Isuspectedthemateofhisopinionofthecaptainlongbeforeheexpressedit。Hewas，Isay，ataciturnman，butonedayspeechbrokethroughhim。Hehadbeensittingatthetablewithhisarmsfoldedonit，musingdrearily，pipeinmouth，andthevoiceofthecaptaindrifteddownfromabove。
Themateliftedhisheavyeyestomeandregardedmeforamoment。Thenhebegantoheavewiththebeginningsofspeech。
Hedisembarrassedhimselfofhispipe。Icoweredwithexpectation。Speechwascomingatlast。Beforehespokehenoddedreassuringlyonceortwice。
“E——“
Hemovedhisheadstrangelyandmysteriously，butachildmighthaveknownhespokeofthecaptain。