"Blasted if I see any sense in it," affirmed Bones. "But whatever you says, captain."
"Exactly," said my great-uncle.
And to me he added:
"Oblige yourself, Robert. There is a berth waiting for you, or you may remain on deck and take a lesson in seamanship."
I cast my eye astern at the lights of New York, so low, so scattered, already so far away.
"I'll go below and do what I may for Peter," I decided.
"As you choose," responded my extraordinary relative, and walked aft.
"Stir your stumps, ye lousy swabs," roared Bones to his men. "Hitch on to this here land-whale. —— my lights and gizzard if I ever see such a monstrous heap o' human flesh! We'd oughter take him to the South Seas and sell him to the canneybals. That's all he's good for. Come on, young gentleman, you may be the captain's nevvy or by-blow or whatever 'twas he called ye, but everybody works on this ship. Lend a hand."
I obeyed him in silence, while he and the others cursed and blasphemed with a fluency defying description. What a company! Except in Murray's presence they owned no discipline, accepted no restraint. Palpably they hated as well as feared him, and I found myself wondering how secure a hold he had upon their passions. Let them once cast off the spell of his magnetism and superior wickedness, and they would become so many irresponsible agents of lust and destruction.
I shuddered and was glad of the hooded cabin-lamp as we stowed Peter's limp body into the constricted space of a bunk; gladder still when they tramped away and left me alone with the Dutchman.