If I catch cold, the company will make it hot for you--and no error." A roar of laughter from below saluted this sally, for the Duke and Sturleson had met, and had watched together the progress of the joke.
"I will take the risk," replied Claudius, who had retired again to the crosstrees.

"I am going to put it on the topmast-head, so that you may have a good look at it." "You can't do it," said Barker, turning himself round, and lying flat against the ratlines, so that he could look up at his friend.
"What's that ?" bawled the Duke from below.
"Says he will decorate the maintruck with my hat, and I say he can't do it," Barker shouted back.
"I'll back Claudius, level money," answered the Duke in stentorian tones.
"I'll take three to two," said Barker.
"No, I won't.

Level money." "Done for a hundred, then," answered the American.
It was an unlikely thing to bet on, and Barker thought he might have given the Duke odds, instead of asking them, as he had done.

But he liked to get all he could in a fair way.

Having arranged his bet, he told Claudius he might climb to the mast-head if he liked, but that he, Barker, was going down so as to have a better view; and he forthwith descended.