human
Did he hit him hard?
gpt
That's what I said, messmate; don't get chewin' o' my words over five hundred times to show off afore our young orficer. Did he hit him hard?
human
Orfle!
gpt
Then why didn't you say so afore, 'stead o' getting into bad habits, a-saying things for the sake o' talking. Now, Neb Dumlow, just look the young gent straight in the face and say what you thinks.
human
Couldn't ha' hit him no harder,
gpt
Not with one hand, acquiesced Hampton;
human
he continued, turning to me,
gpt
Dunno,
human
Then it's a good job for you as I do, mate. Ay, the skipper did give Master Jarette a floorer, and I'm sorry for it.
gpt
Why, I said,
human
Well, you see, sir, it's like this; if me or Neb or Barney there had scared one of the officers, and the skipper had knocked us down, why, we shouldn't ha' liked it--eh, mates?
gpt
No,
human
Course not; but then we're Englishmen, and knowing as we was in the wrong, why, next day we should have forgot all about it.
gpt
Ay, ay,
human
But strikes me, sir--you needn't tell the skipper I says so, because p'r'aps I'm wrong--strikes me as that chap won't forget it, and I should be sorry for there to be any more rows with ladies on board, 'cause they don't like it. But I say, sir!
gpt
Yes, Hampton,
human
I thought as Mr Walters as had been to sea afore was going to put you through it all. When's he going to show on deck?
gpt
Oh, he'll come up as soon as he's well enough,
human
If I was skipper, he'd be well enough now, said the sailor, roughly.
gpt
More you gives way to being sea-sick, more you may. I don't say as it's nice, far from it; but if a man shows fight, he soon gets too many for it. Here's him been a voyage, and you arn't. He lies below, below, below in his bunk, and you goes about just as if you was at home.
human
Because I haven't been ill,
gpt
No, sir, you arn't; but if I was you, I'd soon go down and cure him.
human
How?
gpt
Physic, sir.
human
Yes, what physic?
gpt
Bucket o' water, sir,--take a hair o' the dog as bit you, as the Scotch chaps say,--fresh dipped.
human
Rubbish, Bob Hampton; how could he drink a bucket of salt water?
gpt
Who said anything about drinking it, sir? I meant as lotion, `Outward application only,' as Mr Frewen puts on his bottles o' stuff sometimes.
human
What! bathe him with salt water?
gpt
Yes, sir, on'y we calls it dowsin'. Sharp and sudden like. Furst dollop fails, give him another, and keep it up till he walks on deck to get dry; then call me to swab up the cabin, and he's all right.
human
I'll tell Mr Walters what you say, Hampton.
gpt
No, sir, I wouldn't do that; 'cause if you do, he'll have his knife into me. I on'y meant it as good advice. He on'y wants rousin' up. Why, if you was to set some of us to rattle a chain over his head, and then make a rash, and you went down and telled him the ship was sinking, he'd be quite well, thank ye, and come on deck and look out for a place in the first boat.
human
You're too hard upon him,