"Who began it?" retorted the victim.
"You did, sir, with your textual lobster can," replied the reprover.
"The ancient Hebrews, in the height of their pride and glory, knew not the luxury of lobster salad," Coristine remarked, gravely, as if reciting a piece.
"How do you know that?"
"Because, if I offer a prize of a Trip to the Dark Continent to the first person buying a copy of our published travels, who finds the word lobster in the Bible, I shall never have occasion to purchase the ticket."
As they moved in the direction of the river, Pierre came after them and asked:—
"You make your feeshing off ze bord or in ze vatars!"
"I prefer the board," replied Coristine, "if it's as good of its kind as that you gave us at dinner."
"Keep quiet, you do not understand him," interposed the schoolmaster; "he means the shore, the bank of the river by the bord. N'est ce pas, Monsieur?"
"Oui, oui, M'syae, le bord, le rivauge de la rivière."