"I have heard much of it already," I agreed dryly.
"Anon you shall hear all," he answered. "Let us get Flint across-table from us in the James' state cabin with a beaker of rum at his elbow. Then you shall hear me talk."
Bones came up to speak to him; and I rejoined Peter, who was glumly watching the unlashing of the small boats and the rigging of the falls by which they were slung overside.
"Now I get more sick again," he grunted.
"Cheer up," I told him. "You shall soon have a more substantial craft beneath you."
And I pointed to the two strange ships which had risen over the horizon line until the towering piles of their bellying sails were clearly visible. Like us, they rather quartered the wind; but they were of far heavier build, and they seemed to crash through seas that we were tossed over. While we watched, their upper works came into view, and I descried a long band of painted gunports on the leader's starboard side.
"She's a thirty-six, no less!" I exclaimed. "Can she be Murray's ship?"
"Whatefer she is, I be sick," rejoined Peter unhappily.
John Silver stumped up to where we leaned upon the larboard bulwarks.
"Sightly, ain't they?" he said. "Nothin' like a fine ship wi' canvas drawin' for a picture, is there?"