`In course there be flying fish hereabouts; you'll see flocks of 'em presently.' "`And are they very large, Mr Sailor ?' says the old lady.
"`Large, mum ?' repeats the helmsman, looking around as if in search of something to liken the size of the fish to.

`Why, I've seed em as big round as--aye, as the stump of that there mizzen-mast there!' "`My good gracious!' screams the old lady, `Why, they must be larger nor crocodiles!' "`Aye, all that,' says the man, as cool as you please.

`The last voyage I was on, my mate was in the foretop of the vessel I was in, looking out to windward, when pop jumps one of 'em right down his throat!' "`And the fish was as big as the mizzen-mast there ?' says the old lady, curious like, in her surprise at the chap's awful bender; although she didn't misdoubt his telling her the truth, for she would ha' took in anything! "But he was too fly for her, was my joker! "`You mustn't speak to the man at the wheel!' says he, gruffly; and so he got out cleverly from answering any more questions on the point-- smart of him, wasn't it ?" I could not help laughing at this story, the other hands joining in the merriment; all of us, though, wondering how Pat Doolan would take it.
The Irishman, however, did not consider there was anything personal in it.

Other people's pulls at the long-bow always seem much more apparent than one's own! "Ov coorse that chap was takin' a rise out of the ould lady," he said parenthetically; "but what I tould you ov the mule was thrue enough." "What! do you mean to say that you were sailing away from the carcase for three weeks and came across it again ?" I inquired, with a smile.
"Not a doubt ov it," replied the Irishman, stoutly, "and going good siven knots an hour by the log, too, at that! I rec'lect that v'yage o' mine in that schooner well, too, by the same token! It was there I found that Manilla guernsey ov mine so handy ag'in' the could." "A Manilla guernsey ?" said Jorrocks, in much amazement.

"I know what Manilla cables are, and I've heard tell o' Manilla cigars, though I've never smoked 'em; but a Manilla guernsey--why, who ever came across sich an outlandish thing ?" "Be jabers, I have, boatswain," cried Pat Doolan.