human
Did you say wittles?
gpt
Ay, mate, I did.
human
Why, I 'members something 'bout wittles. O' course. Me and you, Bob.
gpt
When? Where?
human
Ah, I dunno when it was, nor wheer it was, but--
gpt
She's dying--she's dying,
human
Who's she? And what's she a-dying for?
gpt
Toe be sure, mate, said Dumlow,
human
Here, you don't know what you're talking about, messmate,
gpt
Yes, he does, I cried excitedly, for a greater light seemed to have now flashed into my brain.
human
You did go into the saloon to have--Oh, Bob Hampton, I recollect it all now.
gpt
Do you, sir? Then let's have it,
human
There was a great mistake made,
gpt
Seems like it, sir.
human
And, yes, I continued,
gpt
I know Barney went to sleep at the wheel.
human
That's a lie! he rapped out.
gpt
Leastwise, I beg your pardon, sir; I mean I arn't the sort o' man to go to sleep on duty.
human
No, no; of course not, Barney, I said piteously;
gpt
Arn't he going off his head, matey?
human
No, no, man; it's all coming back now. You don't know, but you must now; it was a plan to give the mutineers stuff to send them all to sleep, and it was changed and given to us instead.
gpt
Beg pardon, sir, said Bob Hampton;
human
Why, Bob?
gpt
No, man; it's sense. That fellow Dean heard all, and changed the tins.
human
Now, do lie down, sir; it's o' no use for you to go on worrying yourself about tins.
gpt
I tell you I can see it all now, man, I cried angrily.
human
We took the stuff, and the prisoners got off. They're out now, and we're prisoners. Don't you see?
gpt
No, sir; it's too dark. But--
human
I tell you I'm all right. My head is come clear again, and I can think. We were all confused through taking Mr Frewen's stuff.
gpt
I never took none o' the doctor's stuff, growled Dumlow.
human
And I don't never mean to.
gpt
Are you sure o' what you're saying, sir?
human
Certain, Bob.
gpt
I arn't.
human
You hold your tongue, and don't be sarcy, Neb, growled Bob.
gpt
I'm a-beginning to see now. Mr Dale's right. If he warn't, how could we be shut up down here with our heads as thick as if we'd been having 'em stuffed? That's it, sir, though I don't half understand what you say. Then we've all been hocussed, and Jarette's got the upper hand again?
human
Yes, Bob, I'm afraid so.
gpt
Well, that's ugly, my lad; but there's no help for it now, and the sooner we get to work and take the ship again, I suppose, the better.
human
Yes, Bob, I said.
gpt
Of course.
human
Very well, my lad, then here goes. I'm glad it's how you say, for I was beginning to think I'd got crazed, and been shut up for being violent. That's a comfort anyhow, for I don't hold with a man going off his head.
gpt
Then it's all right, messmate?
human
Right as it can be in a place like this, matey. Yer can't breathe, nor you can't see, and--well now, that's queer. You seem to ha' set my head working again, Mr Dale, sir; and I recklect sittin' in the s'loon eating our dinner arter you gents had done, and then coming over all pleasant and comfble like, and then I don't seem to 'member no more till I woke up down here.
gpt
And that knocking we heard must be some of the others,
human
That's sartain, sir.
gpt
Is there any one else here beside us four?
human
If there be, says Barney,
gpt
Yer can't see,
human
Well, I didn't mean with my eyes, Neb; so don't be so chuff on a fellow. I meant with my understanding.
gpt
Don't. Don't get arguing together, I cried impatiently.
human
It is suffocating down here. I want to understand how we are placed, and I can't quite make it out yet.
gpt
Well, sir, p'r'aps I can help you a bit, said Bob.
human
Seems to me as they pulled up a hatch and pitched us in, and then battened it down again.
gpt
And where are our friends?
human
Why, they'd shove 'em where we shoved they, down in the forksle, I should say, unless they've stuffed 'em in the cable-tier.
gpt
Yes, perhaps so,
human
Why, o' course,
gpt
What? They are in the cable-tier?
human
Oh, I dunno, sir; I was a-thinking about our taking they wittles in the s'loon, and it's come back like sort o' bells ringing in my ear, and Mr Denning saying she's dying. Oh yes, I recklect that, and the doctor coming. That's 'bout as far as I can get.
gpt
I 'member the wittles on the binnacle quite plain now, said Barney;
human
No, I can't see nowt; but I dessay it's all right. I don't want to know; it don't matter to me.
gpt
Hush! I whispered.
human
There's that knocking again.
gpt
There's some one else, and quite near,
human
No, my lad, that was me. Here's a big case behind me, and I let go on it.
gpt
Knock again,
human
They heard us, I said, and answered.
gpt
Try again with one.
human
Those are our friends there,
gpt
If it arn't old Frenchy gammoning us, sir,
human
I think it must be our friends,