"The ingine and the propeller, ye lubber," replied the latter. "Did 'e
think it was wings?"

"But what is a propeller?"

"Ah! The ign'erance of land folks! It do beat all. The
propeller--why the propeller is a propeller, of course. What else did
'e think it were."

"I know, but----"

"Now look here, youngster. Watching is one thing and always wanting to
know is another. Stow your gaff, as I said afore, and use your
peepers."

After this rebuff Ralph asked no more questions of his superior, but he
faithfully obeyed the injunction as to "keeping a bright lookout."




CHAPTER XI.

Aboard the Curlew.

They steamed along between low marshy banks for an hour or two, then
the river began to widen into an irregularly shaped bay. Sundry low
lying islands, covered with strange semi-tropic vegetation, rose up
seaward, and by and by a sound as of muffled thunder could be heard.