"The island absolutely swarms with rats; some of the larger varieties are rather dangerous." "Sufferin' Moses!" groaned Watts.

"It'll be the death o' me." "Wot color are they ?" asked Coke.

De Sylva's reply was given in a tone of surprise.

Certainly these hardy mariners had selected an unusual topic for discussion at a critical moment.
"The common dark gray," he said.
"That's all right, then," sneered Coke.

"Watts don't mind 'em gray.
They're old messmates of his.