“Certainly. I will sign any paper that is required.”
Looking this new candidate over from head to foot, and still speaking in the blandest of tones, Captain Duff propounded the following questions:
“Be you a sailor?”
“I can handle a small boat.”
“Humph! Do you know the dog-star from the cat-star?”
“No, sir.”
“Nuther do I. Do you know a bull’s-eye when you see one?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Didn’t ye plunk one yesterday five times out of six shots?”
“I believe I did, sir,” replied Phil, greatly surprised at this turn in his examination.