Story 1--Chapter IV.
The Diver at Home.
The next morning Rasp was sent off to act as superintendent, for Mr Parkley decided that Dutch must stay and help him in his plans for carrying out the Cuban’s wishes, if he took the affair up, and previously to discuss the matter.
Dutch announced to Rasp then that he would have to set off at once.
“It’s always the way,” grumbled the old fellow. “Board that schooner, too. Yah!”
“Never mind, Rasp; you like work. You’ll be like the busy bee, improving each shining hour,” said Dutch, smiling.
“Yes; and my helmets, and tubes, and pumps getting not fit to be seen, and made hat-pegs of. Busy bee, indeed! I’m tired of improving the shining hours. I’ve been all my life a-polishing of ’em up for some one else.”
He set off growling, and vowing vengeance on the men if they did not work; and Dutch returned to find Mr Parkley with a map of the West Indies spread upon the desk.
“Look here,” he said, “here’s the place,” and he pointed to the Caribbean Sea.