“I didn’t like to interfere,” said Steve simply; “but I saw where he went to.”
“Where?” demanded Mr. Dodds wildly. “Where?”
“He went straight up on deck,” said Steve slowly, “walked aft, and then down into the cabin. The skipper woke up, and I heard ’im say something to him.”
“Say something to ’im?” repeated the bewildered Dodds. “Wot was it?”
“Well, I ’ardly like to repeat it,” said Steve, hesitating.
“Wot was it?” roared the overwrought Mr. Dodds.
“Well, I ’eard this chap say something,” said Steve slowly, “and then I heard the skipper’s voice. But I don’t like to repeat wot ’e said, I reely don’t.”
“Wot was it?” roared Mr. Dodds, approaching him with clenched fist.
“Well, if you will have it,” said Steve, with a little cough, “the old man said to me, ‘Well done, Steve,’ he ses, ‘you’re the only sensible man of the whole bilin’ lot. Sam’s a fool,’ ’e ses, ‘and ’Arrys worse, an’ if it wasn’t for men like you, Steve, life wouldn’t be worth living.’ The skipper’s got it now, Sam, and ’e’s goin’ to give it to your wife to take care of as soon as we get home.”