human
Do you know where you are now?
gpt
Well, not exactly, only that we have been on ground rich in objects such as I wish to collect, and--excuse me, captain--that bottle--your elbow. I wouldn't have an accident to that for the world.
human
Well, then, continued the skipper, very gruffly, as he dabbed his big finger down in the middle of the chart,
gpt
Saint Helena,
human
Right, grunted the skipper.
gpt
Now, Dr Robson, am I to speak out, or will you send young Mr Rodd here up on deck first?
human
I see no reason for sending my nephew away, he said coldly.
gpt
He and I have the fullest confidence in one another.
human
Right, then, said the skipper harshly.
gpt
It is my duty, Dr Robson, to tell you that you are in a false position.
human
Then, Captain Chubb, as my navigator in whom I have the most perfect trust, it is my duty to tell you that you ought to be on deck sailing us out of it as soon as you can.
gpt
Come down here on purpose, said the skipper shortly,
human
Well, you have a nice opinion of me, Captain Chubb!
gpt
I have, sir--a splendid opinion of you, cried the skipper,
human
Hear, hear! Bravo, Captain Chubb! cried Rodd.
gpt
What about me?
human
You, youngster? Well, you aren't half a bad 'un as boys go. But look here, doctor; time's come for me to speak out. You are a bit too innocent.
gpt
Am I? Well, captain, that's better than being a bit too guilty; eh, Rodd?
human
A deal, uncle. But what's the matter, captain?
gpt
Why, this here, my lad. I can't stand still no longer and see your uncle being made a cat's-paw of.
human
Cat's-paw, eh, captain? said the doctor.
gpt
Let's see, that means to fetch the roasted chestnuts out of the fire. This must apply to you, Master Rodd.
human
To me, uncle?
gpt
Yes; I don't know anybody else whom Captain Chubb looks upon as a monkey.
human
Nay-y-y! I mean that there French Count.
gpt
Stop! cried the doctor sternly.
human
Mind what you are saying, Captain Chubb. Count Des Saix is my friend--a gentleman, a nobleman.
gpt
I dessay he may be at home, said the skipper, meeting Rodd's indignant eyes,
human
But look here, Captain Chubb, said the doctor angrily,
gpt
I cannot be silent and let you malign my friend.
human
He aren't your friend, sir; he's only a Frenchman, and though I've done my duty by him right through, I allers felt as if I couldn't trust him.
gpt
Why not?
human
Because he being a natural born enemy of an Englishman, it didn't seem right that he should pretend to be such a friend of yourn.
gpt
Why not, sir?
human
Now, none of that, doctor. I did warn you about not getting put out. Don't you call me, _sir_, 'cause I don't like it.
gpt
Look here, Captain Chubb, cried the doctor,
human
I am sure you mean well.
gpt
Thankye, sir; I do.
human
Then why have you taken this prejudice against the Count?
gpt
That's a straight question, sir. Now let me ask you one. What's he doing here?
human
Upon some kind of research.
gpt
Not him, sir! That's what he's told you, and it aren't honest. He's carrying on a game of his own behind you; and the boy's as bad as the old man.
human
How dare you!
gpt
Silence, Rodney!
human
I can't be silent, uncle. I won't stand here and listen to such an outrageous charge against those two gentlemen. I don't know what has come to Captain Chubb, but he ought to be made to apologise before he leaves this place.
gpt
Well, he aren't going to be made to, young pepper-caster, growled the captain.
human
Honest men don't apologise for telling the truth, even if it don't taste nice.
gpt
Look here, Chubb, said the doctor,
human
Right, sir. Let's get to the bottom of it at once. You want an explanation. It's this now. I have been very suspicious from the first. What about this 'ere Count and his son? First you knowed of 'em was as they was prisoners at Dartmoor. Well, it sounds bad for a man to be a prisoner, but as he was took in war that don't count for much, so we'll let that go. Next thing is, you runs agen 'em at Havre, cutting their cable and running for it when Government gives orders for them to stop. Next thing is, they boards our schooner like a set of pirates, only we seem too many for them; and then they cackles up a cock-and-bull story about wanting help, when they see they couldn't seize the schooner.
gpt
Look here, Captain Chubb--
human
Give me my chance, sir, and let me finish, and then have your say. Help they had, and plenty on it, and I will say that a nicer, more gentlemanly-tongued chap than the Count I never met, nor had to do with a pleasanter nor nicer young fellow than his son.
gpt
Thank you,
human
Now, don't you sneer, youngster, growled the captain,
gpt
Why, you took us up the river, captain,
human
That's true, sir, but it was to do the best for their leaky brig, and I made her as good a craft as ever she was; so you needn't chuck that in my teeth.
gpt
Be silent, Rodney, and let the captain speak.
human
Well, sir, to make a long story short, the Count gammoned you into keeping company with him, and brought you here--here, of all places in the world--here, to Saint Helena,
gpt
Yes, said the doctor thoughtfully--
human
Scientific research! growled the skipper scornfully.
gpt
Look here, sir, don't you be so innocent. You make me wild. What's this 'ere Count? A Frenchman, aren't he?
human
Well, plenty of clever Frenchmen have followed science,
gpt
Chinese too, sir, though they can't dress like Christians, cried the skipper.
human
But just you tell me this 'ere, sir; who lives at Saint Helena? Don't old Bony? Him as we shut up like the warlike lunatic he is, to keep him out of mischief?
gpt
Well, yes, said the doctor, much more suavely;
human
I should think there is, sir! Haven't I heard you carry on dozens of times about what a bad 'un he's been to the whole world?
gpt
Yes, yes, Chubb; I certainly do entertain strong feelings against that tyrant and usurper.
human
You do, sir. I've heard you say things at times as have sounded red-hot.
gpt
And I'm not ashamed of them, Captain Chubb,
human
Thank you, Captain Chubb; thank you,
gpt
Oh, uncle!
human
You let your uncle alone, youngster; I aren't done with him yet. Now then, doctor, your eyes aren't quite open now, but you are beginning to peep. Now, just have the goodness to tell me what you are a-doing here at Saint Helena--a place that a gentleman with your sentiments ought to have kept clear of like pison.
gpt
Well, cried the doctor, warming up again,
human
Your friend the Count, sir! His scientific expedition! snarled the skipper.
gpt
Do you call old Bony a scientific expedition?
human
I don't understand you, captain.
gpt
Then here you have it, sir, plain. Your friend the Count is a Bony party, and as the French Government knew what game he was on and tried to stop him from running out of Havre, when he come upon us and found out what we were doing, `Here's my man,' he says; `I will just creep under his cloak and carry on my little game to carry off Bony. No one will suspect me if I am in good company, and on what he calls scientific research.' Consekens, here's you, sir, off the island of Saint Helena in co and company with this 'ere Bony party come to carry off and set free the man of all others you hate most in the world. Now you understand what you have come to do.
human
I'll be hanged if I have!