"It is not impossible! This is an unspeakable outrage!"
"The wharf closed this afternoon; notice was posted, sir," said the officer patiently.
"I saw no notice!" thundered the man. "It's of no use for me to go without my belongings, I tell you! I cannot go! This is outrageous! I cannot go! I demand to be put ashore!"
By this time the vessel was in midstream, his "demands" becoming more impossible every moment and his tirade growing rather wearisome. At least that was what most of the by-standers seemed to think, for they sauntered away, laughing, and the two boys, seeing that nothing sensational was likely to happen, returned to the forward part of the ship.
"Do you think he was a German?" said Tom.
"No, sure he wasn't. Didn't you hear what good English he talked?"
"Yes, but he said aparatus," said Tom, "instead of saying it the regular way. And he was sorry he said it, too, because the next time he said belongings."
"You make me laugh," said Archer.
"There's another thing that makes me think he's a German," said Tom, indifferent to Archer's scepticism.
"What's that?"