"No, sah, I tink not; but you come out here, sah, where de oder gentleman not hear, and I tell you." Oakum squabbled with 'Pollo every day, but they were very old shipmates, and the rough sailor had the most abundant confidence in the black, so he drew on his trousers, and cautiously followed him to the foot of the steps, where 'Pollo sat down, and Oakum knelt by his side. "Now, then, what's up?" growled Oakum. "I tell you, sah, reckly, but first must 'fess somefin to you." "Go ahead then, my hearty," was the reply. "Well, sah, while I busy all de mornin' in my galley, I see de beauful lump of silber brought up ober and ober again, and I see Mass' Jone and noder sailor busy knock off de shell and tuff, and frow him all of a heap." "Yes, and there it lies now on deck," said Sam, "instead of being shyed overboard. What o' that?" "Well, sah, no able to sleep 'cause of dat, and so I get out of my hammock and creep all soft like on deck." "What, did you get some of the bits o' shell in your blanket." "No, sah, no," chuckled 'Pollo. "You know me, Mass' Sam Oakum, sah, we berry ole friend, and go froo deal ob trouble togedder." "Well, yes, 'Pollo, old man, we have had a hardship or two, but what o' that?" "Why, sah, I 'fess eberything to you, sah, and tell you all." "Heave ahead, then." "Well, sah, I no tink it berry wrong, sah, cause there such a debble ob a lot ob silber, but while I watch Mass' Jone and de sailor chip, chip, chip at de shell to knock 'em off I see dem knock little bit ob silber too some time, and one time dey fro lump of shell down. I quite sure got big piece of silber inside." "And you've been up on deck to get hold of it, eh?" "Yes, Mass' Oakum, sah, dat's him." "Hand over, and let's feel the weight on it, 'Pollo, old man, only you needn't do that, my lad. We found the spot for the govnors, and they'll come down hansome." "Yes, Mass' Oakum, sah, but I tink it great pity waste anyting, eben bit ob fat, so no like see bit ob silber fro overboard." "Where's the stuff; 'Pollo?" "I no got um, sah, dat's why I came to ask you." "But is it so heavy as all that, 'Pollo?" "No, sah, you no understand. I come on deck, find de silber, and I find someting else." "What's that?" said Oakum sleepily. "I find piece ob de crew, sah, all sit togedder in a corner, hatchin' mutiny." "What?" exclaimed Oakum, whom these words galvanised into an excited state. "Hatch de mutiny, sah." "I've good as expected as much," exclaimed Oakum, giving his leg a slap. "Heave out, and let's rouse the skipper. The beggars mean treachery." "We better go softly then, Mass' Oakum, sah, or we get knife in de ribs." "Right, 'Pollo," said Oakum; "let's investigate first and see." Creeping softly up the ladder he just raised his head above the coamings of the hatchway, and peered cautiously round, but seeing nothing he drew himself the whole way out, and lay down on deck, 'Pollo following him on the instant.