human
Here, what are you grinning at, Joe Cross?
gpt
Oh, not at you, Mr Harding, sir. It was a little bit of a snigger at your boots.
human
What!
gpt
Just a little guffaw, sir. You see, the deck's as white as a holystone will make it, and your boots is black, and black and white never did agree. It's beginning to get a bit fresh, sir, and if I was you I'd striddle a bit, so as to take a bit better hold of the deck with your footsies. I shouldn't like to see you come down hard.
human
Oh, I shan't come down,
gpt
Avast there! cried the man.
human
Steady, sir!--Steady it is! There, let me stand you up again on your pins. You mustn't do that, or you'll have the lads thinking you're a himmidge, or a statty, a-tumbling off your shelf.
gpt
Thank you. I am all right now, said Rodd.
human
My boots are quite new, and the soles are slippery.
gpt
I see, sir, but it wasn't all that. You see, our Sally's been tied up by the nose for so many months in harbour yonder, that now she's running free she can't hold herself in. Ketch hold of the rail, sir. That's your sort! There she goes again, larking like a young kitten.
human
I didn't know she'd dance about like this on a fine day,
gpt
Bless your heart, sir, this arn't nothing to what she can do. See how she's skipping along now. Aren't it lovely?
human
Well, yes, I suppose so, said Rodd;
gpt
Why, ever so much livelier, sir. She'll dance over the waves like a cork. She's a beauty, that's what she is. Mustn't mind her being a bit saucy. There's nothing that floats like a Salcombe schooner, and I never heard of one as sank yet.
human
Yes, uncle; back directly!