The feelings of the ship's company could not
possibly matter to the captain's wife and to Mr. Smith--her father. Why
the latter should so often allude to it was what surprised our Mr.
Powell. This was by no means the first occasion. More like the
twentieth rather. And in his weak voice, with his monotonous intonation,
leaning over the rail and looking at the water the other continued this
conversation, or rather his remarks, remarks of such a monstrous nature
that Mr. Powell had no option but to accept them for gruesome jesting.
"For instance," said Mr. Smith, "that mate, Franklin, I believe he would
just as soon see us both overboard as not."
"It's not so bad as that," laughed Mr. Powell, feeling uncomfortable,
because his mind did not accommodate itself easily to exaggeration of
statement. "He isn't a bad chap really," he added, very conscious of Mr.
Franklin's offensive manner of which instances were not far to seek.
"He's such a fool as to be jealous. He has been with the captain for
years. It's not for me to say, perhaps, but I think the captain has
spoiled all that gang of old servants.
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