"She was just going to when I left," replied Ruby; "but what has that to do with the question?"
"I didn't say as it had anything to do with it, lad. Moreover, there ain't no question between us as I knows on (puff); but what have you to say to stoppin' here all water?"
"Impossible," said Ruby, with a sigh.
"No so, lad; what's to hinder?—Ah! there she goes."
The pipe fell with a crash to the floor, and burst with a Bright shower of sparks, like a little bombshell.
"That's the third, Ruby, since I turned in," said the captain, getting slowly over the side of his hammock, and alighting on the floor heavily. "I won't git up again if it goes another time."
After knocking off the chimney-piece five or six articles which appeared to be made of tin from the noise they made in falling, the captain succeeded in getting hold of another pipe and the tinder-box, for in those days flint and steel were the implements generally used in procuring a light. With much trouble he re-lit the pipe.
"Now, Ruby, lad, hold it till I tumble in."
"But I can't see the stem, uncle."
"What a speech for a seaman to make! Don't you see the fire in the bowl?"