'Well, I'll tell you,' said the captain, getting slowly off the rail.
And he did: at full length, with every wounding epithet and absurd detail repeated and emphasised; he had his own vanity and Huish's upon the grill, and roasted them; and as he spoke, he inflicted and endured agonies of humiliation. It was a plain man's masterpiece of the sardonic.
'What do you think of it?' said he, when he had done, and looked down at Huish, flushed and serious, and yet jeering.
'I'll tell you wot it is,' was the reply, 'you and me cut a pretty dicky figure.'
'That's so,' said Davis, 'a pretty measly figure, by God! And, by God, I want to see that man at my knees.'
'Ah!' said Huish. ''Ow to get him there?'
'That's it!' cried Davis. 'How to get hold of him! They're four to two; though there's only one man among them to count, and that's Attwater. Get a bead on Attwater, and the others would cut and run and sing out like frightened poultry—and old man Herrick would come round with his hat for a share of the pearls. No, SIR! it's how to get hold of Attwater! And we daren't even go ashore; he would shoot us in the boat like dogs.'
'Are you particular about having him dead or alive?' asked Huish.
'I want to see him dead,' said the captain.
'Ah, well!' said Huish, 'then I believe I'll do a bit of breakfast.'