His allusion to the humming of the tune of the mice gave Temple a fit of remorse, and he apologized.
'Ay,' said the captain, 'it is so; own it: frivolity's the fruit of that training that's all for the flesh.

But dip you into some o' my books on my shelves here, and learn to see living man half skeleton, like life and shadow, and never to living man need you pray forgiveness, my lad.' By sheer force of character he gained the command of our respect.

Though we agreed on deck that he had bungled his story, it impressed us; we felt less able to cope with him, and less willing to encounter a storm.
'We shall have one, of course,' Temple said, affecting resignation, with a glance aloft.
I was superstitiously of the same opinion, and praised the vessel.
'Oh, Priscilla's the very name of a ship that founders with all hands and sends a bottle on shore,' said Temple.
'There isn't a bottle on board,' said I; and this piece of nonsense helped us to sleep off our gloom..