I had hardly more than repeated to him the brief conversation held with Master Hackett, when my cousin Stephen came down the ladder, greeting us in most friendly fashion.
After he had spoken of our duties, enjoining upon us the necessity of keeping the prisoner in full view all the time, he was pleased to give the following explanation for what appeared almost like an excess of precaution:—
"It is your especial duty to see that no one has an opportunity of speaking with the prisoner. It is not supposed that he can escape unaided; there is a possibility some of our people have been taken in by his smooth talk, and the captain is determined he be lodged in prison at a port where we may be certain he will be held."
Then it was that I made bold to ask if Master Hackett might be allowed to visit us, and the permission was given without hesitation.
"There is nothing to prevent his paying you a visit at such times as he is off duty; but if any other member of the crew should come without authority from one of the officers, you are to warn him away at once, and in case he refuses to go immediately, give the alarm aft without delay."
With that the lieutenant left us, and Benson, who must have overheard at least a portion of the conversation, said mockingly:—
"I always believed the Yankees were cowards; but never before fancied the crew of a frigate could be scared by one Englishman."
Phil would have made an angry reply, but that I motioned him to be silent, afterward saying in a low tone:—
"It is worse than foolish to bandy words with the fellow. We know by his anger that our coming here has broken up some scheme he had in mind, and he may as well be allowed the poor satisfaction of gibing at us now and then."
"He may have full swing of his tongue once in a while, but I'm not minded to let him go on as he pleases all the time. While you were on deck he had altogether too much to say. Suppose you let Master Hackett know what Lieutenant McKnight said, and then we'll settle down to the work in shipshape fashion."