“Mr Easy,” replied the lieutenant, “I never quarrel with any one, except (I won’t tell a story) with my wife.”
“I am sorry that you have ever domestic dissensions, Mr Oxbelly.”
“And I only quarrel with her at night, sir. She will take up more than her share of the bed, and won’t allow me to sleep single; but never mind that, sir; now will you please to muster the men?”
“If you please, Mr Oxbelly.”
The men were mustered, and Jack made them a long speech upon subordination, discipline, activity, duty, and so forth.
“A very good speech, Mr Easy,” said Mr Oxbelly, as the men went forward; “I wish my wife had heard it. But, sir, if you please, we’ll now get under way as fast as we can, for there is a Channel cruiser working up at St. Helen’s, and we may give him the go-by by running through the Needles.”
“But what need we care for the Channel cruiser?”
“You forget, sir, that as soon as she drops her anchor she will come on board and take a fancy to at least ten of our men.”
“But they are protected.”
“Yes, sir, but that’s no protection nowadays. I have sailed in a privateer at least three years, and I know that they have no respect for letters of marque or for privateers.”