“Sure, Miss,” observed Rooney Machowl, with great simplicity of aspect, “he does it by drawin’ in an’ puffin’ out the air through his mouth an’ nose.”
“Very true,” observed Miss Pritty, with a good-natured smile, for even she could see that the Irishman was poking fun at her; “but how is air conveyed to him?”
“It is sent down by means of an air-pump,” said Edgar, who took on himself the duty of explaining.
“Dear me!” returned Miss Pritty, elevating her eyebrows in surprise; “I always thought that pumps were used only for pumping up water.”
“Och! No, Miss,” said Rooney, “they’re largely used for pumping up beer in London.”
“Now, David, are you all right?” asked Joe.
“All right,” said Maxwell, as he rose and shook himself to settle the weights comfortably on his back and breast.
“Come along then, me boy,” said Rooney.
Maxwell went to the side of the vessel, where a rope-ladder had been prepared, and his two attendants assisted him to get over.
“All right?” asked Joe again, after giving the order to pump, which Ram-stam commenced with the steady coolness and regularity of a veteran.