Hovey began: "Some of us have sailed a long time and never got much in the pocket to show for it."
"Yes, that's true of me."
"But there's none of us would turn our backs on the long green?"
McTee grinned.
"Well, sir, I have a little plan. Suppose you knew an old man—a man so old, sir, that he was sure to die in a year or so. And suppose he had one heir—a girl who was about to die—"
"Mutiny, bos'n," said McTee coldly.
But the eye of Hovey was fully as cold; he knew his man.
"Well?" he queried.
"Talk ahead. I've given you my word to keep quiet."
"Suppose this old man had a lot of money. Would it be any crime—any great crime to slip a little of that long green into our pockets?"