"Then I am no longer to consider myself a prisoner onboard?"
"Certainly not. Practically you are one of us."
"And I have the freedom of the deck?"
He smiled grimly, gazing intently at me.
"That is safe enough, I reckon, even if I questioned your interest in this adventure. There must be ten miles of water already between us and the coast. There are no limits on your liberty, but I would n't advise your going forward at present—not until the men understand the situation—they 're a hard lot."
"Revolutionists?"
"Hell, no; plain New Orleans wharf rats, the scouring of the Seven Seas."
"Who is first mate—the German?"
"Yes, Herman, a fine sailor; was with the Hamburg people until he had a wreck. The Creole Broussard is second, and the two of them together could tame a cargo of wild-cats. Is that all, Craig?"
"All at present."