'We cannot eat pork,' said the man.
'Oh, I think so. You will try?'
'No, sah, no!' There was a sharp, wild gleam in his eyes as he pronounced these words, a look that desperately contradicted his face, and his gaze at the Captain was now a steadfast stare.
'I desire,' continued the Captain, very blandly, 'to get rid of your deplorable prejudices as I would extinguish a side of bacon—rasher by rasher.' This he said with another leer at Helga. 'I have some knowledge of your faith. You need but make up your mind to know that what I do I do in the highest interests of my crew, and then I shall have every hope of getting you to listen to me, and of transforming you all into thoughtful Christian men before we reach Cape Town.'
'You will give us beef to-day, sah?'
'I think not, and if you throw your allowance overboard you shall have pork again to-morrow.'
'We did not sign your articles for dis,' said the man, who spoke English with a good accent.
'The articles provide for certain food,' answered the Captain, 'and that food is served out to you in very good measure. You will try—you will try to eat this pork; and when I learn that you have everyone of you swallowed one mouthful, you will find me indulgent in other directions, and ready to proceed on the only course which can result in your salvation.'
'You will not give us beef to-day, sah?' said the man, shaking his head.
'Yes; but I must learn first that you have eaten of the pork. I will not insist upon the soup, but the pork you must eat!'