Flint growled in his throat, then mastered his temper by a substantial effort.
"We'll appoint the usual committee o' six to check over with your men, Murray," he rasped. "I'll send my boats to shift our portion."
And he turned on his heel. John Silver pulled his forelock and nodded to all of us.
"Thank 'ee kindly, Cap'n Murray. My duty, sirs. And the young lady. Mighty nice to ha' a sweet, pretty face in the cabin, ain't it? Well, gentlemen, there's no excuse now for any o' us if we don't go home and make them happy as we left for the sea."
"Not the slightest," agreed my great-uncle. "I take it you are returning to your dear old mother, Silver—or is it your fondly waiting wife?"
Silver grinned.
"'Tain't neither, sir. But there's a sightly gal in St. Pierre in Martinico as I could set up shop with. A bit o' color in her, but then——"
He swept his arm in a liberal gesture as he stumped off to the ladder and hopped lightly down to the maindeck after his commander.