‘Why, thou booby, thine own words condemn thee; who spoke of foul play but yourself? I only asked you for the dice, and you straightway think you are accused of cheating.’
At this Bell looked sheepish enough, but presently recovering himself, began to bully and curse, swearing that he was a gentleman and a man of honour, and requesting to know by what right his dice had been taken from him.
‘Come here, Simon Radley,’ says Captain Jem, and Simon stood forth, shaking his clenched fist at Bell.
‘Have you not lost every farthing you possessed, as well as your clothes and your chances for the cruise, to this man?’ says the boatswain.
Simon replied that it was so, and was entering into particulars, when Bell burst out with a great affectation of scorn and indignation—
‘A pretty fellow,’ quoth he, ‘to game with a gentleman, and then, when fortune is adverse, to go and prate of your losses, and charge your adversary with foul play! Go to, man! had I lost, I never would have accused you of cheating. But you throw no dice with me again.’
‘No, that you may depend upon,’ answered Radley.
‘Stay,’ cried Captain Jem, ‘we are going but rashly to work. Let all the men here who have diced with George Bell hold up their hands.’
Thereupon, more than two-thirds of the crew made the sign.
‘Good,’ replied the captain; ‘now, let those who have lost money, or aught else to him, hold up their hands.’