“‘Sorry if my foot didn’t slip?’ he ses.
“‘You know wot I mean, Bill,’ ses Tom, smiling a uneasy smile.
“‘Don’t laugh at me,’ roars Bill.
“‘I wasn’t laughing, Bill, old pal,’ ses Tom.
“‘’E’s called me a liar,’ ses Bill, looking round at us; ‘called me a liar. ’Old my coat, Charlie, and I’ll split ’im in halves.’
“Charlie took the coat like a lamb, though he was Tom’s pal, and Tom looked round to see whether he couldn’t nip up the ladder and get away, but Bill was just in front of it. Then Tom found out that one of ’is bootlaces was undone and he knelt down to do it up, and this young ordinary seaman, Joe Simms by name, put his ’ead out of his bunk and he ses, quiet-like:
“‘You ain’t afraid of that thing, mate, are you?’
“‘Wot?’ screams Bill, starting.
“‘Don’t make such a noise when I’m speaking,’ ses Joe; ‘where’s your manners, you great ’ulking rascal?’
“I thought Bill would ha’ dropped with surprise at being spoke to like that. His face was purple all over and ’e stood staring at Joe as though ’e didn’t know wot to make of ’im. And we stared too, Joe being a smallish sort o’ chap and not looking at all strong.