"Be so good, Mr. Potts, as to put a nice, neat Matthew Walker on this 'ere lanyard."
Or—
"Mr. Potts, please be kind enough to go aloft and stop that spilling line to the jack-stay."
And at meal times the port watch mimicked Brose.
"Dear Mr. Potts, howner, be so good as to heat this 'orrid 'ash without growling."
And presently, when the weather began to get cold and the men brought out their Cape Horn pea-jackets and their mitts, Geordie commenced to growl a little.
"'IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WORK, MR. POTTS, I DARESAY WE CAN GET ON WITHOUT YOUR SERVICES,' HE SAID."
"I hates turnin' out in the gravy-eye watch worse and worse," he said. "I've half a mind to let on I'm sick."
"You'd better go haft and tell the old man to 'ave the galley fire kep' alight all night," said the crowd, crossly. "But you dasn't."