“Hurrah!� cried out one old seaman suddenly, and the cabin on the instant was filled with wild cries, bestial, brutal shouts.
As the sound partially died away, I heard the door back of me open. Now I had purposely so placed myself as to be between the crowd and the door. The door was opened but a little way. I was conscious that my lady was at last awake and listening.
“You’re the only navigator among us, Mr. Hampdon,� began Pimball, smoothly enough, after the men got measurably quiet again, “an if you’re really with us, you shall sail the ship there to that island. We’ll git the treasure aboard, sail away an’ sink her on the South American coast, an’ then every man for himself with all he can carry.�
“Am I to be captain?� I asked.
“There’ll be no cap’n, every man for hisself, I say, but me an’ my mate, Glibby, will take the watches in turn. You’ll navigate the ship an’ whatever is necessary for our safety we’ll do at your order. Is it understood?� he went on with a manner that was meant to be ingratiating.
“Yes,� answered I promptly, “but under one condition.�
“We makes no conditions but what pleases us,� said Pimball darkly. “We’re masters of the ship, remember, an’ this is our last word.�
“It is not mine,� said I resolutely, yet without heat, for I had yet the hardest part of the bargain to drive and I must command myself if I were to command them.
“Well, it’s got to be,� continued Pimball with vicious menace, starting toward me with the marlinspike he carried upraised, while others drew their sheath knives evidently prepared to back up their leader.
“Now, my friends,� said I, coolly, “we might just as well understand each other. You can kill me if you want to, it would be easy enough, but when you have killed me you have killed your last chance at the treasure. You don’t know what latitude or longitude we are in now, there is not one of you that knows enough to take a sight or to sail the ship to the island. You are completely helpless without me. My life means the difference between treasure and no treasure to you. You are all smart enough to see that.�