"Let us lay the table," said Jack, arranging the coils of rope that
crowded the deck. "Well, you see, Willis, we want for nothing on board
the pinnace, not even a what-do-you-call-it?"
"A caboose, Master Jack."
"Well, not even a caboose."
"Quite true; and if the _Nelson_ were in the offing, I would not
exchange my pilot's badge for the epaulettes of a commodore; but,
alas! she is not there."
"Cheer up, Willis, cheer up; one is either a man or one is not. What
is the good of useless regrets?"
"Very little, but it is hard to be yard-armed while absent at my time
of life--and afterwards--your health, Mr. Becker."
"That would be hard at any age, Willis; but I rather think it has not
come to that yet."
"When it has come to it, there will be very little time left to talk
it over."
"Did you not say, brother, that the _Nelson_ might hear our signals
without our hearing hers? If so, there is a chance for Willis yet."
"Certainly, Jack, because she has the wind in her favor to act as a
speaking-trumpet, whilst we had it against us acting as a deafener."
"Is there any other influence that affects sound besides the wind?"
"Yes, I have already mentioned that temperature has something to do
with it. Sound varies in intensity according to the state of the
atmosphere. If, for example, we ring a small bell in a closed vessel
filled with air, it has been observed that, as the air is withdrawn by
the pump, the sound gradually grows less and less distinct.
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