Whet, whet, whet,--Humphrey Van Weyden sharpening his knife in a ship's galley and trying its edge with his thumb! Of all situations this was the most inconceivable.

I know that my own kind could not have believed it possible.

I had not been called "Sissy" Van Weyden all my days without reason, and that "Sissy" Van Weyden should be capable of doing this thing was a revelation to Humphrey Van Weyden, who knew not whether to be exultant or ashamed.
But nothing happened.

At the end of two hours Thomas Mugridge put away knife and stone and held out his hand.
"Wot's the good of mykin' a 'oly show of ourselves for them mugs ?" he demanded.

"They don't love us, an' bloody well glad they'd be a-seein' us cuttin' our throats.