Point her for the bar.' I sailed away as serenely as a summer's morning Mr.Bixby came in and said, with mock simplicity-- 'When you have a hail, my boy, you ought to tap the big bell three times before you land, so that the engineers can get ready.' I blushed under the sarcasm, and said I hadn't had any hail.
'Ah! Then it was for wood, I suppose.

The officer of the watch will tell you when he wants to wood up.' I went on consuming and said I wasn't after wood.
'Indeed?
Why, what could you want over here in the bend, then?
Did you ever know of a boat following a bend up-stream at this stage of the river ?' 'No sir,--and I wasn't trying to follow it.

I was getting away from a bluff reef.' 'No, it wasn't a bluff reef; there isn't one within three miles of where you were.' 'But I saw it.

It was as bluff as that one yonder.' 'Just about.

Run over it!' 'Do you give it as an order ?' 'Yes.