Rodrigues frowned on him to be still, and turning to me, says, calmly—
"What do you mean by that, Pengilly?"
"I mean this: our captain shall not be murdered," says I.
"And how can you prevent it, pray?" asks Parsons.
"There'll be plenty of time to warn him before you can silence me, Parsons."
"Didn't he swear secrecy by the cross, Rodrigues?"
"Yes, I did," says I; "but I'll break my oath rather than have murder on my conscience!"
"Conscience! How long have you been troubled with that commodity?" asks he.
"Fool! you be still," cries Rodrigues, stamping his foot. "Haven't you sense enough to see that Pengilly's warning saves us from the very thing that I have dreaded all through? I know the mischief of having discontented men in a crew."
"Settle it how you will," says Parsons with an oath, getting up and turning his back on us. "Curse this dodging backwards and forwards, say I!"