I stuck it in, like into soft butter, an' the w'y 'e squealed was better'n a tu-penny gaff." He shot a glance in my direction to see if I was taking it in, and went on.

"'I didn't mean it Tommy,' 'e was snifflin'; 'so 'elp me Gawd, I didn't mean it!' 'I'll fix yer bloody well right,' I sez, an' kept right after 'im.

I cut 'im in ribbons, that's wot I did, an' 'e a-squealin' all the time.

Once 'e got 'is 'and on the knife an' tried to 'old it.
'Ad 'is fingers around it, but I pulled it through, cuttin' to the bone.
O, 'e was a sight, I can tell yer." A call from the mate interrupted the gory narrative, and Harrison went aft.

Mugridge sat down on the raised threshold to the galley and went on with his knife-sharpening.