's blistered holding onto that line to keep from flopping overboard. Ouch!"
"Never mind that," grunted the serious Midkiff. "It would have been small loss."
"And that's off your chest, Grouch," laughed Phillips.
"There aren't any of you fellows worked on this voyage but Kingdon and me," quoth the heretofore silent Cloudman. Despite the pouring rain he had fished an apple out of some pocket underneath his oilskins, and now he bit deeply into it.
"Oh, we'll do our share later," Phillips said airily. "Don't worry about the division of labor, Applejack."