"Partikler old party, ain't he, Bill?" said another.
"You leave 'im alone," said the man addressed, surveying the captain's efforts with a smile of approval. "You keep on, Nugent, don't you mind 'im. There's a little bit there you ain't done."
"Keep your head out of the way, unless you want it knocked off," said the incensed captain.
"Ho!" said the aggrieved Bill. "Ho, indeed! D'ye 'ear that, mates? A man musn't look at 'is own bunk now."
The captain turned as though he had been stung. "This is my bunk," he said, sharply.
"Ho, is it?" said Bill. "Beggin' of your pardon, an' apologizing for a-contradictin' of you, but it's mine. You haven't got no bunk."
"I slept in it last night," said the captain, conclusively.
"I know you did," said Bill, "but that was all my kind-'artedness."