What did this mean ?...
But the mate, instead of giving any explanation, merely confined himself to answering, each time more obstinately and wrathfully: "No!...

No!" "But why not ?" insisted Ferragut, waxing impatient and in a voice trembling with anger.
Toni, without losing energy in his negatives, was hesitating,--confused, bewildered, scratching his beard, and lowering his eyes in order to reflect better.
He did not know just how to explain himself.

He envied his captain's facility in finding just the right word.

The simplest of his ideas suffered terribly before coming anxiously from his mouth....

But, finally, little by little, between his stutterings, he managed to express his hatred of those monsters of modern industry which were dishonoring the sea with their crimes.
Each time that he had read in the newspapers of their exploits in the North Sea a wave had passed over the conscience of this simple, frank and upright man.