"None of your cant! I'm going to call all hands in a few minutes, and I shall take care that you are in my watch."
"Wherever I am, I shall do the best I know how."
"You will wish you had always done so, and not meddled with my affairs, before this cruise is up. You are not going to live in the cabin, and have plum duff for dinner every day."
"I will submit as cheerfully as possible to my lot, whatever it may be."
Ben Waterford appeared to be angry because his threats did not appall me. I hoped that God would give me strength to do my duty, and enable me to bear all I might be called upon to endure. My tyrant seemed to be disposed to torture me before he sacrificed me; but I was determined not to be tortured by any mere words that he used. I had already nullified a part of the mischief he had done me, for I had my gold in my pocket. If I could retain this, my future seemed to be tolerably secure.
"Do you know how you happen to be on board of this bark, Phil?" said Waterford, the malice twinkling in his eye.
"The circumstances led me here."
"Not exactly! I led you here."
"Perhaps you did, for it looks now as though an evil spirit had guided my steps."
"Good, Phil! That was well said. You hit the nail on the head. I won't tell you yet where we are bound; but I must tell you that I saw you on board of the ferry-boat when you came to New York, and that Captain Farraday induced you to ship because I desired it. This will be good news to you, and I wished you to know it. Before I have done with you, I am going to teach you to mind your own business."