"Don't tell me that's a dog fish," said Ne'er Do Eel, "because I'll never believe you."
"You don't have to," answered Billy, "because he is not a dog fish, he's a dog."
"Oh, you mean a fish dog! You're sure he's not a bird dog—a flying fish dog, you know?"
"No, just a plain dog."
"He's plain enough, goodness knows—but a dog—humph!"
"Who ever heard of a dog without fins?" said the urchin; "why, it's ridiculous."
"I expect there are lots of things you never heard of." It made Billy angry to have his word doubted, especially when there was Barker to prove them true.
"Ridiculous," said Ne'er Do Eel. "How can we help seeing everything in the sea? He who sees seas sees everything in season."
Billy didn't think this worth answering, so he redoubled his efforts to reach the shore. My! how he did make the water boil, dashing spray way over his head, and making poor Barker blink with the water he dashed into his eyes.