“No; and you are going to share it now.”
“Not so sure, Frank. As like as not the skipper will send me away in a boat to watch some hole where the slaver might slip out. So this Yankee is going to act as pilot and lead us up the river to where the schooner is hiding?”
“Yes, and to show us the chief’s town, and the place where he collects the poor unfortunate blacks ready for being shipped away to the Spanish plantations.”
“My word, it’s fine!” cried Roberts excitedly. “And hooroar, as Tom May has it. Why, the lads will be half mad with delight.”
“And enough to make them,” said Murray. “But I say, how does it strike you?”
“As being glorious. Franky, old fellow, if it wasn’t for the look of the thing I could chuck up my cap and break out into a hornpipe. Dance it without music.”
“To the delight of the men, and make Anderson or Munday say that it was not like the conduct of an officer and a gentleman.”
“Yes, that’s the worst of it. But though of course we’re men now—”
“Midshipmen,” said Murray drily.
“Don’t sneer, old chap! And don’t interrupt when I’m talking.”