“Not far enough, boatswain, not far enough!”
“Oh, that will come! But I am disappointed.”
“In what way?”
“Because we have not done what is usual on board ships on crossing the Line!”
“You regret that?”
“Certainly I do, and the Halbrane might have been allowed the ceremony of a southern baptism.”
“A baptism? And whom would you have baptized, boatswain, seeing that all our men, like yourself, have already sailed beyond this parallel?”
“We! Oh, yes! But you! Oh, no, Mr. Jeorling. And why, may I ask, should not that ceremony be performed in your honour?”
“True, boatswain; this is the first time in the course of my travels that I have been in so high a latitude.”
“And you should have been rewarded by a baptism, Mr. Jeorling. Yes, indeed, but without any big fuss—no drum and trumpet about it, and leaving out old Father Neptune with his masquerade. If you would permit me to baptize you—”