Joe commanded himself for the tale he had to tell.
"Skipper Tom West," Joe began, "made a wonderful adventure of life in the end. I doubt if ever a man done such a queer thing afore. 'Twas queer enough, sir, I'll be bound, an' you'll say so when I tells you; but 'twas a brave, kind thing, too, though it come perilous close t' the line o' foul play—but that's how you looks at it. Bad-Weather Tom," he went on, "come back from seein' you, sir, in a silent mood. An' no wonder! You told un, sir—well, you told un what you told un, about what he was to expect in this life; an' the news lay hard on his mood. He told nobody here what that news was; nor could the gossips gain a word from his wife.
"'What's the matter with Bad-Weather Tom?' says they.
"'Ask Tom,' says she.
"An' they asked Tom.
"'Tom,' says they, 'what's gone along o' you, anyhow?'
"'Well,' says Tom, 'I found out something I never knowed afore. That's all that's the matter with me.'
"'Did Doctor Luke tell you?'
"'When I talks with Doctor Luke,' says Tom, 'I always finds out something I never knowed afore.'