The sea pursued us
without remission, leaping to the assault of the low
rail. The quarter-deck was all awash, and we must
close the companion doors.
"And all this, if you please, for Mr. Pinkerton's
dollars!" the captain suddenly exclaimed. "There's
many a fine fellow gone under, Mr. Dodd, because of
drivers like your friend. What do they care for a ship
or two? Insured, I guess. What do they care for
sailors' lives alongside of a few thousand dollars?
What they want is speed between ports, and a damned
fool of a captain that'll drive a ship under as I'm
doing this one. You can put in the morning, asking why
I do it."
I sheered off to another part of the vessel as fast as
civility permitted. This was not at all the talk that
I desired, nor was the train of reflection which it
started anyway welcome. Here I was, running some
hazard of my life, and perilling the lives of seven
others; exactly for what end, I was now at liberty to
ask myself. For a very large amount of a very deadly
poison, was the obvious answer; and I thought if all
tales were true, and I were soon to be subjected to
cross-examination at the bar of Eternal Justice, it was
one which would not increase my popularity with the
court.
Pages:
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330