This was comfortably furnished and lighted by a swinging lamp.

"Do you come, down Jacques, I shall want you to interpret." The captain was surprised when he saw by the light of the lamp that the person they had rescued was a lad, well dressed, and evidently above the condition of fishermen.
"Now, young sir, who are you," he asked, "and what have you to say for yourself ?" The question was translated by Jacques.
"I like that," the lad said indignantly.

"What have I to say for myself! I think it's what have you to say for yourselves?
We were quietly fishing when you ran over us and sank the boat and drowned my friend Joe, and haven't even stopped for a moment to see if you could pick him up.

I call it shameful and inhuman!" The French captain laughed as Jacques translated the speech, the purport of which he had, indeed, made out for himself, for although he did not speak English he understood it to some extent.
"Tell him it was his fault as much as ours.

We did not see him till we struck him.