“Make no reference to that gentleman,” cried Greaves, “I am the captain of this ship, and all that is done is of _my_ doing. I await your answer.” “Vy der doyvil,” said Van Laar deliberately, with his eyes fastened upon my face, “vhas not you drown? Shall I tell you? Because you vhas reserve for anoder sort of end,” and here he bestowed a very significant nod upon me. I felt the blood in my cheeks. I could have whipped him up the steps and overboard for talking to me like that. I looked at Greaves, met his glance, bit my lip, and held my peace. “Which will you do, Mr. Van Laar?” said Captain Greaves. “If you do not answer for yourself I will find an answer for you.” “Gott, but I hov brought my hogs, as you English say, to a pretty market. I am dere servant of Mynheer Bartholomew Tulp.” “I am master of this ship and you are my mate. I can break you and send you forward. I can have you triced up and your broad breech ribbanded. I can swing you at the yardarm till your neck is as long as an emu’s. Why do I tell you this? Because you are ignorant of the sea and must learn that my powers are not to be disputed by any man under me, from you down, or, as I would rather say, from you up,” he added, with a sarcastic sneer. “Vhat vhas your offer?” said the mate. There was a perversity in this man’s stupidity that was very irritating. The captain quietly named again the alternative. “Vat vhas dis voyage about?” inquired the mate. “That is my affair.” The Dutchman stood gazing at one or the other of us. He then put on his cap and saying, “I vill schmoke a pipe in my bed und tink him out,” he made a step toward his berth. “I must have your answer by six o’clock,” said the captain. The mate, taking no notice of Greaves’ remark, entered his berth and closed the door. Greaves and I were silent upon the man’s behavior; he was so absolutely and helplessly in the power of his captain that the sense of fairplay would not suffer us to speak of him. “I will tell Jimmy,” said Greaves, “to get the slop chest up, and you can overhaul it for the clothes you require. You will want a chest; _that_ can be managed. What else will you require? Your bedroom needs furnishing. I can lend you a razor and give you a hairbrush. Linen and boots you will find among the slops. As to wages--we will arrange it thus: I shall give a written undertaking to each of the crew, on announcing to them the purpose of this voyage. In my undertaking to you, in which I shall state your share, I can name the wages agreed upon--ten pounds a month, starting from to-day, which of course, I will make a note of in my log book. Does this meet your views?” “Handsomely,” I answered. He left his seat. “With your leave, captain,” said I, “it is _captain_ now; it shall be _sir_ anon.”