“Well,” said Johnnie, his eyes getting wider than usual, “I could tell ye how to get it. But that beast Shenkoff, he torked about knifin’ I. I’se got a knife too, and——”
“Bah!” cried the leader, “he didn’t mean it. Shenkoff, if you’re going to make yourself so darned disagreeable, we’ll have to do without you. That’s a fair warning. Now, Johnnie, how are we to get the rum?”
Johnnie sheathed his knife.
Then he held back his head, and laughed in the old way.
“As simple as sinning,” he replied.
“Stop a minute,” he added.
Aft he went, and returned shortly with three sharp adzes and two saws.
“D’ye catch on, men?” he asked.
“No, Johnnie, no.”
“Take off your boots, and follow Johnnie. Just three on ye—no more.”