"You haven't the courage to do that, then?"
"The mate would murder me if I did."
"Then it does not make much difference how sorry you are for me," I added, rather despondent.
"I only wished to express my sympathy for you, and to say that, if I could, I would let you loose."
"I suppose you know what kind of a voyage this bark is bound upon?"
"I do; the mate told me yesterday, and I have heard enough said in the cabin before to make me understand all about it," answered the steward.
"Do you like the business?"
"No, I don't; but what can I do?"
"I don't know that you can do anything."
"If I had known what the voyage was to be, I would have hung myself rather than come on board. I have a little African blood in my veins, though I don't say much about it generally."