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? ? ? ? 'But what in thunder are you repairing?' There was puzzlement in his voice.

? ? ? ? 'Why, I'm getting everything ready for restepping the masts,' I replied easily, as though it were the simplest project imaginable.

? ? ? ? 'It seems as though you're standing on your own legs at last, Hump,' we heard him say; and then for some time he was silent.

? ? ? ? 'But I say, Hump,' he called down, 'you can't do it.'

? ? ? ? 'Oh, yes, I can,' I retorted. 'I'm doing it now.'

? ? ? ? 'But this is my vessel, my particular property. What if I forbid you?'

? ? ? ? 'You forget,' I replied. 'You are no longer the biggest bit of the ferment. You were once, and able to eat me, as you were pleased to phrase it; but there has been a diminishing, and I am now able to eat you. The yeast has grown stale.'

? ? ? ? He gave a short, disagreeable laugh. 'I see you're working on my philosophy back on me for all it is worth.


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