“O-ho-ho, ’ear ’im now. Blime me hif ’e don’t talk back as is just what all crooked lobster piruts does. Look ’ere, sonny, ’ow’s hit you was a-raisin’ o’ my lobster pots then?” asked the lobsterman.
“Why, I hauled it because Jack here never saw a lobster pot before and he was just curious. I wanted to show him. We didn’t take a single fish and we didn’t intend to. I know it was wrong for us to even haul it but then we aren’t thieves. And we don’t know who’s been taking your lobsters either,” said Ray, who had also become irritated by the old salt.
“Keel ’aul me, listen at ’im. ’E says as ’ow ’e’s friend ’ere ain’t nuvver seen a lobster pot. O-ho-ho, a likely story, young feller, O-ho-ho.”
“It’s true, though,” insisted Jack. “We are friends of Captain Eli. Why, that’s his dory we have been using.”
“Listen at ’im now, listen. ’E says as ’ow that’s Cap’n Eli’s dory when Cap’n Eli’s dory is brown painted,” mused the old tar.
“Pooh, you don’t use your eyes,” exploded Ray in disgust. “Can’t you see that that dory has just been repainted green.”
“As fer my a-usin’ my heyes, mebby I does an’ then agin’ mebby I don’t. Me not bein’ a man give for to arger enny, I won’t say ‘Ay’ ner ‘Nay.’ But I say, say I, hif that air his Cap’n Eli’s dory painted green, why t’ on’y way as two o’ the bloomines’ lobster piruts as ever was come by hit is they come by hit crooked, same has they comes by ever’thing else. Cap’n Eli ain’t goin’ for t’ lend his dory as is painted brown to two o’ t’ crookedest lobster stealers as was ever fit for to walk t’ plank, blime me. Go for t’ conterdick that will ’e,” answered the fisherman with finality.
“Oh, pshaw, what’s the use of arguing with him,” said Jack in disgust.
“Right an’ so, right an’ so. Hit ain’t no use for t’ argey wi’ me. Save hit all for t’ bloomin’ warden. ’Es paid for t’ argey, ’e is, an’ argey ’e will, that’s sartin’.”
“I hope he’s easier to convince than our friend with the peg leg here. But I guess he will. I’ve been to Austin’s Pool before with Uncle Vance and they all seem civilized there at least,” said Ray to Jack, under his breath.