Their wager began on the Dryland Sea, and they drank until they came
to Dunamund on the Gulf of Riga, but they always kept even, and did
not yield to each other; and they kept so accurately even that when
one of them, gazing at the sea, beheld an imp crawling out of the
water, the same thing instantly revealed itself to the other. Only,
the half-skipper beheld a red-headed imp, whereas the left-handed man
declared that he was as swarthy as a Moor.
The left-handed man said: "Cross yourself and turn away--here is a
friend from the Abyss;" and the Englishman disputed, and declared that
it was a "sea-puss."
"If you like," says he, "I'll toss you into the sea, and be not
afraid--it will give you back to me immediately."