'I couldn't lie about and do nix,' replied Geordie, 'I'd die of it.'
And away he went for'ard, while the skipper and Mr. Brose, and Mr. Ware, waked out of his watch below to hear the extraordinary news, discussed the situation.
'And 'ave I to call 'im Mr. Potts?' asked Brose with a pathetic air of disgust.
'I say so,' replied the skipper, 'I can't afford, Brose, as you know, to lose this job, and old Tyser promised me a kind of marine superintendent's billet when I left the Patriarch, and I dessay this young chap will act decent about it.'
'I'm damned,' said Ware. 'I'm damned and glad too that he ain't in my watch. This is hard lines on you, Mr. Brose.'
'If you please, Mr. Potts, will you be so good has to be so kind has to be so hobliging has to go and over'aul the gear on the main,' piped Brose in furious mockery. 'Oh, this is 'ard!'
'Far from it,' said old Smith, 'you ought to be proud. It ain't every second mate has a millionaire owner in his watch.'
But Brose was sullen.
'You mark me, this josser won't do no 'and's turn that he don't like.'
And for'ard the crowd said the same. As a result, for at least ten days Geordie Potts worked very well indeed. But of course, Brose, under the skipper's orders, gave him all the soft jobs that were going. The second mate got into a mode of exaggerated courtesy which was almost painful.