“And, captain, now,” said he, “how much might yez be getting out of all this for yerself?”
“£500.”
“Begor it’s a mighty lot of money, and little enough too. I wish I’d it meself, an’ more. I’d like a house ashore, an’ a wife, an’ an ass-cart that I might dhrive her out in like a gentleman, besides other things.”
“Oh, stop that. Don’t tell me what a man might do if he’d his pick of the money in this ship. I can figure that out for myself without suggestions from any blasted Irishman. Have been doing in fact.”
“Ah, now, captain dear, don’t be cross wid me, because I was going on to say that in case of trouble—in case there was, we’ll say, a thrifling argument, I’d be on your side. Mr. Onslow, you’re a gentleman, an’ I like ye well, but the captain here’s me officer—an’—well, sor, a boy must look after himself sometimes, ’specially when there’s a chance like this ready to his fingers. ’Twon’t come again in a lifetime.”
“Probably not,” said Onslow. He lay back in his chair with linked fingers behind his head. “Look here, Kettle, if you want to shoot me, pull out your gun and get it over. Then you and Sullivan can run the cargo where you please, and share it how you like. But that’s the only way you’ll make me consent to your taking what’s beyond your due. Shelf trusted me, and, by Jove, I’m going to act fairly by Shelf if he were a ten times bigger thief than I know him to be already. Now then, jump quick; let’s have it over.”
They were in the chart-house. Captain Kettle puckered his head for a minute’s thought, and then, getting up, shut and locked the starboard door. He took that key, and the key also of the other door, which gave upon the head of the companion-way, and handed them both to Onslow.
“Now, sir,” said he, “you lock me and the donkeyman in here, and go and do as you like. But I advise you to take your infernal gold somewhere out of this ship, because as sure as it’s there when I next come out of this room, so sure do I go and loot it. That’s my bunk there, bang above the place where it’s stowed, and I’ve sat on top of those sovereigns like a hen every watch below I’ve had this voyage, and heard ’em chinkle, and wondered what they’d hatch out into. You perhaps, understand what I mean?”
Onslow nodded.
“Then take the synch from me, sir, and cart your boxes away as quick as you can. Poor men like me shouldn’t have big temptations. It isn’t healthy—for their neighbors. No, by James! Here, get out of this, Mr. Onslow, or I shall be doing you a violence yet; and mind you lock the door. Donkey-man, you hound, there’s whisky in that bottom locker. Take the clean glass yourself, and give me the dirty one.”