“Honest—honest,” replied the captain’s clerk, moving the wine can from his mouth a short distance; “shamefully honest—disgracefully honest—indeed I may say villainously honest, master Scrumpydike.” The men stared with astonishment, and many still seemed to doubt his assertion.
“Nobody can lament the unfortnit occurrence more nor I do,” said Scrumpydike; “but what’s done can’t be undone,—so clear the decks o’ this lumber—pipe all hands to grog, and I’ll tell ye a sort o’ summat much more nat’ral and creditable.”
The eatables were cleared off into an open pantry at the side, and fresh flasks of liquor and drinking vessels were placed on the table. Some of the men began to smoke from long pipes; others made for themselves mixtures of the different beverages before them; and every one sat himself down laughing and joking with the rest with the evident intention of commencing a carouse. Log having procured a pipe almost as big as himself, and a large jug of a strong potation he had carefully prepared, sat smirking with secret satisfaction at his own comfort. His pig-like eyes twinkled with self-conceit, and his pug nose seemed to curl itself up with delight. Opposite to him, but not less at his ease, sat Scrumpydike. He also had taken care of himself after a similar fashion; and the humorous twist of his ugly countenance became every minute more evident. The set by whom they were surrounded, were remarkable for the daring and somewhat ferocious character of their features, and the great variety of their costumes; and as they sat enveloped in the smoke they were creating, bandying the ready jest, and pushing about the intoxicating liquor, they presented to the eye a band of as determined ruffians as the whole world could have produced.
“Have you all a mind for a job?” at last inquired Scrumpydike.
“Every one on us,” replied a stout fellow with a red nose and a fierce squint. “We’ve been laid up here for a month or more, waiting for a ’portunity to get afloat.”
“Well, Billbo! you shall go aboard a prime craft afore another week’s out, or I’m less nor nobody.”
“Hurra!” exclaimed the men joyfully.
“I can’t tell ye the ’ticulars just now,” he continued; “but I’ll make it all plain sailin’ afore you goes. Push the stuff about; a ship at anchor makes no way. Here’s to ye, my trumps! wi’ lots o’ plunder and a wide berth; and may we stick to one another while there’s a plank left for us to stand on.”
“Hurra!” replied his associates with increased delight! and they all seemed now to abandon themselves to riot and debauchery with additional zest. Briskly were the liquor cans replenished, rapidly was the tobacco consumed;—the laugh became louder, and occasionally an attempt at a ribald song was made by some of the more musical members of the company.