"'Heave ahead,' sez he, 'an' I'll answer 't ef I likes.'
"'What brought ye aboard o' my vessel, anyhow?'
"'Waal,' sez he, 'I'm out o' baccy, an' I thort as how ye might let me have a little.'
"'Oho!' sez I to he, sez I, 'I s'pose ye can't lay in a cargo 'cos ye kin only land once in seven years.'
"'Aw, gammon!' sez he, 'I can land w'enever I wants to.'
"'But how about keepin' up yer repitation?' sez I.
"'That's all right,' sez he. 'Who's goin' to know me in broad daylight with a steam-yacht an' in these togs? W'y, I'm goin' up to Calcutta as quick as I can get there.'
"I told him to wait a minute, an' I went an' got him a box o' smokin' baccy, an' he were werry grateful fur 't, too.
"'Now,' sez I to he, sez I, 'I got to tell ye somethin' afore ye go.'
"'Waal,' sez he, 'wot are it?'