"What's the matter?"
"Nothing now; the men have taken their grog, and promised to do their duty wherever we go."
This was heavy news to me, for I had no reason to doubt the truth of it. If the men drank their grog, I was satisfied in my own mind that they had given up the battle. If they drank liquor they could be won over to almost anything, for the mate could give them enough to make demons of them.
"How are you, Phil?" said Waterford, in a mocking tone, as he entered the steerage.
"As well as usual, excepting these bonds," I replied.
"I have you now where I want you, and I have come down to tell you the news."
"I heard you tell it to the captain just now. It is not necessary to repeat it."
"All right if you know which way the wind blows. You have been the cause of all the mischief on board."
"I am sorry you took so much pains to keep me on board then."
"I have my reasons for all I do. I would rather have six devils than one psalm-singer in my crew. As soon as the men knew you were safe, they caved in, drank their grog like sailors, and now they are willing to do their duty."