"I have a presentiment," said Jack; "and you will see that we have been playing at hide-and-seek with the Nelson."
Willis shook his head.
"Are there not a thousand accidents to cause a ship to deviate from her route?"
"Yes, Master Ernest, there are typhoons, and the waterspouts of which I spoke to you before. In such cases, ships often deviate from their route, but generally by going to the bottom."
Willis concluded this sentence with a gesture that defies description, implying annihilation.
"Remember Admiral Socrates, Willis," said Jack; "what I know best is, that I know nothing, and avow that God has other means of accomplishing his decrees besides typhoons and waterspouts."
"My excellent young friends, I know you want to inspire me with hope, as they give a toy to a child to keep it from crying, and I thank you for your good intentions. Now, for three days you have, so to speak, had no rest, and I insist on your profiting by this night to take some repose; and you also, Mr. Becker; I am quite able to manage the pinnace alone."
"Yes providing you do not play us some trick, like that of this morning, for instance."
"All stratagems are justifiable in war. Master Ernest had fair warning that I had an idea to work out. Besides, a prisoner, when under hatches, has the right to escape if he can: under parole, the case is quite different."
"Well, Willis, if you give me your simple promise to steer straight for New Switzerland, and awake me in two hours to take the bearings—"