“'HEY?' yells all hands, setting up.
“'Yes, sir. She no care which one, but one white man must marry her to-morrow. Else we all go chop plenty quick.'
“'Chop' is Kanaka English for 'eat.' There wa'n't no need for the boy to explain.
“Then there was times. They come pretty nigh to a fight, because Teunis and Jule argued that the skipper, being such a ladies' man, was the natural-born choice. Just as things was the warmest; Cap'n George had an idea.
“'ROSY!' says he.
“'Hey?' says the others. Then, 'Rosy? Why, of course, Rosy's the man.'
“But Rosy wa'n't agreeable. Julius said he never see such a stubborn mule in his life. They tried every reasonable way they could to convince him, pounding him on the head and the like of that, but 'twas no go.
“'I got a wife already,' he says, whimpering. 'And, besides, cap'n, there wouldn't be such a contrast in looks between you and her as there would with me.'
“He meant so far as size went, but George took it the other way, and there was more trouble. Finally Julius come to the rescue.
“'I tell you,' says he. 'We'll be square and draw straws!'