Murray waved me to the ladder as he set foot on the first cleat.
"Up with you, Nephew! Peter, also. The rest go to the Walrus."
Darby snatched at my hand as I rose.
"Whirra, whirra, but there's an ache in my heart to be parted from ye, Master Bob!" he cried. "And if we was to be pirates it do seem we might be together on the same ship!"
He made to follow me, indeed, but Silver pulled him back.
"You stays wi' us, Darby," growled the one-legged man. "Blast ye, lad, you're our good luck. Flint'll douse the ship in rum after one look at ye."
"We'll meet again, Darby," I said. "Never you fear."
He dashed the tears from his eyes.
"Sure, there's never a fear in me heart," he denied. "But I'm all broke up from the parting with ye. God be good to us, and the blessed saints spread their wings over your head! I'm thinking you're like to need it more than me. Yes, yes, John, I'll be settin'; but——"
He was still jabbering in a mixture of grief and joy when I climbed over the bulwarks and dropped beside my great-uncle into the midst of another world.