"Thankye," said Oakum. "Well now, suppose as I says I'll fight for you, sail the schooner, and help get up some more treasure, what'll you give me?" "Oakum!" exclaimed Dutch, who had believed strongly in the old man's faith. "You be blowed," growled Oakum. "I must take care o' myself. Now then, gov'nor, what do you say?" "I'll give you a hundred of those silver ingots down below. That will make you a rich man." "Won't do," said Sam, stoutly. "I ain't going to cut my old skipper for no hundred on 'em. Make it two hundred and I'll take you." "Oakum, if you have a spark of manly feeling in you!" cried Dutch. "Ain't got a spark, Mister Dutch Pugh. It was put out that day of the fight." "You scoundrel!" cried the captain. "Same to you, captain," said Oakum, coolly. "Now then, gov'nor, what do you say? Is it to be two hundred, or is the proposal off?" "I'll give you the two hundred," said Laure, with flashing eyes, for he knew that Oakum would be invaluable to him, and very likely bring Rolls and Lennie over--the three being the best sailors in the ship. "And 'bout grog?" said Oakum. "As much as you like when the work's done," said Laure. "And 'bacco?" "Of course." "And I ain't to be a common sailor?" "No, under me you shall have command of the ship, as far as navigation goes." "Then I'm on," said Sam Oakum, giving his leg a slap, after a glance at the armed men on one side and his captive superiors on the other. There was a murmur of dissatisfaction from the captain and the others at this secession, and Oakum turned upon them sharply. "What are you a growling about?" he exclaimed, throwing off his former tones of respect. "You can't spect a man to stick to you always. Your game's up, his is on.--I'm going on his side. Why not? I'm a pore man, and I shall be a pore one if I don't make some tin this trip." "You're quite right, my lad," said Laure, slapping him on the shoulder, and then turning a malignant look on his prisoners. "One must know which way his bread's buttered," growled Sam. "Say, my lads," he continued, to Rolls and Lennie, "you can go down and be boxed up under hatches if you like, only if I was you I should say to the new skipper, `Give's twenty of them bars a piece, and we'll stick to you to the end.'" "I'll give you twenty ingots a piece, my lads," said Laure. "Will you come over?" "I'm a-going to do just the same as Master Oakum does," said Lennie. "I'm on too," growled the other, with what sounded a good deal like a curse. "That's good. Step over here then," said the Cuban. "You are free men." There was another angry murmur from the prisoners, as they saw their party lessened by three; but there was a greater trial in store for them, for just then Oakum turned sharp round on old Rasp, who was taking snuff viciously as he leaned back and looked on. "I say, old beeswax," said Oakum, "now's your time to make your bargain. You're a fool if you stop there."