“Vell, I believe dot der men vouldt hov more respect for me if I vhas one of demselves.”
“But you are bo’sun, anyway, and your rating, therefore, is higher than that of the others.”
“Dot may be,” he replied, “but a bo’sun in der merchant service vhas no better dan vhat you call in your language a common sailor. He blows a whistle; dot, and a dollar or two more money, and dere you hov der difference.”
“Who else could be second mate?” said I. “As bo’sun of this vessel it would not please you to be ordered about by an able seaman.”
He was silent. It was too dark to see anything of the man save the shapeless lump of shadow which he made against the stars over the sea.
“Mr. Fielding,” said he, “can you tell me vhere dis brig vhas boun’ to?”
“I know where she is bound to,” I answered.
“Ho, you know, sir!” he exclaimed, with a tone of surprise trembling through his deep voice; “Ve all tink dot she vhas der captain’s secret.”
“If you all did think that,” said I, “why do you ask me where the brig is bound to.”
“It vhas about time dot ve knew vhere ve vhas boun’ to,” said Bol. “Dis vhas a larsh verld. Dere vhas many places in him. Some of dose places I have visited and vish never to see again. Derefore I likes to know vhere ve vhas boun’ to.”