human
He's a awful thick-headed chap, sir, but I think he'll hit it off for us directly.
gpt
Messmate!
human
Well?
gpt
Has some one been having a lark with us?
human
I dunno, and I don't know anything, growled Bob.
gpt
You arn't wanted to ask questions, but to answer what Mr Dale wants to know. Now, then, what d'yer make of it?
human
Nowt.
gpt
Well, where are we?
human
Dunno.
gpt
What!--can't yer tell?
human
Can't find bottom, my lad; only seem to arrive at one thing.
gpt
Well, what is it?
human
Well, it's this here; if it was me and you and old Barney--where is old Barney?
gpt
Here, messmate.
human
Oh, come then, I might be right, on'y you see we've got Mr Dale with us.
gpt
Look here, what are you fogging about? Why don't you say what yer mean, my lad? Now then, out with it. Where are we?--'cause Mr Dale wants to know.
human
Well, as he's here, we can't be here,
gpt
What d'yer mean, stoopid?
human
Why, we can't be where I thought we was.
gpt
And wheers that?
human
Why, my lad, it looks like this here 'cording to what I feels. But stop a moment, let's ask Barney a question. Barney, old lad!
gpt
Hullo!
human
How's yer head?
gpt
Just as if it was a beehive, and all the bees swarming.
human
That's it. Then we are here, and all I've got to say for myself is, as I wonder I could ha' been such a fool, and I'm sorry as Mr Dale don't know better.
gpt
Then where are we, Dumlow? I said hastily;
human
Then you ought to, sir; you a orficer and brought up proper. I wonder at you a-leading men into trouble, and there'll be an awful row when old Brymer finds us out.
gpt
He's got it, sir, said Bob Hampton.
human
It's what I thought, and it's a rum 'un.
gpt
Then, where are we?
human
Why, sir, said Dumlow;
gpt
Hist!
human
Come in! growled Bob Hampton.
gpt
Here's the cook brought your shaving-water, sir.
human
Answer them, whoever it is, Bob,
gpt
Why don't you answer them?
human
What do you mean, sir--shout?
gpt
No, no; tap again.
human
But there arn't nothin' to knock on, sir. It's no good to hit the top, or the floor.
gpt
But there must be a partition somewhere,
human
Dessay there is, sir; but I can't tell where it is.
gpt
Are we not somewhere near the forecastle?
human
Dessay we are, sir; but my head's some'at like a lump o' solid wood. What did you bring us down here for?
gpt
I! Bring you down! Nonsense, man. I did not bring you.
human
Then how did we come, sir? Do you know, Neb?
gpt
No.
human
Do you, Barney?
gpt
No. I only knows here we are, and my head's a rum 'un.
human
But there must be some reason for us being here,
gpt
Yes, sir, said Bob, coolly;
human
Then what is it, Bob?
gpt
Oh, don't ask me, sir; I arn't no scholard. I'm all muzzly like. Seems to me that we've been to one o' they casks,--and all the time it don't. No; we arn't had no drink. We shouldn't with all that there trouble a-hanging over us.
human
Yes, Bob, I said eagerly, for he had touched a chord which set me thinking--I mean trying to think;
gpt
Oh yes, sir; we was in a lot o' trouble about something, but blest if I know what it was.
human
Well; try, man, I cried.
gpt
Think about trouble. What trouble was it?
human
No, sir, I dunno, he cried, after a pause.
gpt
We're aboard the Burgh Castle still, arn't we?
human
I don't know, I began.
gpt
Yes, of course we are, and we must be down in the hold. It's coming now, I think. Why did we come down here? Surely one of you must know.
human
It arn't likely, sir, if you don't,
gpt
But what were we in trouble about?