The brutal face of Bones showed above the bulwarks.
"He's a pris'ner," jeered Bones. "Only he ain't; d'ye see, Flint? Into New York Murray went to crimp him, and now, by —— —— —— he gives him shore-leave!"
"Come aboard here, my hearty," Flint hailed me.
"We are going ashore," I answered; "and I have reason to hasten."
Flint scowled.
"Well, ye'll come soon enough. And when I get ye I'll learn ye a thing or two! There's too much politics and favoritism aboard the James to suit me, and ye can tell your great-uncle or granddaddy or whatever he may be, blast him for a —— —— —— —— ——, that John Flint says so!"
Darby bobbed up on the poop beside him very much out of breath.
"Och, will ye let me go along o' Master Bob, captain?" he cried. "Do now, avick! Sure, I hain't seen him this long three-month gone."
"That I'll not," snarled Flint, turning his back to us. "Isn't this ship good enough for ye, Darby? Ain't you our luck? Will I let you go and ruin it by rounding up wi' Murray's by-blow?"
"Troth, he's no more'n the old master's son that I worrked for in New York, captain darlin', and him that good to me always I had a main likin' for him, indeed and indeed I did! And I'm fair crazy to be ashore afther the weeks and months we'll ha'——"