“More do I, sir. Let’s hear what it is.”
Ned told him of what had passed on deck concerning the stay at the island.
“Glad of it, Mr Jack,” said Ned excitedly. “I should have been wild if you’d give it up because of me getting that arrow in my arm. But look here, I ain’t a grudger, but if I do get a chance at the chap as shot at me—well, I’m sorry for him, that’s all.”
“What would you do to him, Ned?” said Jack, smiling.
“What would I do to him, sir? What wouldn’t I do to him, sir!”
“You don’t mean to say you’d kill him?”
“Kill him, sir?” cried Ned, in a tone full of disgust; “now do I look the sort of chap to go killing any one?”
“Well, no, Ned, you do not.”
“Of course not, sir. Murder ain’t in my way. I ain’t a madman. Of course if one’s in a sort o’ battle, and there’s shooting and some of the enemy’s killed, that’s another thing. I don’t call that murder; that’s killing, no murder. But in a case like this: oh no, I wouldn’t kill him, I’d civilise him.”
“What, and forgive him?” said Jack, who felt amused.