are pretending an interest which is belied by the absent-minded expressions on their faces.
The Captain—[Chuckling.] And that mission woman, she hails me on the dock as I was acomin’ ashore, and she says—with her silly face all screwed up serious as judgment—“Captain,” she says, “would you be so kind as to tell me where the sea-gulls sleeps at nights?” Blow me if them warn’t her exact words! [He slaps the table with the palm of his hands and laughs loudly. The others force smiles.] Ain’t that just like a fool woman’s question? And I looks at her serious as I could, “Ma’m,” says I, “I couldn’t rightly answer that question. I ain’t never seed a sea-gull in his bunk yet. The next time I hears one snorin’,” I says, “I’ll make a note of where he’s turned in, and write you a letter ’bout it.” And then she calls me a fool real spiteful and tacks away from me quick. [He laughs again uproariously.] So I got rid of her that way. [The others smile but immediately relapse into expressions of gloom again.]
Mrs. Mayo—[Absent-mindedly—feeling that she has to say something.] But when it comes to that, where do sea-gulls sleep, Dick?
Scott—[Slapping the table.] Ho! Ho! Listen to her, James. ’Nother one! Well, if that don’t beat all hell—’scuse me for cussin’, Kate.
Mayo—[With a twinkle in his eyes.] They unhitch their wings, Katey, and spreads ’em out on a wave for a bed.
