"The revolver, sir; do you hear me?"
"Why?"
"Never mind why or wherefore—they matter little now."
"I thought that we were all armed for a particular purpose."
Captain Phillips smiled bitterly.
"Yes," said he; "but you can be no longer trusted with arms on board my ship."
"Indeed!" said Hawkshaw, who knew not very well whether to cringe or bully, and pondered in his desperation.
"Yes; so surrender your arms. I'm an easy-going fellow, but one who won't be trifled with, for all that. Your revolver!"
Hawkshaw reluctantly handed Captain Phillips the loaded weapon.
"Thank you. Now, sir, I must inform you that we have had a long interview with the men in the 'tween-decks—those whom you so kindly undertook to watch, though such a duty was scarcely necessary—and after the revelations they have made, but chiefly after the account given of you by Mr. Morley Ashton—you wince at the name, I see—you can no longer remain in the cabin of the Hermione."