Brace placed his lips to Briscoe’s ear and said:
“You’ve done it now.”
“Eh? Done what?”
Brace acquainted him with all that had passed, and ended with a word or two about listening and eavesdropping.
“Listening—eavesdropping?” said Briscoe. “You did not go to listen. It was forced upon you. Why, Brace, man, it means mutiny.”
“And all through your miserable craze for gold,” said Brace angrily.
“Come, I like that!” replied the American. “Haven’t I kept it all a secret between us two? Who was it began about the gold this evening, and made all the men prick up their ears?”
Brace was silent for a few moments.
“Yes,” he said, at length; “but you jumped at the chance, and began to wash.”
“I should have been a queer sort of fellow if I had not, sir. The fruit was popped into my mouth by the skipper, and of course, as it was so much to my taste, I ate it. Well, it’s no use to begin shouting before we’re hurt. There’s one good thing over tonight’s work: we’ve had warning, and know what to do.”