That boast of Black Pawl’s—that his men told him Red Pawl’s whisperings—was in his mind next day when old Flexer, who had sailed twelve years in Black Pawl’s ships, came to him. Flexer had been boat-steerer, and by the same token harpooner, in the boat of the lost third mate whose place had never been filled. He lived with the other harpooners just forward of the cabin. He and his fellows were neither flesh nor fowl—they were not of the crew; they were not of the cabin. Theirs was an intermediate status, and they had privileges. The crew, for example, never came aft of the try-works except upon duties assigned them; but the harpooners were free of the schooner from knight’s-heads to galley, just at the break of deck. There were three of them; one was an islander, and one was of Cape Verde. Flexer, of New England stock, kept himself somewhat aloof from the other two. Also, he had his cronies forward.
He found an opportunity, one day when Red Pawl was below, to speak with the Captain; and he wasted no words in the matter. “Black Pawl,” he said in the tone of an old friend rather than that of an underling, “you’re a bold man; and there’s boldness in me too. I’m minded to tell you a thing that will bring your anger on me.”
Black Pawl looked at the other with narrowed eyes; then he chuckled, and warned the man: “Best look sharp. I’m like to knock you the deck’s length if I’m displeased with you. I’m a harsh man with my fists, Flexer.”
“Aye,” said Flexer gently. “But—not harsh in your heart, sir.”
Black Pawl looked astonished. “You’ve marked that?” he mocked.
Flexer said stubbornly: “You mark this, sir. The mate means harm to you.”
The Captain’s face set for a moment; then he said cheerfully: “So I guessed, in the cabin t’other day, when he tried to crush my in’ards in his arms.”
“Aye, I’ve heard of that,” Flexer said. “But—that was honest fighting, fists and feet. I’m meaning worse.”
For a moment he thought Black Pawl would strike; and he guessed there was liquor in the Captain. But the master of the ship held his hand. “What worse are you meaning, Flexer?” he asked.
“This,” said Flexer: “that if the fools for’ard believed half he whispered to them, there’d be a knife in your back in an hour.”