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THE RAFTERS
143

"Never mind," quoth he. "If you're going to eat me I may as well eat the chocolates."

"Not at all," replied the Captain, appalled at such faulty logic. "Is it likely I should want to eat you while I've got chocolate?"

"But if I eat the chocolates and you eat me, you'll get 'em all the same," argued the Bo'sun.

"Don't be a Funny Dog," growled his incensed senior. "And anyhow, I shall want the chocolates to take the taste of you out of my mouth."

"And the slice of apple?" asked the doomed man.

"The Crew 'll want that," was the reply. "Besides, he sat on it."

"Is the Crew going to have some of me too?" asked the Bo'sun, with morbid interest.

"Of course," was the reply.

"Then I don't see why he should have the apple," continued the Bo'sun. "Crews don't mind nasty tastes; they don't care what they eat. Besides, he only sat on one side of it and I can eat down to that."

"Then take your last meal on earth, unhappy man," said the Captain, in voice appropriate.

"On water," corrected the Bo'sun, with irritat-