The cabin boy comes.
"Phelax, go over to the captain."
To the captain I say:
"Good-day, sir!"
"Good-day. How long have you been at sea?"
"Fifteen years."
"Do you know how to mend sails?"
"I know how very well."
"We have no time to mend sails at anchor. But you will have to do a lot of sewing at sea."
"I have done it often."