"Look under the cushions in my cabin ... bring out some of the syrup and soda water you find there."
"Very well, sir!"
We both hurried in ... stood facing each other, too scared to laugh at the situation. The captain had a heavy hand—and carried a heavy cane when he went ashore. He had the cane with him now.
After a long time: "You tell him there is none," whispered Karl.
"Well, what's wrong in there?" cried Schantze impatiently.
"We can't find a single bottle, sir!" I repeated, louder.
"What? Come out here! Speak louder! What did you say?"
"We can't find a single bottle, sir!" I murmured, almost inaudibly.
Then Karl, stammering, reinforced me with, "There are a lot of empty bottles here, sir!"
"What does this mean? Every voyage for years I have had soda and French syrup in my locker for Mr. Wollaston."