‘No, no,’ said Brace, ‘all true, honor bright, messmates.’
‘Do you mean really to say that that ere dog come to life again?’ asked another of the crew.
‘To be sure I do: there’s nothing very wonderful in that.’
‘Well,’ added Terrence Moony, ‘you had the consolation of saving a fellow crathur’s life eny way. Troth, and sich an act is’nt to be sneezed at, so give us your flipper, messmate.’
‘Your yarn is all very well, Brace,’ said one of his messmates, ‘but that dog part is rather a dose.’
‘Never you mind that,’ said Brace, ‘and now I think of it, Marling, it’s your turn next.’
‘Yes, yes, it’s your turn next,’ said half a dozen voices at once.
‘For the matter of that I believe you’re all right,’ said Marling good naturedly, ‘avast there.’
And after rolling his quid about his mouth for a few minutes, and hesitating for a moment, said:
‘I say, messmates, you must let me off with a song; fact is, I can’t think of any yarn just now, how will that do?’