"
"Why, I will be civil; you are a curious chap, a brave slip, to carry it
so, with no friend near; so, civil I will be."
He unlocked the companion hatch and came down to the cabin, doubling his
long limbs up like foot--rules, to suit the low roof.
"Free and easy, my man," continued the Captain, as he entered. "Well, I
forgive you--we are quits now--and if we were not beyond the Island Craft,
I would put you ashore, but I can't stand back now." "Why, may I ask?"
"Simply, because one of your men--of--war schooners an't more than hull
down astarn of me at this moment; she is working up in shore, and has not
chased me as yet; indeed she may save herself the trouble, for ne'er a
schooner in your blasted service has any chance with the tidy little Wave."
I was by no means so sure of this.
"Well Master Obediah, it may turn up as you say, and in a light wind, I
know you will either sail or sweep away from any one of them; but, to be on
the square with you, if it comes on to blow, that same hooker, which I take
to be his Britannic Majesty's schooner Gleam, will, from his greater beam,
and superior length, out carry and forereach on you, ay, and weather on you
too, hand over hand; so this is my compact--if he nails you, you will
require a friend at court, and I will stand that friend; if you escape--and
I will not interfere either by advice or otherwise, either to get you taken
or to get you clear will you promise to put me on board of the first
English merchant vessel we fall in with, or, at the longest, to land me at
St Jago de Cuba, and I will promise you, on my honour, notwithstanding all
that has been said or done, that I will never hereafter inform against you,
or in any way get you into trouble if I can help it.
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