human
The crocodiles!
gpt
That's better, my lads. Just a steady pull, and I'll keep as I am with the boat-hook. We mustn't have a capsize.
human
What are you going to do, Joe?
gpt
Don't know, sir, said the man gruffly.
human
Perhaps you can tell me.
gpt
I? No,
human
Ah! That's awkward, said the man.
gpt
I don't know what the skipper was about to set us on this job. That's the worst of being a sailor. They trains us up to 'bey orders directly they're guv, and we does them, but one never knows how to be right. I oughter ha' told the old man as this was more'n men could do; 'cause I half thought it were. But then I says to myself, the skipper knows best; and here we are in a nice hole.
human
A nice hole! cried Rodd angrily.
gpt
Why, we shall be swept out to sea.
human
Looks like it, sir--I mean seems.
gpt
But why not make for the shore, where we could catch hold of some of the overhanging branches?
human
I telled you, sir. 'Cause we should be capsized before we had time to wink. Steady, my lads--steady! It's no use to pull, Mr Rodd; four times as many of us couldn't stem a stream like this.
gpt
Will they come down after us? Yes, my uncle is sure to.
human
Not he, sir. It would be just about mad to try it, and our old man will be so wild at being caught like this that he won't let him stir. 'Sides that, sir, what are you talking about? How are they to know we have been swept away?
gpt
Because we don't come back, of course,
human
That won't do, sir. Skipper knows, of course, after the way we went off, that it's just impossible.
gpt
But the Count will tell him.
human
Too far off for shouting, sir. You take my word for it that the skipper will make up his mind that we are stopping on board the brig till the tide runs slack again. If anything's done it will be by the Frenchies, and I don't believe they'll try.
gpt
Oh, but the Count would. His son would make him.
human
No, sir. The Count's a fine naval officer who has seen service, and he knows too well what he's about to send a boat's crew swirling down this river to go nobody knows where. The only folks as can help us is--
gpt
Yes--who?
human
Ourselves, sir; and we shall find it precious hard.
gpt
That's right, Joe, said one of the other sailors.
human
Better speak out, mate, and say the worst on it.
gpt
Say it yourselves,
human
Yes, speak out, cried Rodd.
gpt
What do you think?
human
We can do nothing, sir, but keep her head straight and go down with the tide, doing all we can to keep from being sucked into the shore among the trees.
gpt
But look here, Joe, aren't we very close in now?