Indeed, he had recounted these yarns so many times that he was beginning to regard them as facts.

His statement, ambiguous as it was, passed unchallenged, however; for not one had the daring to inquire whether he referred to the telling or the living of them.

So he believed that he was looked upon as an apostle of truth.
Only the admiral had the temerity to look his captain squarely in the eye and wink.
"Captain, would you mind if I put these tales in a book ?" Fitzgerald put this question with a seriousness which fooled no one but the captain.
"You come up t' the bridge some afternoon, when we've got a smooth sea, and I'll give y' some _real_ ones." The captain's vanity was soothed, but he was not aware that he had put doubt upon his own veracity.
"That's kind of you." "An' say!" went on the captain, drinking his tea, not because he liked it but because it was customary, "I've got a character forwards.

I'm allus shippin' odds and ends.

Got a Frenchman; hands like a lady." Breitmann leaned forward, and M.Ferraud sat up.
"Yessir," continued the captain; "speaks I-talyan an' English.