long are we a-going to stand off and on like a blessed bumboat? I ve had
a most enough o Cap n Smollett; he s hazed me long enough, by thunder!
I want to go into that cabin, I do. I want their pickles and wines, and
that.
Israel, said Silver, your head ain t much account, nor ever was. But
you re able to hear, I reckon; leastways, your ears is big enough.
Now, here s what I say: you ll berth forward, and you ll live hard, and
you ll speak soft, and you ll keep sober till I give the word; and you
may lay to that, my son.
Well, I don t say no, do I? growled the coxswain. What I say is,
when? That s what I say.
When! By the powers! cried Silver. Well now, if you want to know,
I ll tell you when. The last moment I can manage, and that s when.
Here s a first-rate seaman, Cap n Smollett, sails the blessed ship for
us. Here s this squire and doctor with a map and such--I don t know
where it is, do I? No more do you, says you. Well then, I mean this
squire and doctor shall find the stuff, and help us to get it aboard,
by the powers. Then we ll see. If I was sure of you all, sons of double
Dutchmen, I d have Cap n Smollett navigate us half-way back again before
I struck.
Why, we re all seamen aboard here, I should think, said the lad Dick.
We re all forecastle hands, you mean, snapped Silver. We can steer
a course, but who s to set one? That s what all you gentlemen split on,
first and last. If I had my way, I d have Cap n Smollett work us back
into the trades at least; then we d have no blessed miscalculations and
a spoonful of water a day. But I know the sort you are. I ll finish with
em at the island, as soon s the blunt s on board, and a pity it is. But
you re never happy till you re drunk. Split my sides, I ve a sick heart
to sail with the likes of you!
Easy all, Long John, cried Israel. Who s a-crossin of you?
Why, how many tall ships, think ye, now, have I seen laid aboard? And
how many brisk lads drying in the sun at Execution Dock? cried Silver.
And all for this same hurry and hurry and hurry. You hear me? I seen
61