s one thing,' said Davis,
gravely.

''Ere! wot's wrong with you, Dyvis? Coppers 'ot? Well, look at me! I
ain't grumpy,' said Huish; 'I'm as plyful as a canary-bird, I am.'

'Yes,' said Davis, 'you're playful; I own that; and you were playful
last night, I believe, and a damned fine performance you made of it.'

''Allo!' said Huish. ''Ow's this? Wot performance?'

'Well, I'll tell you,' said the captain, getting slowly off the rail.

And he did: at full length, with every wounding epithet and absurd
detail repeated and emphasised; he had his own vanity and Huish's upon
the grill, and roasted them; and as he spoke, he inflicted and endured
agonies of humiliation. It was a plain man's masterpiece of the
sardonic.

'What do you think of it?' said he, when he had done, and looked down at
Huish, flushed and serious, and yet jeering.

'I'll tell you wot it is,' was the reply, 'you and me cut a pretty dicky
figure.'

'That's so,' said Davis, 'a pretty measly figure, by God! And, by God, I
want to see that man at my knees.'

'Ah!' said Huish. ''Ow to get him there?'

'That's it!' cried Davis. 'How to get hold of him! They're four to two;
though there's only one man among them to count, and that's Attwater.
Get a bead on Attwater, and the others would cut and run and sing out
like frightened poultry--and old man Herrick would come round with
his hat for a share of the pearls. No, SIR! it's how to get hold of
Attwater! And we daren't even go ashore; he would shoot us in the boat
like dogs.'

'Are you particular about having him dead or alive?' asked Huish.

'I want to see him dead,' said the captain.

'Ah, well!' said Huish, 'then I believe I'll do a bit of breakfast.'

And he turned into the house.

The captain doggedly followed him.

'What's this?' he asked. 'What's your idea, anyway?'

'Oh, you let me alone, will you?' said Huish, opening a bottle of
champagne. 'You'll 'ear my idea soon enough. Wyte till I pour some
chain on my 'ot coppers.' He drank a glass off, and affected to listen.
''Ark!' said he, ''ear it fizz. Like 'am fryin', I declyre. 'Ave a
glass, do, and look sociable.'

'No!' said the captain, with emphasis; 'no, I will not! there's
business.'

'You p'ys your money and you tykes your choice, my little man,' returned
Huish. 'Seems rather a shyme to me to spoil your breakfast for wot's
really ancient 'istory.'

He finished three parts of a bottle of champagne, and nibbled a corner
of biscu