"This is a terrible business," he said. "I never 'eard of anything like it. Every night a man, and last night two!"
Ryder was naturally very much cut up about it, and said so.
"Will you have some more marmalade?" he asked, anxiously.
"Marmalade don't work," said Watchett, sadly; "it don't work worth a cent. Nor does butter. I'd give five pounds for some green cabbage."
A brilliant idea struck Ryder.
"Why don't you paint her green, all the inside of the rail and the boats?"
"She'd be a beauty show, like a blessed timber-droghing Swede," said Watchett, with great distaste. "But d'ye think it'd work?"
"You might try," replied Ryder.
"And now you've got the bulge on me," sighed Watchett; "with two 'ands missing from both watches, she'll be as 'ard in the mouth as your Star. You might let me off that bet, Bill."
"No," said Ryder, "a bet's a bet."