"Well, sir, that would be unpleasant for the time, but look at the good it would do!  The British consul would send off to the _Teaser_, the skipper would land a lot on us--Jacks and jollies; we should give these warmint a good sharp dressing-down; and they'd know as we wouldn't stand any of their nonsense, and leave off chucking stones and mud at us. Now, what had we done that we couldn't be 'lowed to lie alongside o' the wharf yonder?  We didn't say nothing to them.  Fact is, sir, they hates the British, and thinks they're a sooperior kind o' people altogether. Do you hear, mates?--sooperior kind o' people; and there ain't one as could use a knife and fork like a Chrishtian."