“No, I am not. There is the Captain; do you want him?”
“If you please, sir,” said the man.
I called my superior officer into the narrow dark piazza.
“Well, my man,” said Transom, “what want you with me?”
“I am sent, sir, to you from the Captain of the Haytian ship, the E——, to request a visit from you, and to ask for a prayer book.”
“A what?” said Transom.
“A prayer book, sir. I suppose you know that he and the Captain of that other Haytian ship, the P——, are condemned to be shot tomorrow morning.”
“I know nothing of all this,” said Transom. “Do you, Cringle?”
“No, sir,” said I.
“Then let us adjourn to the dining room again; or, stop, ask Mr S——and Mr Bang to step-here for a moment.”