A line of tattered flags, with no wind to stir them, led down from the truck of either mast, and as we drew near I called Mr.
Jope's attention to an immense bunch of foxgloves and pink valerian on her bowsprit end.
"Looks like a wedding, don't it ?" said he; and turning up his clean white trousers he strolled down to the water's edge for a closer look.

"Scandalous," he added, examining her timbers.
"What's scandalous ?" He pointed with his finger.

"Rotten as touch"; and he pensively drew out an enormous clasp-knife.

"A man ought to be fined for treating human life so careless.

See here!" He drove the knife at a selected spot, and the blade sank in to the hilt.
From the interior, prompt on the stroke, arose a faint scream..