These words she likewise repeated; then, giving me a little bow, she extended her hand, that I might conduct her below.
The evening of this same day was soft and beautiful, rich with the lights of heaven; the ocean so calm that some of the most brilliant of the luminaries found reflection in the water—tremulous, wire-like lines of silver; yet had the breeze body enough to give the brig way. It came fanning and breathing cool as dew off the dark surface of the sea, and the refreshment of it after the fiery heat of the day was as drink to the parched throat.
I walked in the gangway, smoking a pipe. It was shortly after eight o’clock. Yan Bol was aft with Greaves. The lady Aurora was in the cabin writing with a pencil. Some seamen were in the bows of the brig; their shadowy figures flitted to and fro, all very quietly. Voices proceeded from the other side of the caboose; the speakers did not probably know that I walked near. I could not choose but listen. One was Antonio, the other Wirtz, and the third Thomas Teach.
“What I don’t understand’s this,” said the voice of Teach. “Th’ole man [meaning Captain Greaves] falls in with that there ship locked up in the island, and boards her. He finds the silver—why didn’t he take it, instead of leaving it with a chance of the vessel going to pieces, or some covey a-nabbing the dollars afore he could come back for them?”
“Dot may seem all right to you,” said Wirtz, “but see here, Tommy; shuppose der captain had took der dollars into der ship he commanded vhen he falls in mit der island; vhat do his crew say? Und vhen he arrives vhat vhas he to do mit der dollars? Gif dem oop to der owners of his ship? By Cott, he see dem dom’d first. If he keep der dollars for himself, how vhas he going to landt dem on der sly mitout der crew asking him for one-half, maybe, and making him like as he can hang himself for der rest? Dot’s vhere she vhas. No, no,” rumbled the man in his deep, Dutch voice, “der capt’n know his beesiness. Dis trip for der dollars vhas vhat you English call shipshape und Pristol fashion.”
“Is the dollars to be run, I wonder, when we gets home?” said Teach.
“Do you mean shmuggled?”
“Yaw, smuggled’s the word, Yonny,” said Teach.
“Vell, if dey vhas not run dey vhas seized.”
“Who’s a-going to seize ’em?”