“Then, Mr Reefpoint, will you have the great kindness to cast off your sink, and hook that splendid fellow by the tail—only through the gristle—don’t prick him in the flesh—and let him meander about till half-past two?”
Reefy was half inclined to be angry at the idea of his Majesty’s officer being converted into a cook’s mate.
“Why,” said I, “we shall put him in a tub of water, here on deck, Mr Wagtail, if you please.”
“God bless me, no!” quoth the gastronome. “Why, he is strong as an eagle, and will smash himself to mummy in half an hour in a tub. No—no see, he weighs twelve pounds at the very lightest. Lord! Mr Cringle, I am surprised at you.”
The fish was let overboard again, according to his desire, and hauled in at the very moment he indicated by his watch, when, having seen him cut up and cleaned, with his own eyes—I believe I may say with his own hands—he betook himself to his small crib to dress.
At dinner our Creole friend was very entertaining. Bang drew him out, and had him to talk on all his favourite topics in a most amusing manner. All at once Gelid lay back on his chair.
“My God,” said he, “I have broken my tooth with that confounded hard biscuit—terrible—really: ah!”—and he screwed up his face, as if he had been eating sourcrout, or had heard of the death of a dear friend.
“Poo,” quoth Aaron, “any comb maker will furnish you forth as good as new; those grinders you brag of are not your own, Gelid, you know that.”
“Indeed, Aaron, my dear, I know nothing of the kind; but this I know, that I have broken a most lovely white front tooth, ah!”
“Oh, you be hanged,” said Aaron; “why, you have been bechopped any time these ten years, I know.”