“If we could only pack ’em both ’ome by train,” continued the skipper.
“That’s an expense,” said the mate.
“It ’ud be worth it,” said the other.
“An’ they wouldn’t do it,” said the mate, “neither of ’em.”
“I’ve seen women having rows afore,” said the skipper, “but then they could get away from each other. It’s being boxed up in this little craft as does the mischief.”
“S’pose we pretend the ship’s not seaworthy,” said the mate.
“Then they’d stand by us,” said the skipper, “closer than ever.”
“I b’leeve they would,” said the mate. “They’d go fast enough if we’d got a case o’ small-pox or anything like that aboard, though.”
The skipper grunted assent.
“It ’ud be worth trying,” said the mate. “We’ve pretended to have a quarrel. Now just as we’re going into port let one of the hands, the boy if you like, pretend he’s sickening for small-pox.”