human
Rather warm weather, Mr Rodd, sir, whispered Joe Cross, as, aided by another of the crew, he proceeded to cast loose the lashings and strip the tarpaulin off the long gun.
gpt
If it warn't for the showers this 'ere pocket pistol might very well do without her greatcoat. I say, sir, didn't I hear your uncle tell the old man that you were to have a canister of powder just to fire her off once or twice?
human
Yes, Joe, but I think it was only to tease me.
gpt
You ask the skipper to let you have one. It's all very well to go on ramming and sponging and making believe to load, but it is like having your grog served out in an empty glass. And if the old man grunts and shakes his head and grumbles about waste of ammunition, you just ask him if he'd mind you bringing one of your canisters of powder as you and your uncle's got for your double guns. He might let you then, if your old man don't mind. We could divide it into about four goes as wouldn't make much noise, and there'd be some sense in it. There would be something to ram down; and the lads would like it.
human
But the captain wouldn't let you fire away any cannon balls, Joe.
gpt
Well, no, sir, I suppose not, unless we got the cook up with a pudding-bag to hold it over the muzzle and catch them again.
human
Wouldn't a straw hat be better, Joe?
gpt
Well, now you talk of it, sir, replied the man, grinning,
human
I never thought of that. Perhaps it would if one of us held it lightly in his hand and eased off a good deal when we fired. If you didn't do that of course the ball might go right through.
gpt
Well, I'll ask the captain, Joe.
human
Yes, sir; do, sir. As I said afore, it would please the lads, and do good too, for it would clean the gun's teeth, sweep away all the scales and rust.
gpt
Scales and rust! cried Rodd.
human
Why, it isn't an iron gun; it's brass.
gpt
Why, so it is, Master Rodd, sir. Why, only fancy me not thinking of that! But here he comes. Try it on, sir.
human
Shall I, Joe?
gpt
Yes, do, sir; as I said, it would please the lads. They're just like a lot of school-boys when they gets a chance of a change.
human
And Joe Cross doesn't care a bit,
gpt
Well, sir, you see, I was a boy once, and I was born with a lot of human natur' in me, and I never got rid of it, and I am afraid I never shall. There, go on, sir, whispered Joe.
human
Pitch it into him at once.
gpt
You heard what my uncle said, captain?
human
What about, my lad?
gpt
Letting me have some powder to play with.
human
Ay, ay! But you don't want that?
gpt
Oh, I don't know. I wish you would have a canister and let the men load the gun properly.
human
Eh?
gpt
It would be like practice.
human
Well, that's true. But it would be only waste of powder; and I'm not going to waste any of the cannon balls.
gpt
No, I don't want you to do that.
human
Besides, I don't want to use either of the powder-bags, and they're made for a regular charge.
gpt
Beg pardon, sir, cried Cross.
human
Might make small charges up with a snuff of powder wrapped up in paper; and then I could prick and prime.
gpt
Um-m-m!