e.
The clip-hooks were then unhitched and the chain run up and the crane
swung back again over the pile of goods on the jetty for another load to
be fastened on; and, so on, continually.

The man directing these operations, in turning to speak to me, did not
pause for an instant either in giving his orders to "hoist!" and "lower
away!" or in keeping a keen weather-eye open, as he afterwards explained
to me, on the gang, so as to see that none of the hands shirked their
work; and, as I stared helplessly at him, quite unable as yet to
apprehend his meaning, or know what he wished me to do, he gave a quick
side-glance over his shoulder to where I stood and renewed his
questioning.

"Sure an' ye can answer me if you loike, for ye ar'n't dumb, me bhoy,
an' ye can spake English fast enough. Now. I'll ax ye for the last
toime--whare d'ye spring from?"

"Spring from?" I repeated after him, more puzzled than ever and awed by
his manner, he spoke so sharply, in spite of his jovial face and
twinkling eyes. "I jumped from that plank," pointing to the gangway by
which I came on board as I said this.

This response of mine seemed, somehow, to put him into all the greater
rage--I'm sure I can't tell why.

"Bad cess t'ye for an omahdawn! Sure, an' it isn't springin'--joompin'
I mane," he thundered in a voice that made me spring and jump both.
"Where d'ye hail from, me joker? That's what I want to know. An' ye'd
betther look sharp an' till me!"

"Hail from?" I echoed, completely bewildered by this time; for, being
unused to sailor's talk, as I've previously mentioned, I could not make
head or tail of his language, which his strong Irish brogue, equally
strange to me then, made all the more difficult to be understood. I
could see, of course, that he wanted to learn something of me; but what
that something was I was unable to guess, although all the time anxious
to oblige him to the best of my ability. He was so impatient, however,
that he would hardly give me time to speak or inquire what he wanted,
besides which, he frightened me by the way in which he roared out his
unintelligible questions. So, unable to comprehend his meaning, I
remained silent, staring at him helplessly as before.

Strange to say, though, my answer, or rather failure to answer this last
interrogatory of his--for I had only repeated his own words--instead of
further exasperating him as I feared, trembling the while down to my
very boots, appeared