"How do I know?" snarled Allardyce.
"'How does he know?' says he," Flint echoed gravely. "Tell ye what, Bill, you just stand off and on like I said, and when we're ready to come aboard we'll row out o' the Anchorage. That's simple enough, ain't it? No chance for misunderstandin' or aught goin' wrong."
Peter and I ducked into our stateroom as the two came aft. They went into Bones' room, which was next to Moira's, and for some time we could hear them talking in low tones. When they came out Flint was saying:
"Mind, Bill, an easy rein, but give 'em no slack. And leave the wench alone. 'Twould only make endless trouble wi' the crew."
Bones replied with a blistering string of curses.
"And ye were a fool," he wound up, "to let Long John make odds o' six to one. Why, even Murray——"
"Stow that!"
I could feel an edge of temper to Flint's voice.
"I'm sick o' hearing you prate Murray this and Murray that. I'll show this crew that Flint's way is as sure as Murray's."
"It's plum duff to Silver if aught happens to ye," remonstrated the mate.