"Abott, you're a white man," answered Calamity, "but I'm not taking your advice, good as it sounds. Solomon has played his card, but I can trump it; he's absolutely in my hands, though he doesn't know it yet. Now we'll dismiss that subject for the present, and talk of something far more important. First of all, can you trust the men on your boat?"
"Trust 'em? Well, I should say so," answered the pilot in surprise.
"What I mean is, can they keep their mouths shut?"
"Like limpets."
"Right. Now just listen to this little yarn of mine, Abott, and don't interrupt before I'm through. Savee?"
"Forge ahead, skipper."
For close upon half an hour the Captain talked in lowered tones, and, as he proceeded, the pilot's face exhibited every degree of astonishment. Even when Calamity had finished he remained silent for some moments, as if unable to wholly realise what the latter had told him.
"Well I'm damned!" he muttered at last, and, taking a large blue handkerchief from his pocket, mopped his face.
"And now the question is, will you accept the proposal or not?" asked the Captain.
"I don't know that I've fairly got my teeth into it yet, skipper. It sort o' takes one's breath away, and that's a fact."