Why, we ain't at sea as you says at all.

We be ounly in the h'offin' hereabouts." This woke up Bob to argument.
"Only the offing, you say, Dick ?" he replied, with some of his old dogmatism as they drifted on and on, the ebb-tide that was bearing them away on its bosom lapping against the sides of the boat with a melancholy sound, though almost deadened by the oppressiveness of the damp sea-fog.

"Do you know how wide the Channel is `hereabouts,' as you say ?" "No, Master Bob," said the other lad humbly.

"I doesn't.

I ain't no scholard, as you knows." "Then, I'll tell you," rejoined Bob triumphantly.