"Oh, sir, there ain't a man on board the Triumphant that wouldn't do six months with pleasure to 'ave the 'andlin' of 'im."
"No?"
"For sure, sir."
I was lying awake last night thinking of it,"
said Selwyn; "at least, I believe I was awake—perhaps I was dreaming. But I seemed to think that a couple of boats' crews were ashore, and that you went to Shanghai's place for a drink."
"I've done that same, sir," said Benson, "and the liquor was cruel bad."
"And I dreamed—yes, I suppose it was a dream—that you started a row and made hay of his bar and collared him, and took him in the cutter and rowed him round the bay till about four in the morning."
"You always was very imaginary and dreamy as a boy, sir, begging your pardon, sir," said Benson.
"And I dreamed you came to the Harvester——"
"Her that's lying in the bay—the ship with the bad name among sailormen?"
"That's the ship," said Selwyn; "and you hailed her and asked the captain if a man had tried to escape by swimming. And he said 'Yes,' and then you said you'd picked him up."