"No."
"Have we failed in any important venture since our association began?"
"Not yet," admitted Flint sourly.
"Very well. Now I ask you: When I promise a certain accomplishment am I to be relied upon?"
"You ha' a head on your shoulders," conceded Flint.
"And you have not," amended Murray. "No, do not say any more. You are an excellent man to handle your ship, Flint, and as fearless as any of our ruffians; but you are no more capable of looking ahead a week or two than Ben Gunn."
"I take much from ye, Murray," snarled Flint, half-rising; "but think not ye can humble me before——"
"Sit down," ordered Murray. "You'll take what you deserve, which in this instance is a plain statement that you would ha' made a fool of yourself by chasing the Philadelphia packet. I doubt if you could have taken her, for your bottom is foul; but if you had, her loss must have aroused comment, and with New York already apprised that we are in these seas we should ha' had every frigate on the North American and West Indian stations a-hunting us. And what then?"
"We could lie up safe enough at the Rendeyvoo."
"Spyglass Island? I dare say—although some day 'twill be blundered upon, if not discovered. But I ask you to recall that we take no prizes when we hole up. 'Tis a losing game."