“Hear me, Top! Will you not hear me?”
“Out there on the Devil’s Teeth,” my uncle patiently reiterated, “when the crew was drownin’ t’ le’ward, 131 an’ ’twas every man for his own life, an’ the ice begin t’ come, an’ I laid hold o’ that there––”
The stranger struck the table with his palm. “Hear me!” he implored. “I have nothing––nothing––to do with the Devil’s Teeth!”
“Out there on the Devil’s Teeth, when I took the oath––”
“You stupid fool!”
“When I took the oath,” my uncle resumed, “I knowed ’twould be hard t’ stand by. I knowed that, sir. I done the thing with open eyes. I’ll never plead ignorance afore the Lord God A’mighty, sir, for the words I spoke that night. I’ve stood by, as best I could; an’ I’ll keep on standin’ by, sir, t’ the end, as best I’m able. God help me, sir!” he groaned, leaning still closer to the gray face of his enemy. “Ye think ye’re in hard case, yourself, sir, don’t ye? Do ye never give a thought t’ me? Dirty business, says you, betwixt you an’ me! Ay; dirty business for Nick Top. But he’ll stand by; he’ll stand by, sir, come what may––t’ the end! I’m not complainin’, mark ye! not complainin’ at all. The lad’s a good lad. I’m not complainin’. He’ve the makin’s of a better man than you. Oh no! I’m not complainin’. Out there on the Devil’s Teeth, that night, when the souls o’ them men was goin’ Aloft an’ Below, accordin’ t’ their deserts, does ye think I was a fool? Fool! I tells ye, sir, I knowed full well I give my soul t’ hell, that night, when I laid my hand on the Book an’ swore that I’d stand by. An’ I will stand by––stand by the lad, sir, t’ the end! He’s a 132 good lad––he’ll make a better man than you––an’ I’ve no word o’ complaint t’ say.”
“The lad, the lad! Do I care for the lad?”
“No, God forgive ye!” my uncle cried, “not you that ought.”
“That ought, you fool?”
“Ay; that ought.”