human
You see, gentlemen, said Mr Brymer,
gpt
I thought dissolved in water,
human
Two objections to that, said Mr Denning;
gpt
I'll answer for it that Jarette would not touch water, cried Mr Brymer,
human
Beg pardon, sir, said Bob Hampton's voice,
gpt
What? cried Mr Brymer, in alarm,
human
No, sir, not they. One of 'em's got up into the hatchway as spokesman, and he's been giving us a bit of his mind.
gpt
What does he say?
human
Says as he wants to know whether you mean to starve 'em out; as they've on'y had some water and biscuit for twenty-four hours, and that if you don't send 'em some grub, they'll set fire to the ship, for they'd sooner be roasted than starved.
gpt
All right, Hampton; go back and tell them that we will see what can be done, but that if they fire another shot they shall not have a biscuit.
human
Right, sir,
gpt
There, doctor, could anything be better?
human
No; they are playing into our hands; but there is the difficulty still. How can we give it to them? It must be something of which all will partake. Why not have some coffee made for them?
gpt
Half of them wouldn't touch it, said Captain Berriman.
human
I'd suggest grog, but they have spirits no doubt, and they want food.
gpt
Wouldn't a tin of the soup do?
human
The very thing! he cried eagerly.
gpt
You have some tins of soup amongst the Australian meat, captain?
human
Yes, plenty.
gpt
That will do then, only it must be done with a certain amount of cunning, or they may have suspicions. Depend upon it, if I am seen in it they will not take the stuff.
human
Then what is to be done?
gpt
I propose, replied Mr Brymer,
human
Which is true enough,
gpt
Exactly, continued Mr Brymer;
human
Well?
gpt
You can give me the stuff--laudanum, or whatever it is--to mix with the contents of one tin, which Dale can take to the cook, and tell him to warm up and reduce with hot water, while he reserves the other for our table.
human
But why give him two?
gpt
Because I want to avert suspicion in every way. The cook has been mixed up with the men, and he shut himself up as you know in dread of our punishing him, perhaps shooting him down. He may suspect something, and manage to warn the men. If two tins are sent, one for the men and one for our own table, everything will look simple and ordinary.
human
And suppose he gives us the drugged one by mistake?
gpt
We can guard against that by sending a large one and a small one. No-- by sending two different kinds.
human
There is only one kind,
gpt
I don't like the plan, said the doctor.
human
It may end in a mistake, and we don't want to be hoist with our own petard.
gpt
Hang it, no! cried Mr Brymer.
human
All right then, we will not eat the soup.
gpt
But why shouldn't I take my drug--it will only be a small portion of a white powder--and drop it into the soup when it is ready?
human
Because there would certainly be some hitch in the proceedings to hinder you getting it in. Besides, we don't want the cook to be in the secret.
gpt
Very well then, said the doctor,
human
I suppose that must be the plan. I'll go and get the drug ready at once, and bring it here. But one minute; how many men are there in the forecastle?--because I must reckon accordingly.
gpt
Say sixteen. You must give them a pretty good dose.
human
Yes; but not strong enough to be risky,