human
Fine evening,
gpt
Is it?
human
I think so. Do you belong on that sloop? Where does she run to from here?
gpt
The Sound,
human
What does she carry?
gpt
Passengers and cargo.
human
Indeed? And may I ask what sort of a cargo?
gpt
You may.
human
Well, then, what sort?
gpt
Chinks and dope,
human
Um! About what I thought. Paying business, isn't it?
gpt
If it wasn't we wouldn't be in it,
human
No, I suppose not; and it must pay big since it enables even the cabin-boy to drench himself with perfumery.
gpt
So, said Bonny,
human
I told him he might eat alone, then, for I should come out here and eat with you.
gpt
I hope he will always feel the same way, retorted Alaric,
human
Oh, I guess you could, laughed Bonny.
gpt
Anyway, it will be all right by breakfast-time, for the smell is nearly gone now. But I say, Rick Dale, what an awfully funny fellow you are anyway! What made you pay for all that truck? It must have taken every cent you had.
human
So it did, replied Alaric.
gpt
But what of that? It was the easiest way to smooth things over that I knew of.
human
It wouldn't have been for me, then, rejoined Bonny,
gpt
Because, having ordered them, we were bound to accept them, and I thought we needed them all. I'm awfully tired of such things myself, but I didn't know you were.
human
What, olives and mushrooms and truffles, and the rest of the things with queer names? I never tasted one of them in my life, and don't believe the Captain did, either.
gpt
That seems odd,
human
Doesn't it? responded Bonny, quizzically.
gpt
And that cologne, too. What ever made you buy it?
human
I don't know exactly. Because I happened to see it, I suppose, and thought it would be a useful thing to have along. A little of it is nice in your bath, you know, or to put on your handkerchief when you have a headache.
gpt
My stars! exclaimed Bonny.
human
Listen to that, will you? Why, Rick, to hear you talk, one would think you were a prince in disguise, or a bloated aristocrat!
gpt
Well, I'm not, answered Alaric, shortly.
human
I'm only a sailor on board the sloop _Fancy_, who has just eaten a fine supper and enjoyed it.
gpt
Have you, really? asked the other, dubiously.
human
It didn't seem to me that just coffee without any milk, hard bread, and fried salt pork were very fine, and I was afraid that perhaps you wouldn't like 'em.
gpt
I do, though, insisted Alaric.
human
You see, I never tasted any of those things before, and they are first class.
gpt
Well, said Bonny,
human
I don't think much of such grub, and I've had it for more than a year, too; but then every one to his liking. Now I've got to notify our passengers, for we sail to-night. You may come with me and learn the ropes if you want to.
gpt
But we haven't any cargo aboard,
human
Oh, that won't take long. A few minutes will fix the cargo all right.