human
At all events, as we are about to fish off there, we will take a look round the neighbouring islands on the chance of discovering the wreck, and rescuing any of her people who may have escaped, said the master.
gpt
If we fail in that, we may fall in with a British man-of-war, and you shall be put on board. If not, we will land you at Yokohama or Kagoshima, from whence you can without difficulty get to Hong-kong.
human
I feel sure that the British consul at any place at which you may land us will reimburse you for the expense to which you may be put on our account.
gpt
We won't talk about that, my young friend, answered the American captain.
human
We will set off the loss of your boat against that; and I am only too happy to have saved your lives, and to have rendered any service in my power to British officers in distress, for I tell you it is my belief that you would all have starved before you got to Guam, or any other island at which you could have landed in the Ladrones.
gpt
I guess that they don't value midshipmen at a long figure in your service,
human
That depends on the sort of midshipmen they happen to be, answered Tom, putting on a modest air.
gpt
We flatter ourselves that we are not likely to be neglected. Now, if we happened to have all been like Billy Blueblazes there, who, from the quantity of beef he consumes, is undoubtedly a heavy cost to her Majesty, our captain might have considered it his duty to leave us to find our own grub for the future, and thus save our beloved country a heavy expense.
human
I see, said the mate with a wink, discovering that Tom was not a person out of whom he could take much change.
gpt
And pray may I ask if that young gentleman's name is really Billy Blueblazes? It's a curious sounding one, at all events.
human
It's the name by which he is known among us, at all events, answered Tom.
gpt
The captain may in his supreme wisdom call him Mr William Blewitt, or when he is gazetted, on obtaining his lieutenancy, he may possibly be designated by the last-mentioned appellation; but Billy Blueblazes he will be called by his messmates while he remains afloat.