"If it were a question of seamanship I could settle it; but you seem to have a talent for this kind of business. I would rather leave it all to you. I will give such orders to the men as you suggest."
I was certainly very much honored and flattered by his confidence; and no modesty on my part could disprove the fact that I had furnished the plan, and performed a leading part in the capture of the vessel.
"It is not of much use to give any orders to the men just now, for most of them are too drunk to do anything," I replied.
"It's going to blow before morning," added Captain York, looking around him at the black sky and the restless ocean.
"Do you mean that we shall have a gale?"
"That's just what I mean. I thought this morning that we should have heavy weather within twenty-four hours."
"It will be a bad time to settle this business then?"
"Yes; the sooner it is over, the better."
"I wanted to wait till daylight before we did anything decisive."
"We haven't hands enough fit for duty to reef the main topsails."