ship.

"There an't no need--not a morsel o' good can come from sinkin' her.
And not a bit harm in lettin' her slip."

"What will the others say?"

"They won't know anything about it--they can't unless we tell 'em. And
we won't be the fools to do that. As I argied to them, with the wind
off-shore, as 'tis now, she'll scud out o' sight o' land long afore
daylight. Bill Davis! whatsomever the others may do, or think they're
doin', let's me an' you keep our consciences clear o' this foul deed.
Believe me, mate, we'll both feel better for't some day."

"If you think they won't know, I'm agreed."

"How can they? There an't none o' them to see what we do down here.
'Taint likely there's any listener. Gie a knock or two wi' the mallet!"

The ship's carpenter obeying, strikes several blows against an empty
water-cask, the noise ascending through the open hatch. He suspends his
strokes at hearing exclamations above; then screams in the shrill treble
of female voices.

"You see they're not thinking o' us," says the mate. "Them Spaniards
are too busy about their own share o' the job. They're gettin' the
girls into the boat."

"Yes; that's what they're doing."

"Sweet girls both be. An't they, Davis?"

"Ay, that they are; a pair of reg'lar beauties."

"Look here, shipmate! Since we've settled this other thing, I want to
say a word about them too, and I may's well say it now. Gomez and that
land-lubber, Hernandez, are layin' claim to them, as if they had a
right. Now they haven't, no more than any o' the rest o' us. Some
others may have fancies, too. I confess to havin' a weakness for the
one wi' the copper-coloured hair, which is she as Gil Gomez wants to
'propriate. I made no objection to his takin' her into the boat. But
soon's we get ashore, I intend to stan' out for my rights to that little
bit o' property, which are just as good as his. Do you feel like
backin' me?"

"Hang me, if I don't! I'm myself a bit sweet upon the dark 'un, and
have been, ever since settin' eyes on her. And though I've said
nothing, like yourself, I wasn't going to give that point up, before
having a talk about it. You say the word--I'll stan' by you. And if it
comes to fightin', I'll make short work with that bandy-legged chap
Hernandez, the one as wants her. We can count on Jack Striker on our
side; and most like the Dane and Dutchman; La Crosse for certain.
Frenchy don't cotton to them Spaniards, ever since his qu