"
"That's all very well, but I want to know about the water," I said.
"I've told ye. There was six feet or more there, wi' Calder's cap
floatin' on top."
"Where did it come from?"
"Weel, in the confusion o' things after the propeller had dropped
off an' the engines were racin' an' a', it's vara possible that
Calder might ha' lost it off his head an' no troubled himself to
pick it up again. I remember seem' that cap on him at Southampton."
"I don't want to know about the cap. I'm asking where the water
came from and what it was doing there, and why you were so certain
that it wasn't a leak, McPhee?"
"For good reason-for good an' sufficient reason."
"Give it to me, then."
"Weel, it's a reason that does not properly concern myself only.
To be preceese, I'm of opinion that it was due, the watter, in part
to an error o' judgment in another man. We can a' mak' mistakes."
"Oh, I beg your pardon?"
"I got me to the rail again, an', 'What's wrang?' said Bell, hailin'.
"'She'll do,' I said. 'Send's o'er a hawser, an' a man to steer.
I'll pull him in by the life-line.'
"I could see heads bobbin' back an' forth, an' a whuff or two o'
strong words.
Pages:
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382