Bob Hampton uttered a low chuckle.
“Like enough,” he said.
“And you helped him.”
“Oh, very well, then, have it your own way if you like; I helped him,—but how I could ha’ done it, I don’t know, cap’n, nor them two neither. I don’t care. But look here, I’m down tired, and it’s time some one else took his trick at the wheel. I want a sleep.”
“If you play false to me, Bob Hampton,” came in tones which made me shiver, “you’ll have a sleep that will last you for always. Do you hear?—toujours!”
“Two jours, that’s two days, arn’t it, skipper?”
“No,” hissed the man fiercely; “for ever. Here, Brown, bring an axe and a lantern. Stand it there.”
We heard steps overhead, and a light gleamed down from the lantern placed upon the stern-rails.
“Now,” said Jarette, “be always ready to bring that axe down upon the head of any man who tries to climb up from the cabin.”
“Ay, ay,” came in a low growl; and just then I became conscious of the face just over me, and it was lit from the outside; while farther back I could dimly make out other faces which were shadowy, and did not appear to be connected with bodies.