The negro captain looked at me for a time, as if considering, and at last said to the men, “Overboard with him.”
“Good-bye, sir, you’re very kind,” said I; “but this is a capital spy-glass, and I leave it to you as a legacy.” And I went up to him and offered him my spy-glass. Merciful Heaven! bow my heart beat against my ribs when I did this!
The negro captain took the glass, and looked through it.
“It is a good glass,” said he, as he removed it from his eyes. It was poor Green’s spy-glass, which he had given me for showing him the mason’s signs.
“Well, white boy, I accept your present; and now, good bye.”
“Good-bye, sir. Do me one kindness in return,” said I, very gravely, for I felt my hour was come.
“And what is that?” replied the negro.
“Tie a shot to my heels, that I may sink quickly; it won’t take them long.”
“You don’t ask me to spare your life, then?” replied the negro.
“He de very first white dat not ask it,” said one of the negroes.