“Ay, I’ve jyned, lad,” replied Hampton, and then—“Say, skipper, hadn’t I better keep her off a pynte or two?”
“Yes,” shouted Jarette.
“Well, I’m blessed,” growled Dumlow. Then aloud—“Hi! Bob, lad, what’s to be done?”
“’Bout what?” came back from the wheel.
“Air we to let ’em pitch us overboard, or air we to jyne?”
“Jyne,” growled Bob Hampton.
“Jyne it is, messmet,” said Dumlow, in his low growling tone. “Here, unlash these blessed ropes, they’re a-cuttin’ into my arms like hooroar.”
“And you’ll join us too, Barney?” said Jarette.
“I does same as my two mates,” said Blane. “I arn’t going to be pitched overboard if they arn’t. Share and share alike, says I. Fair play’s my motto, and no favour. Here, cast off all these here lashins. What d’yer want to tie a fellow up so tight for?”
“Take off the ropes,” said Jarette, in a voice full of triumph, and I could hear the rustling and rattling noise made as the lines were untied, and directly after Dumlow’s voice, saying—