There was a one-eyed, ugly visaged fellow sitting off in a corner of the room, who remarked:
"You lads will see colder days yet; you may say the business is all up, and we'd better take the 'Nancy' over to the mackerel banks and work for a few honest pennies."
"What makes you say that, Jake?"
"I'm only telling yer the truth; yer a chicken-hearted lot, and losing all yer game; for what? the pretty face of a she-devil!"
Too well the men all understood one-eyed Jake's savage suggestion.
"You don't think," said one of them, "that the gal is dead against us?"
"Well, I think she is as dead against us as a few dollars in gold can make a female who's fond of gewgaws, and ambitious to be a fine lady."
"Do you mean to say Renie receives money?"
"Well, I don't think bad enough of the gal to say she'd go agin us for fun. I tell you, boys, the thing is dead agin us unless the gal is silenced!"
The men all entered loud protests; the girl was a great favorite yet with most of them, as she had grown up in their midst.