four; we shall do. The fewer the more dollars, hey,
Wilkinson?"

He grinned, and Cromwell broke into a ventral laugh.

They seemed very well satisfied, and so was I.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

I STRIKE A BARGAIN WITH THE YANKEE.

The captain put his cup down; the bowl was empty; I offered to brew
another jorum, but he thanked me and said no, adding significantly that
he would have no more _here_, by which he meant that he would brew for
himself in his own ship anon. The drink had made him cheerful and
good-natured. He recommended that we should go on deck and set about
transhipping whilst the weather held, for he was an old hand in these
seas and never trusted the sky longer than a quarter of an hour.

"This here list," says he, "wants remedying and that'll follow our
easin' of the hold."

"Yes," said I, "and I should be mighty thankful if some of your men
would see all clear aloft for me, that we might start with running
rigging that will travel, capstans that'll revolve, and sails that'll
spread."

"Oh, we'll manage that for you," said he. "Tru-ly, she's been bad froze,
very bad froze. Durned if ever I see a worse freeze."

So saying he called to "Bill," who seemed the principal man of the
boat's crew, and gave him some directions, and immediately afterwards
all the men entered the boat and rowed away to the ship.

Whilst they were absent I carried the captain into the hold and left him
to overhaul it. I told him that all the spirits, provisions, and the
like were in the hold and lazarette, which was true enough, wanting to
keep him out of the run, though, thanks to the precaution I had taken, I
was in no fear even if he should penetrate so deep aft. Before he came
out five-and-twenty stout fellows arrived in four boats from the ship,
and when we went on deck, we found them going the rounds of the vessel,
scraping the guns to get a view of them, peering down the companion,
overhauling the forecastle-well, as I call the hollow beyond the
forecastle, and staring aloft with their faces full of grinning wonder.
The captain sang out to them and they all mustered aft.

"Now, lads," said he, "there's a big job before you--a big job for Cape
Horn, I mean; and you'll have to slip through it as if you was grease.
When done there'll be a carouse, and I'll warrant ye all such a sup that
the most romantic among ye'll never cast another pining thought in the
direction o' your mother's milk."

Having delivered this pre