Him a seaman! If anything ever happens to me, and Joe Wylie is set to navigate this ship, then you may say your prayers.

He isn't fit to sail a wash-tub across a duck-pond.

But I'll tell you what it is," added this worthy, with more pomposity than neatness of articulation, "here's a respeckable passenger brought me a report; do my duty to m' employers, and--take a look at the well." He accordingly chalked a plumb-line, and went and sounded the well.
There were eight inches of water.

Hudson told him that was no more than all ships contained from various causes: "In fact," said he, "our pumps suck, and will not draw, at eight inches." Then suddenly grasping Mr.
Hazel's hand, he said, in tearful accents, "Don't you trouble your head about Joe Wylie, or any such scum.

I'm skipper of the _Proserpine,_ and a man that does his duty to 'z employers.