ck." And he turned his quid and spat.
"But, look here," he went on, "here's what I want to know, Barbecue: how
long are we a-going to stand off and on like a blessed bum-boat? 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 foc's'le 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 a
thing or two at sea, I have. If you would on'y lay your course, and a
p'int to windward, you would ride in carriages, you would. But not you! I
know you. You'll have your mouthful of rum to-morrow, and go hang."

"Everybody know'd you was a kind of a chapl