"I'll do anything you tell me, even if it costs me my life; for I would rather die than be in a slave ship. My mother—no matter about that. She was a slave once, and I never will help any man or woman into slavery if I can avoid it."
"All right, Palmer. You may be able to save the bark from this miserable business. But I will not say anything more now."
"What shall I do?" asked the steward, not a little excited.
"Don't turn in till all is quiet in the cabin. The second mate has the first watch to-night. Give the captain all the whiskey he wants, and when the mate and passengers have turned in, and you think they are asleep, then come into the steerage and let me know."
"I will do all just as you say."
"Don't bring any lights, and don't act as though anything had happened. Go now."
"You may depend upon me, Phil. I meant to take sides with your men as soon as I dared to do so."
"Hold on a minute, Palmer. Are there any guns or pistols in the cabin?"
"The Spaniards have revolvers in their state-rooms, and they loaded them this forenoon, when the row on deck took place."
"We don't want to kill any one, or have any one killed. If you could draw the charges from their revolvers, and bring their ammunition in here, you might help matters."