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"The skipper's goings-on 'ave got nothing to do with me." "Then she can foller him 'ome in the morning," ses the skipper. "Good night, watch-man." Him and the mate 'elped the silly old thing to the ship, and, arter I 'ad been round to the Bear's Head and fetched a pint for the police-man, I locked up and sat down to think things out; and the more I thought the worse they seemed.
Frobisher, too much astonished for words, could only look round, wonderingly, imagining that the pirates were after them again; and as he did so, he perceived the cause of the skipper's alarm. The danger was not behind, but in front. The pirates had proved to be wider awake than either of the Englishmen had anticipated, and had posted a sentry at the eastern gate.
The vessel swings round, the spanker pressing her stern in one direction and the sails at the bows offering very little resistance now their sheets are let go. The skipper's eye is on the mainsail, which is the point of pivoting.
The skipper's steward brought out some wine and glasses, and then at Burnett's request that individual having promptly turned up went away to get ready some warm water. "I think," said our genial medico, turning to me, "you look in most urgent need of my services, so I will begin with you, young gentleman, if you please. Now whereabouts are your hurts?"
"Well done, youngster," cried the man. "You've been at sea before." "Yes, often," I replied, "but where's the doctor?" "I'll show you, sir. Number three's his cabin. Next but two to the skipper's. But your messmate's only got the Channel chump, has he?" "I think he's only sea-sick, but he says it was the meat last night." "Clck!"
Then come back to me; I may want you." "Ay, ay, sir," I answered, touching my hat; and away I went, heading for the second lieutenant's cabin. I met him just coming out, somebody having already passed the word that the Captain wanted him. I delivered the skipper's message, received his assurance that all should be ready, and then returned to the quarter-deck.
As he seized his staunch friend and superior officer by the hair and twisted him over on his back he heard a wild cheer, instantly followed by a cheery shout of "Look out for the line, Bob!" As the sound reached him the rope came flying over him, striking him sharply in the face. He seized it with his teeth; and then heard the skipper's voice say
On the contrary, a keener crew was never shipped, but there was something in their knowledge that the skipper's word was law, that there was no arguing about orders, which must have given a certain polish to their work. Warington, of course, was no petty tyrant, lording it over young brothers, and swaggering in the undisputed character of his sway.
"Don't you belave his blarney, sorr," put in the mate eagerly, bursting into a roar of merriment, although blushing purple with delight the while at the skipper's compliment. "Why, sorr, whin I go to slape sometimes, the divil himself couldn't wake me!" "Ah!" rejoined Captain Dinks, "that may be when you're ashore, Tim, but I know what you are when you're aboard ship and duty calls!
One or two vaulted heavily into upper berths, and, once there, sighed; others dived head first inside lower bunks swift, and turning round instantly upon themselves, like animals going into lairs. The grating of a knife scraping burnt clay was heard. Knowles grinned no more. Davis said, in a tone of ardent conviction: "Then our skipper's looney."
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