“You have a long life before you, I trust,” said Weathereye.
Tandy seemed to hear him not.
“I’d go as your mate.”
The two sailors shook hands.
“You’ll go as my friend, and keep watch if you choose.”
“Agreed!”
“Bravo!” cried Weathereye. “Shiver my jib, as sailors say in books, if I wouldn’t like to go along with both of you!”
“Why not, Captain Weathereye?”
The staff-commander laughed. “Not this cruise, lads, though I’m not afraid for my life, or the little that may be left of it, and you must take care of yours. I think myself you are going on a kind of wild-goose chase, and that the goose—that is, the gold—will have the best of it, by keeping out of your way. Well, anyhow, I’ll come and see you both over the bar. Where do you sail from?”
“Southampton.”