do. I don t call that fair, now, do you?
No, said Dr. Livesey, I don t.
Next, said the captain, I learn we are going after treasure--hear
it from my own hands, mind you. Now, treasure is ticklish work; I don t
like treasure voyages on any account, and I don t like them, above all,
when they are secret and when (begging your pardon, Mr. Trelawney) the
secret has been told to the parrot.
Silver s parrot? asked the squire.
It s a way of speaking, said the captain. Blabbed, I mean. It s my
belief neither of you gentlemen know what you are about, but I ll tell
you my way of it--life or death, and a close run.
That is all clear, and, I dare say, true enough, replied Dr. Livesey.
We take the risk, but we are not so ignorant as you believe us. Next,
you say you don t like the crew. Are they not good seamen?
I don t like them, sir, returned Captain Smollett. And I think I
should have had the choosing of my own hands, if you go to that.
Perhaps you should, replied the doctor. My friend should, perhaps,
have taken you along with him; but the slight, if there be one, was
unintentional. And you don t like Mr. Arrow?
I don t, sir. I believe he s a good seaman, but he s too free with
the crew to be a good officer. A mate should keep himself to
himself--shouldn t drink with the men before the mast!
Do you mean he drinks? cried the squire.
No, sir, replied the captain, only that he s too familiar.
Well, now, and the short and long of it, captain? asked the doctor.
Tell us what you want.
Well, gentlemen, are you determined to go on this cruise?
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