“Watchman!”
“Sir.”
“Captain aboard?”
“Yes, sir.”
Pause.
“Dog aboard?”
“Yes, sir.”
Pause.
Our dog was a gaunt and unpleasant beast, more like a wolf in poor health than a dog, and I never noticed Mr. B— at any other time show the slightest interest in the doings of the animal. But that question never failed.
“Let’s have your arm to steady me along.”