“Why, so I am. But which is Titty? Are you Titty?” he said to Susan.
“Of course she isn’t,” said Nancy. “She is the mate of the Swallow , and her name is Susan.”
“How do you do, Mister Mate,” said Captain Flint.
“And this is Captain John of the Swallow .”
“The skipper and I have met already. He’s forgiven me, though I don’t deserve it.”
“This is Able-seaman Titty. Able-seaman Titty, Captain Flint.”
“So it was you who knew the dark secret of my pirate past.”
“I saw the parrot,” said Titty.
“And this is Roger, their ship’s boy.”
“I’ve been a ship’s boy myself,” said Captain Flint. “It’s a hard life.”
“And we are the Amazon pirates.”
“I know you two ruffians well enough,” said Captain Flint.
“Do you really mean a battle on the houseboat tomorrow?” said Titty.
“Tomorrow as ever is,” said Captain Flint.
“We’ll take her,” said the able-seaman. “Have you got a good plank?”
“What for?”
“To walk,” said the able-seaman.
“Everything shall be in order,” said the retired pirate, who, of course, knew just how things should be.