‘It vhas eighteen hoondred and twenty-four dot Corporal Glass vhas governor,’ said Peter Green. ‘Dot vhas joost fourteen years; und a leetle while ago, when we keep his birthday, he vhas saying it vhas all der same as fourteen days, so queek vhas time.’
‘Any of you left lately?’ said Mr. Bates.
‘Two men took on home-sick last year,’ answered Hagan.
‘How’s the school getting on?’ inquired Tom.
‘Foorst class,’ answered Green. ‘But I tell you vhat ve wants. Ve want more young men. Dere vhas too many fimmen.’
‘Too many of either will eat you up!’ exclaimed Tom. ‘When I was last here, Glass told me that the island could never be got to support more than two hundred people.’
‘Vell, dot vhas right.’
‘Will the corporal be able to come aboard? I want to see him.’
‘Not to-day, I expect,’ said the grey-haired old man-of-war’s man named Daly. ‘That there lip of his is a-worriting him. We’ll put ye ashore, capt’n. The governor’ll be glad to welcome ye.’
‘We’re well off for potatoes,’ said Hagan, ‘and there are a few stones of prime beef at your sarvice. Goats grow scarce. Water-casks want filling?’