But I t'ought it was in fun;
that was my mistake, ye see; and there's no man big
enough upon this island to give a present to my
mother's son. So there's my opinion to ye, plumber,
and you can put it in your pockut till required."
"Well, I will say, Mac, you're a gentleman," said
Carthew, as he helped him to shovel back his winnings
into the treasure-chest.
"Divil a fear of it, sir! a drunken sailor-man," said
Mac.
The captain had sat somewhile with his face in his
hands; now he rose mechanically, shaking and stumbling
like a drunkard after a debauch. But as he rose, his
face was altered, and his voice rang out over the isle,
"Sail ho!"
All turned at the cry, and there, in the wild light of
the morning, heading straight for Midway Reef, was the
brig FLYING SCUD of Hull.
CHAPTER XXIV
A HARD BARGAIN
THE ship which thus appeared before the castaways had
long "tramped" the ocean, wandering from one port to
another as freights offered.
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