“‘Certainly. Did you ever hear of any other waterspout hereabouts? I didn’t. He took my main-to’gal’n’mast at the first whack!’
“‘But where was he?’ asked the Captain.
“‘Chasing me!’ said the Skipper, indignantly.
“‘Out here?’ asked the Captain, perfectly surprised. And he looked at the Lion and the Man, to see if Torquillon were peeping out.
“‘No!’ exclaimed the Skipper, loudly. ‘Inside.’
“‘Inside!’ said the Captain, even louder. ‘What were you doing there?’
“‘Going through, of course!’ shouted the Skipper. ‘Do you suppose I was trying to anchorr?’ and he almost danced on the deck, he was so impatient.
“The Captain looked at him. Then he said in his ordinary voice:—
“‘We’re neither of us deaf, and there isn’t a gale of wind; and will you please begin at the beginning, and tell me what you did do?’
“‘That’s just what I was trying to do; but you interrupted.’