“He vill not bring der land aboardt? All hands would gif der Point of Agulhas a vide berth.”
“I’ll run you as far south as you choose.”
“Vell, I dessay a hondred mile vhas sout enough.”
“Is the fresh water going to carry us to Amsterdam Island?”
“Dot vhas to findt out. If not, dere vhas plenty of rain in der sky before dere casks gif out. But she vhas not longer to Amsterdam Island dan to England, and dere vhas water to last to England, so dot vhas all right, I hope. Dere is fresh water on der island.”
“And your provisions?”
“She vhas to be seen to likewise.”
“You’ll find nothing to eat at Amsterdam Island; nothing to carry you on to Port Jackson.”
“Vhen der money vhas hid dere vhas St. Paul hard by, mit goats, und cabbage, und fish for drying.”
I cursed him behind my teeth. The villain looked far ahead; all hands knew what they were about, while I saw nothing, an inch beyond my nose.