Once, I was a gentleman!" "And how--" began Fritz, when the other interrupted him brusquely.
"Put it all down to the cussed drink, mister, and you won't be far out," said he, laughing mockingly, so as to disguise what he really felt by the avowal; "but," he added, to turn the conversation, "you speak very good English for a German, which I ken see you are." "I was educated partly in England," said Fritz.
"Ah, that accounts for it.

Been long in this country ?" "About six weeks," replied Fritz.
"Travelling for pleasure, or looking about you ?" was the next query from the deck hand, whom Fritz thought strangely inquisitive for an utter stranger.

Still, the man did not mean any harm; it was only the custom of the country, as all new-comers speedily find out.
"I'm looking about for work," he answered rather curtly.

"I wish you would get me some." Fritz thought this would have silenced his interlocutor; but, instead of that, the deck hand proceeded with a fresh string of questions.
"What can you do ?" he asked amiably, his smile robbing the words of any impertinence.

"You don't look like one who has roughed it much." "No ?" said Fritz, somewhat amused.