"I'm Lieutenant Levison of His Majesty's brig Badger."
"Waal, ye ought to be ashamed of yourself," broke in Captain Ezra.
"'What d'ye mean by attackin' a peaceful whaler?'"
"I am," responded the young man. "You may believe that, truly."
"Waal, what d'ye mean by attackin' a peaceful whaler?"
"Why, don't you know?" replied the officer, with an expression of astonishment.
"Know what?"
"That there's a war between England and America?"
"Dew tell!" ejaculated Captain Steele, huskily, almost dropping his pipe. He stepped forward to the break of the poop.