"Bah, my brave! He won't die. Well, let him. He'll be out of the
way."
Then there was a good deal of thumping and stamping about, and I fancied
that they were going to open the hatch again.
Under these circumstances I did not let Barney, who was thoroughly eager
to show his prowess, make the trial; but at last all was quiet on deck,
save that there was a good deal of talking and singing right aft, and as
it seemed to me in the saloon.
"They've got some good stuff forrard there, lads," said Barney,
suddenly.
"Why, o' course. I know," growled Bob Hampton, "and they might ha' left
one or two lots for us."
"What do you mean?" I said.
"Why, sir, here's where there was a whole lot o' cases o' champagne
stored, and they fished them out, and left this here hole as we're in.
I wouldn't mind a drop o' that now to cheer us up again. It's werry
good stuff, ain't it?"
"What, champagne, Bob? I don't know. They say it is, but I never
tasted it."
"More didn't we, sir," said Bob.
"You speak for yourself, old man," said Barney.
"Well, you ain't tasted it, and you know it," growled Bob, "so tell the
truth."
"Well, I can't say as ever I did taste champagne," said Barney, "but
I've had a bottle--ay, bottles and bottles--o' what comes next to it,
and fizzles up wonderful."
"Why, what does?"
"Joeydone, or Sueydone, or something like that they calls it. It arn't
so very bad. Might go now, sir, mightn't I?"
"Well, yes, if you mean to try."
"Oh yes, I mean to try, sir," he said. "Dessay I can manage it. Shall
I start?"
"Yes," I replied, and without a moment's pause he rose, thrust his head
and shoulders into the hole, and as he drew himself in, he began to
whistle.
"He'd better save his wind," grumbled Dumlow. "He'll want it soon."
"Ay, that's the worst o' young chaps, they're so wasteful," muttered Bob
Hampton. "But they thinks they knows best. How are you getting on,
messmate?"
"Tidy--tidy!" came back. "It arn't so very tight."