Then I heard a sharp and rather squeaky voice.
"Hallo, Whelk!" it said.
Bernard leant over the rail; he was nearly done, but he found voice to answer that hail.
"That you, Reptile?" he muttered, "you are more like a stuffed frog than ever!"
Such are the greetings and amenities of the Navy. But the last thing I remember hearing that afternoon came from the lieutenant in charge of the pinnace.
"I say, excuse me for mentioning it, but 'well done,' you fellows!"