human
Come, Dale, lad, eat away. Don't say you've got no appetite.
gpt
Oh, I'm pretty hungry, sir, I replied;
human
Don't despair, my lad, it will come all right. Why, they must have given us nearly all the powder in those two bags you brought in, and if they don't mind, you and I will make a contrivance to hoist them with their own petard. But I don't want to shed blood if I can help it.
gpt
No, I said, with a shudder,
human
Only, he continued slowly,
gpt
Yes, I said,
human
I see that, and of course we cannot be expected to be merciful to them who would blow us up with gunpowder. Why, they wouldn't have cared if the ladies had been injured as well as the men.
gpt
You are quite right.
human
But you did not shoot Jarette this morning, sir,
gpt
No, Dale, he said,
human
I couldn't. Doctors have spent all their time learning how to save life, and it would have been such a cold-blooded act.
gpt
But if you had shot him, sir, the mutiny would have been at an end.
human
Unless your messmate, Walters, had constituted himself captain, and carried on the war.
gpt
He! I cried contemptuously.
human
Why, I'd go and fetch him out by one ear the same as a dog or a pig out of a drove. I believe, sir, that he is a regular coward and sneak.
gpt
Ah, well, we shall see, replied Mr Frewen,
human
But look here, Mr Frewen, I said,
gpt
Worse than mad, my boy, for what can they do if they keep us down, and carry this vessel into port, which I doubt their ability to do?
human
Oh, they can do that, I said quickly.
gpt
Bob Hampton is such a capital sailor.
human
A capital scoundrel, he cried hotly,
gpt
No, you won't, Mr Frewen, I said, laughing;
human
I don't believe that.
gpt
Well, Dale, I'm afraid that if I did, I should want a boat lowered down to pick him up, and go in it myself. There, as you say, it is a mad thing for the men to have done. It shows how a whole party can be carried away by the specious arguments of one scoundrel. However, we know our duty, my lad; and that is to re-take the ship, place the worst of the men in irons, and make the others navigate the vessel, unless you advocate our hanging the worst of them instead of putting them in irons.
human
There are no irons on board a ship like this,
gpt
Ah, and there is plenty of rope, my lad; so you advocate hanging?
human
Don't make a joke of it all, Mr Frewen,
gpt
Right, he said sharply.
human
We will be wise over it all. Hallo, Mr Brymer is making signs for us to be quiet. The captain is going to speak.