"Look 'ere!" began Red Bill hotly, "you jest take in the slack o' that jaw-tackle o' yours, Jack Derringer. You're a sight too free wi' them insinnivations. I ain't afraid o' you for all ye prize-fightin' tricks, so go slow, or there'll be a slogging match." "Bill," said the rolling-stone, with that catching smile of his, "shake hands. You're a white man, and I take it all back. It was just you talking of men's lives that roused my dander. I don't like to hear good sailormen talk about their lives like so many frightened land-crabs. I once went a yachting trip with three brass-bound, useless, chicken-hearted clothes-props, and I tell you I got a sickener of 'my precious life' talk. "Things went well enough at first, when there was only just enough wind to keep us moving--though I had my hands full, what with cooking, steering, and doing all the dirty work; for though they were all three big men, they were so fat and flabby they couldn't pull their own weight on a rope or even hit a dent in a pat of butter; but we got a bit of a blow heading over to the French coast from Falmouth, and if ever I saw three badly scared, nerveless citizens, it was that crowd. "The boat was a snug little yawl, and as I was pressing her through it pretty hard, things naturally got a bit wet, and now and again some green water lopped aboard. "Well, after they'd had their first experience of a big dollop, they all turned on me. "'Isn't it getting dangerous?' began the first uneasily. "'Haven't we got too much sail for safety?' quavered the second. "'Wouldn't it be risking our lives to go on?' stuttered the third. 'I'm afraid----' "'Any fool could see that,' I broke in, as I shoved her nose into a lump of green water to cut short their chorus. "After a good deal of spluttering they recovered sufficiently to give tongue again. "'I'm wet through,' whimpered one. 'I must go below and change my things or I'll catch cold. D'you think it safe for me to leave the deck?' "'I guess the deck can take care of itself all right,' I answered. "'No, I don't mean that,' he said solemnly. 'I mean, if the boat turned over when I was in the cabin, I should lose my life, I should be d-d-drowned.' "'By Jove, so you would!' I exclaimed, as if struck by the gravity of the idea. "'D'you really think it would be more dangerous below than here?' put in another of the boobies anxiously. "'You're all insured, ain't you?' I asked with a wooden face. "'Yes,' they gulped as a spray took them; 'but for God's sake turn the boat round and go back.' "'Can't; too dangerous to run before this sea,' I declared, making a big bluff. "They were getting too much for my patience altogether, so with a wild cry of 'Look out!' I shoved the helm over and soused them again. "This time I had them all as limp as a wet swab, and as the wave hit them they screeched like so many frightened women. But directly the water cleared off there was more tongue-wagging.