"It ain't much I know about it," he says; "she was rotten and she go down."
"Yes, but begin with the thrilling scenes."
"There wa'n't no scenes. I never see anything like it."
"Of course you didn't."
"Well, dry up. The cap'n he came in and went out. The first mate--he wa'n't no good on earth--well--he--"
The remembrance of the first mate's indignities throws Corkey into a long fit of strangling, ending with a monstrous sneeze.
"That's what wrecked her," observes the witty reporter.
"Exactly. I was trying to give you what this Aleck of a first mate was a-saying. After that we start out on deck, and I go up on the hurricane, and stand there in the dark."
"What did you see up there?"
Corkey gazes scornfully at his inquisitors.