“Well, what I means to say, is this ’ere, Captain Jack. If things in our line don’t get a little brisker than they has been o’ late, why, I shall leave the Dozen and start on my own individual account.”
“Leave the Dozen, Bates?”
“Aye, why not?”
“But you can’t.”
“Aye, but I will, I tell yer, and you nor none on ’em can stop me. What’s the good o’ having a captain at the head on us who don’t do something in the way o’ trade? Why, since that affair of old Bertram’s murder, we’ve had nothing at all to do, and you must recollect, captain, that a man of my mettle can’t stand that sort o’ game any longer. Give me plenty o’ money and little work; that’s my style.”
“Well, I’m listening,” said Captain Jack, laughing; “go on, I’m all attention.”
“You may laugh as much as you’ve a mind to,” said old Bates, in an angry tone; “but that don’t suit me; I want money, and money I’ll have, by fair means or foul.”
“Well, then, get it; it’s none o’ my business,” said Captain Jack, in a surly tone; “I’m just as short as any one.”
“And how comes it we are all so hard up, then?”
“I don’t know; business is dull. I suppose that’s it.”