"All but the Bo's'n and the Minion, sir."
There was a certain decision in Tomkins' tone, which revealed the fact to me that they intended going, permission or not.
"The Cook, too?" asked Cynthia.
The Cook looked down and shuffled his feet.
"I can cook, Cap'n, miss, sir, beggin' your pardon, ma'm, Mr. Jones," volunteered the Bo's'n.
"Good enough!" said the Skipper. "Let Cook fit you out with vittles, men. What have you got for water?"
Bill Ware spoke up eagerly:
"Tomkins says as there's two or three springs on the way, sir——"
"How does he know?" asked the astonished Skipper.
"Been here before, sir, so he was a-tellin' us last night. Says it's a puffec pair-o-dice."