human
On course, answered Bill Rullock,
gpt
I haven't been to sea near thirty years without, messmate.
human
Did you ever cast eyes on the chap, though?
gpt
Can't say as how I have, answered Bill.
human
But there's many they say who has, and few who ever lived to tell of it. But what was you thinking on, Jem?
gpt
Why you see, Bill, replied his chum,
human
I don't altogether like the circumbendibus ways of that ere chap to windward. You see, first in Malta harbour, we falls in with him or one like him, for I don't say, mind you, that that ere craft is the same which nearly ran foul on us yesterday; then out he goes right ahead of us, and then just as it's got dark, down he comes again, and wants to send a boat aboard us. Now you see as how that's the thing I don't in no manner of ways approve on. If I was our skipper, I would send a round shot right into the boat, sooner than any of his people should step on this deck. That's just the trick the cursed Dutchman's up to.
gpt
No manner o' doubt about it, said Bill gravely;
human
True as gospel, old shipmate, but how should we know that he hasn't got tired of the Cape, and taken a trip up here? argued Jem.
gpt
And as to the matter of the rig, he may shift his craft according to the sea he's in. Besides, you know as how if there's one _Flying Dutchman_, there may be two, and this fellow may have come to trouble us here, up the straits. Depend on't, Bill, the less company one keeps with them sort of gentry the better.
human
Very true, Jem, but suppose a chap out of that boat then does come on board, what's to happen think ye?
gpt
Why I can't say exactly, because as how I never seed what he does; but from what I've heard, I believe he tries to slip a letter like into the skipper's or some 'un's hand who's green enough to take it; and then the chap, who's no better nor Davy Jones himself, gives a loud laugh, and down goes the ship to the bottom, or else a hurricane is sure to get up and drive her ashore. But here comes that cursed felucca's boat. I wish we might just let fly at her; it would save mischief, I'll be sworn.
human
Bear a hand there with a rope for the boat coming alongside, sung out the captain in a loud voice, which sounded as ominous of evil to the ears of the superstitious crew.
gpt
Bring a lantern here to the gangway, he added. Bowse, with his first mate and Colonel Gauntlett, stood near the gangway, which was lighted up with a lantern to receive the strangers, as a small boat containing in all only four persons, came round under the brig's stern. They pulled only two oars, and two people were seated in the stern sheet.
human
Keep an eye to windward there, Larkins, on that felucca, said the first mate to the second, as he went to his captain's summons.
gpt
I don't altogether think her cut honest.
human
A mighty fuss about a very small affair, I suspect,