human
Say, messmates, arn't it 'bout time as some 'un came round to feed the crew?
gpt
Ay, said Bob,
human
Know what, Bob?
gpt
Why, sir, they threatened us as to what they'd do; fired it right into my ear, Jarette did. He says to me he says, `If yer don't soon let us out, I'll set fire to the ship.'
human
Yes, I know he did,
gpt
That's 'robborative evidence, messmates, when yer orficer says you're right. Well, then, what I says to him is this, I've got a box o' matches in my pocket, and if they don't soon let us out, or put us somewhere so as we can breathe, I'll set the blessed old Burgh Castle alight myself and burn our way out.
human
Nonsense, I cried;
gpt
And 'nuff to make me, sir. That there stuff we took's set up a reg'lar fierce annymile or something in my inside, as goes on gnaw, gnaw, gnaw, till I shan't be able to stand it much longer, and shall have to break out.
human
Well, you are a rum 'un, Bob, said Barney.
gpt
Why, you're not going to turn canniball, are yer, at your time o' life?
human
What d'yer mean?
gpt
Talking about eating your messmates.
human
Who did? What yer talking about? Nobody wouldn't want to eat you, Barney. If I wanted to get the flavour o' 'bacco in my mouth I'd get it from a quid, and while a man could get at a bit o' oak or an old shoe he wouldn't think o' trying to gnaw old Neb. What d'yer mean?
gpt
Then what d'yer talk o' roasting us for in that there mad way, matey?
human
Oh, well, I don't know as I meant it, messmate, but I'm that hungry just now as never was.
gpt
That will do, I said, asserting my position as officer.
human
Silence, please.
gpt
All right, sir; all right, growled Bob.
human
I'm ready. What yer going to do?
gpt
Try and feel about, Bob, to find where the hatch is. We must get some air somehow.
human
That's right, sir. Come on, lads, and have a try. Who's got knives?
gpt
I have, said Barney.
human
Me too, growled Dumlow.
gpt
That's right, then; we may have to use 'em.