"No, sir," said Simcox, "if you'll excuse me, I'll do nothin' of the sort. I've had my fill up of bein' ambassador."
"This is mut'ny," said the skipper; "but under the painful national circumstances I shan't do nothin' but order you to your cabin, where you'll consider yourself in custody."
Simcox looked greatly relieved, and went without delay.
"Mr. Lampert, you'll be hambassador," said the old man, after a drink of brandy.
The mate looked the skipper up and down.
"I'll see you further first," he cried. "'Twas you that started the row and the trouble, and you can get out of it as you like."
"This is rank mut'ny," said the skipper, "and you could be 'ung for refusin' duty. But under the painful nash'nal circumstances you can retire to your cabin and be your own bloomin' policeman till peace is restored, when I'll try you and sentence you, you run and scuttle swine you."
"Oh, that's all right," said the mate contemptuously.
"Now, men," said the skipper thickly, "what I wants is 'earty support. Who'll volunteer for to be hambassador?"
The crew looked at each other and shook their heads. They scuffled with uneasy feet on the lopsided deck.