"And who expected it of you?" asked the skipper. "It means that things are to go on as they was afore they come:
"——resume the statues quo, and don't stand no hargument. You are to tell 'em it will be considered an unfriendly hact, and that we 'as cleared for haction in consequence of not believing them such cowards as to quit. But quit they must, and no mistake, or we resort without delay to the arbitrage and general haverage of war. Given this day on board the British barque Potluck by me,
"CAPTAIN ABEDNEGO JONES."
"First rate!" said the crew. "That'll give 'em the jumps."
"And how am I to translate it?" asked the miserable Simcox.
"That's your look-out," said the Guffin, with a hiccup. "Shall I keep a dog and bark myself? Now, 'urry and get it hover. And let hevery one 'ave a weapon, 'andspikes and belayin' pins. Now go, Simcox!"
"Hart, come along with me," said Simcox.
And as the "old man" was engaged in keeping his balance, he made no objection.
"I think this is a herror of judgment, sir," said Hart; "my hidea of a hultimatum was jumpin' on 'em unexpected, and givin' 'em toko afore they know'd where they was. My notion of fightin' (and it pays hevery time) is to haggravate your man till he's ready to 'it, but to 'it 'im fust. An' if I thinks a cove will 'it me in five minutes, I lets no time go by in hanticipatin' 'im. But this will warn 'em."
"But they have no one who really knows English, Hart," groaned Simcox; "and I don't know the first word of French."