“I hope so,” said Nic slowly and thoughtfully. “They deserved their punishment, but they will have had enough by now.”
“Nay, you’re a bit too easy, Master Nic. Humpy’s a down bad one, and I should like the others to have one year more out yonder, and Humpy too.”
“Too long for white slaves, Pete,” said Nic. “We have suffered with them, and know what the sufferings are; so I forgive them. What say you?”
“Zame as you do, Master Nic; o’ course, that is, if they don’t come back and meddle with our zalmon again—our zalmon! That zounds queer, Master Nic, don’t it? I can’t quite feel as if it’s all true.”
“But it is true, Pete; and we are here safe in the good old home, after what seems now like an ugly dream.”
“Dinner-bell’s rung twice, Master Nic,” said William Solly, coming upon them suddenly from behind the trees; “and you can’t ’spect to get your strength up proper if you aren’t reg’lar at the mess. I run out to look for you, to keep the skipper from—Well, there now—if he aren’t come to look for you hisself! Give him a shout, and say you’re coming.”
Nic hailed, and hurried back to meet the old officer, while William Solly turned to Pete:
“Come along, messmet; the beef and soft tack’s waiting. And so you’re going to stop here altogether!”
“I s’pose so,” said Pete.
“And we’re to be messmets reg’lar sarving under Captain Revel and Master Nic?”