When we got to the
steamer, the captain leaned over the side and shouted--
"Where are the mattresses?"
"What mattresses?" said the harbour-master.
"When are you going to start?" demanded we, clambering on board.
"When I get the mattresses," said the captain.
"But what mattresses?" replied the harbour-master.
"I was sent to get mattresses," said the captain, "and here I wait till
they come."
This was a nuisance, nobody had said anything about the mattresses.
"I shan't go till to-morrow anyhow," said the skipper.
"I think we'd all better go back to Podgoritza and come again
to-morrow," said the man in charge.
"We don't move from here," said Jo, firmly. "If he won't go we'll sit on
this boat--which was sent for us--and sing songs all night so that he
shan't sleep."
The captain refused to move without the mattresses and we refused to go
back, so a violent argument ensued. We remained adamant. At last in
despair the harbour master said that he would go and telephone.
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