human
Sir, he said,
gpt
I'm no hand for riddles, said Gideon North.
human
Talk plain sea-talk.
gpt
Sir, said Arnold,
human
I ask you to come back as captain of the Adventure, to save Seth Upham from his--friends.
gpt
Blast Upham and his friends!
human
As you will. But that pair of leeches will get the blood from his heart, and Joe Woods, his heir, will lose every penny of his inheritance.
gpt
Upham should have thought of that before. Leave him alone. He lies in the bed he made.
human
He, poor man, does not think of it now. Indeed, I fear he's beyond saving.
gpt
What is this wild-goose chase?
human
Exactly what the object is I do not know, Arnold replied.
gpt
They talk of a treasure, but they are fit to rule an empire of liars. They are not, I believe, equipped for the slave trade, though of that you are a better judge than I.
human
I wonder why _they_ want me back.
gpt
They? At that Arnold laughed.
human
I am interested, he said.
gpt
Aye, and tempted.
human
We are three honest men with one purpose, he said;
gpt
You spend the night with me, lads, and we will go on board together in the morning. That alone will give 'em a pretty start, for I've no doubt they think already that they're well rid of the three of us, and by sun-up they'll be sure of it. What's more, we'll go armed, lads, knives in our belts and pistols in our boots.