Aye thankee,

Blaggut lounged on the bank, proudly watching his two new boats on their maiden voyages. After a while, Slipp came shuffling wearily along and slumped down beside his former boatswain. "Enjoyin* yerself are yer, 'avin' a good time?" he asked. "Aye thankee, Cap'n. See the boats I made fer my Dibbuns!" Slipp cast a weary eye over the two sleek little craft. "So that's 'ow you been fritterin' the day away. I mighta known, you great lazy loaf ead!" Blaggut had not expected Slipp to make any nice comments on his achievements. "Buildin" boats ain't fritterin' time away, Cap'n. Wot 'ave you been up to all day?" Slipp waved airily as if it were no big thing. "Oh, they made me 'ead cook, I'm in charge of all the kitchens. Did yer taste my skilly an* duff at brekkfist?" "Aye, Cap'n. It was 'orrible. Yew make a better Cap'n than a cook. The bread was nice, though. Did y'make that?" Slipp was no stranger to fibbing. "Baked the bread meself," he lied glibly. "It was those Abbey mice who 274 BRIAN JACQUES made the skilly an' duff; they ignored me instructions." Blaggut leaned close to SHpp's ear and whispered, "Cap'n, we don't 'ave to go 'untin' fer booty tonight, so don't you worry about that black shadder we saw." SHpp felt the hairs on his nape rise with fear. "Shurrup, y'fool. Shut yer mouth! I tol* you never to mention that black shadow again long as you live. It didn't 'appen, d'ye hear me? There's no such thing as black shadows. Any'ow, why don't we 'ave to go lookin' fer booty tonight?" Blaggut told his Captain all, from the boatbuilding to the oath he had taken with the Dibbuns. He smiled slyly at Slipp and winked. Slipp cuffed him roughly on the nose. "Y'mean to tell me that those two Dibthings know where there's secret treasure 'idden, an' yore sittin' 'ere like a loungin' lobster watchin' em sail round a pond?" "Bargain's a bargain, Cap'n," said Blaggut, rubbing his nose tenderly. "They gotta try out their new boats. Besides, I got to stay 'ere an' keep an eye on the liddle rascals in case one falls in." Tarquin L. Woodsorrel came strolling up and wagged an ear at Slipp curtly. "C'mon, Slippy ol' rat, back to work, wot? Lots of sticky pots t' be washed; they've been making honey pudden an' maple toffee apples. Sticks the pots 'n' pans up frightfully, y'know. Mellus sent me, said if y'don't come she'll be down here an' fetch you herself. Y'don't want that, wot?"