“Why didn't you know? And, see here! what did you mean by sayin' you was goin' to 'phone the doctor or the superintendent, one or t'other? Yes, you said it. I heard you.”
“Oh, no! you didn't.”
“Tell you I did. Heard you with my own ears.”
“But how could you? You weren't awake.”
“Course I was awake! Couldn't have heard you unless I was, could I? What ails you? Them stings go clear through to your brains, did they?”
Again Brown shook his head.
“This is dreadful!” he murmured. “He walks in his sleep, and snores when he's awake. I MUST call the doctor.”
“What—what—” The lightkeeper's wrath was interfering with his utterance. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sputtered incoherently.
“Be calm, Atkins,” coaxed the assistant. “Don't complicate your diseases by adding heart trouble. Three times today I've caught you peeping at me through the crack of that door. Within fifteen seconds of the last peep I find you snoring. Therefore, I say—”
“Aw, belay! I was only—only just lookin' out to see what time it was.”