"Never mind; I somehow got the idea."
"And he thinks that by championing the nigger he can kill two birds, see?"
"I see," I said. "I'm sorry I didn't nab him while I had him."
"Never mind," they rejoined; "if you stick to your present object, you're bound to meet him again and soon. Only take a word of advice. Have a few guns with you, for you're liable to need them. We're not afraid about nabbing the whole bunch; but we don't want to lose good men going after a bad man. And there's such a thing as having too much courage."
"I agree," I remarked. "I'll take the guns all right, but I'm afraid I'll need some more crew. I mean I'll want an engineer, and another deck-hand."
And, just as I said this, there came up some one post-haste from the village; some one, too, that wanted the clergyman, as well as me, for my captain was ill, and at the point of death.
It was an hour or so after dinner time, and we were just enjoying our cigars.
"What on earth can be the trouble?" I said, but, the three of us, including the Commandant went.
We found the captain lying in his berth, writhing with cramps.
"What on earth have you been doing with yourself, Cap.?" I asked.