His brown, lined face was bent again over his task.
Rufus the Red drew near and paused.

"Want anything ?" He spoke from his chest, in a voice like a deep-toned bell.

His arms hung slack at his sides, but the muscles stood out on them like ropes.
The coxswain of the lifeboat gave his head a brief, upward jerk without looking at him.

"That curly-topped chap staying at The Ship," he said, "he came messing round after me this morning, wanted to know would I take him out with the nets one day.

I told him maybe you would." "What did you do that for ?" said Rufus.
The coxswain shot him a brief and humorous glance.