He shook Balaam till his teeth chattered and he called on Mr. Briggs for help. Briggs turned his back to him and walked to the rail on the port side of the poop.
'We've come for those provisions, Captain Balaam,' said Wood, 'and we mean to have them.'
'You're a pirate,' said Balaam thickly, 'oh, you're a pirate.'
'And you're a miserable, cowardly thief,' replied Wood. 'I don't propose to argue with you. Mr. Boden, when we come up alongside the Scanderbeg, shorten sail and we'll wait till daylight.'
'You're givin' orders in my ship,' said Balaam. 'Oh, this is horrid, it's a nightmare; it ain't real! I must be dreamin'!'
He yelled horribly, and it took three men to hold him. One of them was his own second mate, who hated him venomously.
'If you make much more row, sir,' said Creak, 'they'll put you over the side. I heard 'em say so!'
'Did they, Mr. Creak?' whispered Balaam.
'They did,' said Creak.
'This is horrid, Creak. Oh, Creak, am I dreamin'? Pinch me, so's I shall know.'