Duke: Askin' yer pardon, Captain, bein' as it was me as smelled him out, won 't yer let me slit his wizen? I does it pretty, without mussin' up the cabin. I ain 't askin' favors often, Captain. And I 've 'ticerler reasons—reasons as touches me heart. (For a moment he is almost sentimental.) Reasons as touches me heart! Red Joe 's been snoopin'.
Captain: I loves yer, Duke. There ain 't much as I won 't let yer have. And jest ter show yer that I 'm all cut up by this here snoopin', when I 'm dead I 'll will yer this ol' hook o' mine, as has scraped a hundred men.
Duke: Yer honors me, Captain. And if I is shoveled in first, me stump is yourn.
Captain: It 's handsome of yer, Duke. And I 'll not be jolly till a year is up—jest like a widder.
Duke: Yer touches me. I 'll tie a black ribbon on yer hook.
(At this pathetic moment Darlin' is heard singing in the kitchen.)
|
And I fills the cups till mornin' comes, And the Duke, he talks like a loon. Me Darlin', me life, will yer be me wife, And elope by the light o' the moon? |
(There is a stamping of boots outside. The pirates put their fingers on their lips. They are innocence itself. The Duke scratches the head of the parrot. The strange bird declines to taste his grog. Patch-Eye shuffles the cards. The Captain hooks the mugs toward him one by one for the last drops of their precious liquor. Red Joe enters. Also, Darlin' from the kitchen.)
Joe: Hello, mates! Evening, Captain! Are n't you cozy! As peaceful as old ladies with their darning. I 've just come from seeing Petey, up at the lighthouse. Petey says that along in about fifteen minutes the Royal Harry will be showing around the cliff. Is n't it time, Captain, to set up the lantern where 's she 's useful?
Duke: Is n't it? Did yer hear that, Captain? Ain 't it, is what Red Joe means.