Both were paddling with might and main; the old man, once in a while, tearing his paddle out of the water; and, after rapping his companion over the head, both fell to with fresh vigour.
As they came within hail, the old fellow, springing to his feet and flourishing his paddle, cut some of the queerest capers; all the while jabbering something which at first we could not understand.
Presently we made out the following:--"Ah! you pemi, ah!--you come!--What for you come ?--You be fine for come no pilot .-- I say, you hear ?--I say, you ita maitui (no good) .-- You hear ?--You no pilot .-- Yes, you d---- me, you no pilot 't all; I d---- you; you hear ?" This tirade, which showed plainly that, whatever the profane old rascal was at, he was in right good earnest, produced peals of laughter from the ship.

Upon which, he seemed to get beside himself; and the boy, who, with suspended paddle, was staring about him, received a sound box over the head, which set him to work in a twinkling, and brought the canoe quite near.

The orator now opening afresh, it turned out that his vehement rhetoric was all addressed to the mate, still standing conspicuously on the bulwarks.
But Jermin was in no humour for nonsense; so, with a sailor's blessing, he ordered him off.

The old fellow then flew into a regular frenzy, cursing and swearing worse than any civilized being I ever heard.
"You sabbee me ?" he shouted.

"You know me, ah?
Well; me Jim, me pilot--been pilot now long time." "Ay," cried Jermin, quite surprised, as indeed we all were, "you are the pilot, then, you old pagan.