"You find me the sextant," said the astronomer, "and I'll do it."
"What, you?" said Simpkins. "I'd never ha' thought it."
Though he could not be induced to say in public why he would never have thought it, in private he revealed to the inquisitive ethnologist that the astronomer looked "the measliest of the whole gang, sir."
The discussion, which had been held on deck, with Simpkins at the wheel, was broken up by the captain hammering furiously on his jammed door.
"Go down and soothe him," said Simpkins nervously, "and mind you tell him I done nothin' but give in to superior overwhelmin' odds. For so I did, gentlemen, so I did, as you know, bein' those as done it."
The committee went below, with the geologist leading. He carried his belaying-pin in his pocket. As they marched, the uproar was tremendous.
"What a skull he must have!" said the ethnologist. "I wish I had it in my collection."
"So do I," said the pathologist
And the authority on philology pressed to the front rank, for Captain Joseph Prowse was doing his best.
"Lemme out," he roared; "oh, when I do get out, I'll show you what I am."