“No; about the dog and the shadow.”
“What about him, sir? Was he in the sun?”
“You know the old fable about the dog with the piece of meat in his mouth, seeing his reflection in the stream and thinking it was another dog with a piece of meat.”
“I did once, sir, but I’ve forgot,” said Tom.
“Well, in his greediness he snapped at his shadow to get the other piece of meat, and dropped his own. Suppose I try to catch that other vessel and the crew prove too strong for me, and I lose this one?”
“Mr Vandean, sir! You a British orficer, and talk like that? It ain’t greediness, sir, but you a-trying to do your dooty as the orficer as has succeeded Mr Russell, I know what you feel, sir—all the ’sponsibility.”
“Yes, Tom; and that we are not strong enough to try experiments.”
“Strong enough, sir? Why, there’s that in our chaps now as’ll make ’em go through anything. You say slaver to ’em, and it’ll be like saying ‘rats’ to a dog. They’ll be vicious to attack; and old Soup and Taters’ll be as good as four strong men. You see if they ain’t.”
“It’s very tempting, Tom, but—”
“Don’t say but, sir. You make up your mind to take that vessel; give your orders; and we’ll do it.”