“No, but most of the time,” I said.
“Oh, sure,” Westy said, “but I’ve seen lots of red lobsters that didn’t come from Red Bank——”
“It’s boiling makes them red; you big galook!” Pee-wee yelled.
“Oh, sure,” I said, not paying any attention to him, but all the while rowing hard and looking around very sober like at Westy, “because I know there are lots of bluefish caught near Greenland and you’d think by rights they ought to be green.”
“Sure,” Westy said, “just the same as the fish caught in American River out west, are red, white and blue.”
“And stars,” I said.
“Sure the river’s full of starfish and striped mackerel—stars and stripes. That’s why you have to stand up in the boat if you’re rowing on that river.”
“Oh, sure,” Westy said, “that’s why so many boats get upset.”
Good night! you should have seen Pee-wee.
“Keep on bailing, kiddo,” I said, “keep plenty of water in the river.”