Dave thought he might as well begin then and there to test the hearing powers of his companion.

Picking up one of the large blowers of the range, he placed himself so that Pink could not see what he was about, and then banged the sheet iron against the cast iron of the great stove.

He kept his eye fixed all the time on the scullion.

The noise was enough for the big midship gun on deck, or even for a small earthquake.
Pink was evidently startled by the prodigious sound, and turned towards the steward, who was satisfied that he had heard it; but the fellow was cunning, and realizing that he had committed himself, he picked up one of his feet, and began to rub it as though he had been hit by the falling blower.

At the same time, he pretended to be very angry, and demonstrated very earnestly against his companion.
Dave felt that he had made a point, and he did not carry his investigation of the auditory capacity of the scullion any farther that night.