“I guess you know your business better than I do, Skipper,” replied the captain. “I was no shot ’cept with a blunderbuss that would scatter.”
“Make a bull’s-eye, Jim,” urged Juarez.
“You mean a whale’s eye,” put in Jo.
“Humph!” said Jim, “don’t talk that way; you will make me miss.”
“You mean——” Jo got no further, for Jim held up a cautionary hand.
“Ready now,” he cried.
The captain clapped the spy-glass to his eye, there was a roar and the quarter deck shook under their feet, then the captain shook the glass above his head.
“Yer struck into the shark gang, Skipper,” he cried, “I said you would be a recruit for John Paul Jones.”
“Let me have a chance,” said Jo.
“All right,” agreed Jim, “I don’t want to be a hog.”