I did not know what that meant, but as he had a pleased sort of appearance, I nodded and smiled, and caressed the bottle, saying, "Very good, very good bottle."
"All right," said he, "let us see what you have got. I give you some bananas; here you are, hand down your bottle."
So I took the bananas with the one hand, and handed him the bottle with the other.
He took it, smelt it, shook it, pulled off the wrapper, held it up towards the sun, and cried, "Dead mariner, by Jove."
Then every one on the jetty laughed like fun, but I was totally ignorant where the joke came in, and asked, "Is it not a very good bottle?"
"Oh, yes," said he, "splendid bottle," and they all kept on laughing and talking at me, assuring me that I would do well in Queensland! I understood that much.
Thorkill and I now retired into the cabin to eat the bananas, and while we ate them we had some conversation.
"I wonder what they all were laughing at?"
"Who shall say? Is—it—not—a—nuisance—that—we—do—not—understand—English—better? I—cannot—talk—to—them—at—all. You—seemed—to—do—fine—though. My—word—you—did. I—never—would—have—believed—it. I—will—study—that—language."
"Did you notice that he said, 'Dead mariner,' when he held the bottle up towards the sun?"