‘What does Butler mean to do?’
‘I can’t tell you, because he doesn’t himself know.’
‘Bringing those fellows aboard doesn’t look like your settling on the island, does it?’
‘Tom won’t settle on that island now, not if two of the castaways there are Rotch and Nodder and we can tempt them into the brig.’
‘And a precious good job for you!’ exclaimed the lad, with his eyes fixed on the island. ‘Look at it! Imagine living out your life there! You’ve dined with specimens of its male society. What are its ladies like? The worth of Butler’s love for you has sunk hideously in my esteem ever since he planned such a rat-hole as that for you to live on merely because he’s got to hide his head.’
‘Hold your tongue!’ I cried. ‘Your esteem! What sort of tape do boys like you measure the love of such a man as Tom with?’
The dear fellow puffed at his pipe with a little temper, but, controlling himself, said: ‘When the rogues come off they’ll see Butler and shout to be set ashore again.’
‘We are not fools,’ said I; and my head beginning to ache again, and this sort of talk being profitless, I went into the deck-house cabin and sat down.