"If you are bent upon going, O'Connor, and I know how useless it is to try to swerve you, why not take my boat. It is manned and lying at the ladder."
"That is better, Morgan. I will send it back to you. Come on, you lazy rascal, with that coat."
He seized his coat and rifle, and ran down the stairway to the companionway, and along the deck to the point where Morgan's boat lazily floated on the black water.
"Take your orders from Captain Dynamite," called Morgan to his men as O'Connor slid down into the boat. The negro who had followed close at his heels peered over the side and whispered pleadingly:
"Cap'n Dynamite, sah, you'se not going without George Wash Jenks?"
"To the shore, lads, and pull for your lives," said O'Connor. The boat shot away from the steamer's side and was soon lost in the dark shadow of the shore.
Washington shook his head deprecatingly, and returned to the quarter-deck, where he gravely saluted the mate.
"Your servant, sah," he said. "Cap'n Dynamite he say you in command."
"Bring a lantern, Washington, quick," said Suarez. Then turning to Morgan, he continued:
"What do you suppose the bad news can be that has so affected the chief and which he says concerns only him?"