“All right,” said Brace, laughing.
“I’ll be ready too,” said Briscoe, “in case you miss. But wouldn’t it be better to put ’em in the small boat for the present, and take out the oars and sail?”
“Good idea, Mr Briscoe,” said the captain. “See to it, Dellow, and make her fast to the stern of the other boat with the grapnel-line.”
The first mate nodded, strode to the man who was looking at his tooth, ordered him into the lesser boat, and the man rose and went like a lamb, the rest following slowly and in a more sheepish way, as the big mate walked to them in turn and pointed meaningly ahead.
“What about the others, captain?” said Sir Humphrey.
“T’other six, sir?” replied the gentleman addressed. “Oh! they’ve cut and run. Let ’em go gold-washing and making their fortunes. They’re off on a holiday, and as they’ll have no dish-washing or other dooties to do they’ll have plenty of time, and I hope they’ll enjoy themselves.”
“You mean to leave them behind?”
“That’s about it, sir. They’ve gone. It isn’t my doing. I didn’t drive them away.”
“What, skipper?” cried Briscoe, laughing. “It that wasn’t driving, what was it?”
The captain’s face puckered up into a peculiar grin in which the corners of his eyes participated with those of his mouth.