The skipper of the Lively Poll kept himself better in hand than his men, but, being very sociable in disposition, and finding the Dutchman a humorous and chatty fellow, he saw no reason to hurry them away. Besides, his vessel was close alongside, and nothing could be done in the fishing way during the dead calm that prevailed.
While he and his men were engaged in a lively conversation about nothing in particular—though they were as earnest over it as if the fate of empires depended on their judgment—the Dutch skipper rose to welcome another boat’s crew, which approached on the other side of the coper. So eager and fuddled were the disputants of the Lively Poll that they did not at first observe the newcomers.
It was the Fairy’s boat, with Dick Martin in charge.
“Hallo, Dick, mein boy; gif me your vlipper.”
A sign from Martin induced the Dutchman to lean over the side and speak in lower tones.
“Let’s have a keg of it,” said Dick, with a mysterious look. “Ned Bryce sent me for a good supply, an’ here’s fish to pay for it.”
The fish—which of course belonged to the owner of the Fairy, not to Ned Bryce—were quickly passed up, and a keg of spirits passed down. Then the Dutchman asked if Dick or his men wanted tabac or schnapps for themselves.
“I vill take jersey, or vish, or sail, or boots, or vat you please in exchange. Com’ aboard, anyhow, an’ have von leetle glass.”
Dick and his men having thus smartly transacted their chief business, leaped on deck, made fast their painter, let the boat drop astern, and were soon smoking and drinking amicably with the crew of the Lively Poll. Not long afterwards they were quarrelling. Then Dick Martin, who was apt to become pugnacious over his liquor, asserted stoutly that something or other “was.” Joe Stubley swore that it “was not,” whereupon Dick Martin planted his fist on Joe Stubley’s nose and laid its growly owner flat on the deck.
Starting up, Joe was about to retaliate, when Lockley, seizing him by the neck thrust him over the side into the boat, and ordered his more or less drunken crew to follow. They did so with a bad grace, but the order was given in a tone which they well understood must not be disobeyed.