He could not speak.
"If you sing us a song we may give you another hour," said the Bo's'n from the ground. Simons and he had been whispering together. Bill shook his head at them.
"That rests with me," said he to Engelhardt. "Don't you make any mistake."
"Another hour!" cried the young man, bitterly, as he found his voice. "What's another hour? If you're men at all, put an end to me now and be done with it."
"How's that?" said Bill, hauling him upon tip-toe. "No, no, sonny, we want our song first," he added, as he let the rope fall slack again.
"Sing up, and there's no saying what'll happen," cried the Bo's'n, cheerily.
"What shall I sing?"
"Anything you like."
"Something funny to cheer us up."