I thought sailors invariably smoked rank, black stuff which they call thick twist." "I am a beginner, as a sailor.

After a few more years before the mast I may hope to reach perfection." Their eyes exchanged a quaintly pleasant challenge.

Thus the man--"She is determined to learn something of my past, but she will not succeed." And the woman--"The wretch! He is close as an oyster.

But I will make him open his mouth, see if I don't." She reverted to the piece of tin.

"It looks quite mysterious, like the things you read of in stories of pirates and buried treasure." "Yes," he admitted.