“How long, O Lord,” said Attwater, with perfect, stern gravity. “But it does not seem so,” he added, with a smile.
“No, I daresay not,” said Davis. “No, I suppose not. Not with all your gods about you, and in as snug a berth as this. For it is a pretty snug berth,” said he, with a sweeping look.
“The spot, as you are good enough to indicate, is not entirely intolerable,” was the reply.
“Shell, I suppose?” said Davis.
“Yes, there was shell,” said Attwater.
“This is a considerable big beast of a lagoon, sir,” said the captain. “Was there a—was the fishing—would you call the fishing anyways good?”
“I don’t know that I would call it anyways anything,” said Attwater, “if you put it to me direct.”
“There were pearls, too?” said Davis.
“Pearls too,” said Attwater.
“Well, I give out!” laughed Davis, and his laughter rang cracked like a false piece. “If you’re not going to tell, you’re not going to tell, and there’s an end to it.”