“Don’t seem like it. Where are they, then; and why don’t we catch ’em?”
“I dunno.”
“Fancy going off again to-night sneaking down to another of these rivers all among the mosquitoes and fever mists. Ugh! If I’d known, you wouldn’t have caught me coming to sea.”
“Oh, we shall catch one of ’em yet. A big Yankee schooner full of slaves; and then look at the prize-money.”
“No catchee, no havee, Van. Oh, I say, I am hot. Why, I believe you could fry eggs in the sun.”
“Dare say you might if you could get there, Bob.”
“Oh, my! aren’t we witty this morning! I say, I wonder what old Staples will say to the monkey, Van.”
“So do I,” said the first middy, uneasily. “I half wish we hadn’t bought it. But it seemed such a chance.”
“Well, we’re in for it now. Staples will give it us pretty sharply, and then forget all about it.”
“But then there’s the skipper.”