He started at my words, uttering, as he did so, a sailor’s exclamation of surprise.
“Shiver my timbers!” was the phrase. “Shiver my timbers! if ’tain’t the little marlin-spike as boarded us a-port!”
“Him as wanted to go a seelorin?” cried several in a breath.
“The same, for sartin’.”
“Yes,” I answered, “it is; I am the same.”
Another volley of ejaculations followed, and then there was a momentary silence.
“Where is the captain?” I asked. “Waters, will you take me to the captain?”
“You wish to see the capten? he’s here, my lad,” answered the big sailor, in a kind tone; and then, stretching out his arm, he made an opening in the ring that encircled me.
I glanced through this opening. I saw the same well-dressed man whom I had before recognised as the captain. He was only a few yards off, standing in front of the door of his cabin. I looked in his face. The expression was stern, but yet it did not awe me. I fancied it was a look that would relent.
I hesitated for a moment what course to pursue, and then, summoning all my energy, I rose to my feet, tottered forward, and knelt down before him.