words, you fear a mutiny.
Sir, said Captain Smollett, with no intention to take offence, I
deny your right to put words into my mouth. No captain, sir, would be
justified in going to sea at all if he had ground enough to say that. As
for Mr. Arrow, I believe him thoroughly honest; some of the men are the
same; all may be for what I know. But I am responsible for the ship s
safety and the life of every man Jack aboard of her. I see things going,
as I think, not quite right. And I ask you to take certain precautions
or let me resign my berth. And that s all.
Captain Smollett, began the doctor with a smile, did ever you hear
the fable of the mountain and the mouse? You ll excuse me, I dare say,
but you remind me of that fable. When you came in here, I ll stake my
wig, you meant more than this.
Doctor, said the captain, you are smart. When I came in here I meant
to get discharged. I had no thought that Mr. Trelawney would hear a
word.
No more I would, cried the squire. Had Livesey not been here I should
have seen you to the deuce. As it is, I have heard you. I will do as you
desire, but I think the worse of you.
That s as you please, sir, said the captain. You ll find I do my
duty.
And with that he took his leave.
Trelawney, said the doctor, contrary to all my notions, I believed
you have managed to get two honest men on board with you--that man and
John Silver.
Silver, if you like, cried the squire; but as for that intolerable
humbug, I declare I think his conduct unmanly, unsailorly, and downright
un-English.
Well, says the doctor, we shall see.
When we came on deck, the men had begun already to take out the arms and
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