"My dear sir, when, as in my case, a man has nothing to lose and consequently everything to gain by any change in his position, death is rather a comfort than a calamity."
"You are a philosopher, so it seems."
"No, confound it! such absurdity never troubled me, I am merely a desperate man."
"That is often the same thing; but let us return to our matter."
"Yes, that will be better."
"Well! I offer you my whole share of the first ship I take; does that suit you?"
"That is something better; but unluckily the ship to which you refer is like the bear in the fable, not caught yet; I should prefer something more substantial."
"Well, I see I must yield to you; serve me well and I will reward you so generously that the King of Spain himself could not do more."
"Well, that is agreed, I'll run the risk; now be kind enough to tell me the nature of the service you expect from me?"
"I wish you to help me in taking by surprise Tortoise Island, where you lived for a long time, and where, if I do not err, you still have friends."