The 'Lavinia's' lost with all on board, except the chap we've just
picked up."
"What happened her?" asked the man laconically.
"He says she ran into an iceberg in clear day, bust up, and sank with
all hands, inside of a minute."
"Rot!" replied the practical sailor. "The 'Laviny' had collision
bulkheads, and couldn't have sunk in no sich time, ef she could at all.
'Sides Cap'n Phinney ain't no man to run down a berg in clear day, nor
yet in the night, nor no other time. He's been on this coast and the
Labrador run too long fur any sich foolishness. No, son, ef the
'Laviny's' lost, which mind, I don't say she ain't, she's lost some
other way 'sides that, an' you can tell your friend so with my
compliments."
Cabot did not overhear these remarks, and wondered at the queer look on
the young skipper's face when he reentered the cabin, as he did at the
silence with which the latter resumed his preparations for supper. At
the same time he was still too weak, and, in spite of his biscuit, too
ravenously hungry to care for further conversation just then. So it
was only after a most satisfactory meal and several cups of very hot
tea that he was ready in his turn to ask questions. But he was not
given the chance; for, as soon as White Baldwin was through with
eating, he went on dock to relieve the tiller, and the other member of
the crew, whose name was David Gidge, came below.
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