“I tell you he’s drownded,” said the watchman, raising his voice; “if you don’t believe me, go and ask Mr. Fraser. He’s skipper in his place now.”
He waved his hand in the direction of Fraser, who, having heard the noise, was coming on deck to see the cause of it. Mrs. Tipping, compressing her lips, got on board, followed by her daughter, and marching up to him eyed him severely.
“I wonder you can look us in the face after the trick you served us the other night,” she said, fiercely.
“You brought it on yourselves,” said Fraser, calmly. “You wouldn’t go away, you know. You can’t always be coming here worrying.”
“We shall come whenever we choose,” said Mrs. Tipping. “In the first place, we want to see Mr. Robinson; anyway we intend to see Captain Flower, so you can save that fat old man the trouble of telling us lies about him.”
“Captain Flower fell overboard night before last, if that’s what you mean,” said Fraser, gravely.
“I never saw such a man in all my life,” exclaimed Mrs. Tipping, wrathfully. “You’re a perfect—what’s the man’s name in the Scriptures?” she asked, turning to her daughter.
Miss Tipping, shaking her head despondently, requested her parent not to worry her.
“Well, it doesn’t signify. I shall wait here till he comes,” said Mrs. Tipping.
“What, Ananias?” cried Fraser, forgetting himself.