Charlie tried to speak in a very careless tone indeed.
“Yep—awful,” answered Phil, not very reassuringly, as he kept on polishing.
“But, of course, in weather like this it’s all safe enough, eh?”
“A feller ain’t never safe on the water,” commented Phil, with amazing volubility, for him.
“I suppose you have plenty of life preservers on board?” said Charlie, with a forced grin.
Phil thought they had.
“Well, I hope we shan’t need ’em.”
“Can’t never tell,” mumbled the “first mate,” giving an obstinate place on the brass an extra hard rub.
“Ever been in any tight fixes, Phil?”
“Sure.”