"How much heavier than our frigate is a 36-gun ship?"
"She'd be about the same in weight of metal, though there might be considerable difference in the way it was distributed. Now, a regular 36-gun ship should carry twenty-six long eighteens below, with sixteen 32-pound carronades an' two chase guns above, makin' forty-four in all. We've got, as you know, forty 32-pound carronades, an' six long twelves, which would make the Phœbe heavier than the Essex, even though our craft has two guns more. Now, there isn't a man aboard this 'ere frigate who wouldn't kick, an' kick hard, if Captain Porter should try to run away from the Britisher. Give us half a show, an' we'll prove that whalers are only taken by us in order to replenish stores an' protect our own merchantmen."
"That's brave talk; but you'll sing a different tune when we're alongside the Phœbe!" Benson cried from his cage; and this taunt threw Master Hackett into a towering passion.
Although it was forbidden that he should hold any converse with the prisoner, he freed his mind by telling us in a tone sufficiently loud to be heard by the Britisher, what he would do, regardless of rules, in case "that chimpanzee in the cage" had anything more to say against the Yankees.
"I've heard too much talk from him already," the old man continued, "an' the next time he so much as peeps while I'm around, I shall go straight aft an' ask permission to give him a dozen flicks with the cat, laid on by myself, which will be all he'll need by way of puttin' a stopper on his tongue."
From that moment until we were done with him forever, Benson never so much as snored while Master Hackett was near at hand.
On the 3d day of February we knew the frigate had come to an anchor, and shortly afterward the old sailor appeared to give us the news.
"Yes, we're in Valparaiso again, an' now we're salutin' the fort."
We could both hear and feel the report of the guns as they were discharged, and already knew as much as the old man was telling us.