"Well, I dunno, sir," said the mate. "I don't think I'd run in too close. The water's shallow, and there's often very heavy seas closer in." "Be bad for an open boat, skipper," said the American. "Very, sir," said Captain Banes. "I daresay you'll get pretty wet before you're set ashore." "That's bad, skipper; but I wasn't thinking of myself, but about my traps." "Your traps?" "Yes, I've got a lot of tackle that won't bear wetting. Dessay there's a ton altogether aboard." "What!" roared the captain. "You've no goods aboard?" "Oh, haven't I? Guns, ammunition, provisions, and stores of all sorts." "How did they get here? Bring 'em in your pocket?" "Nonsense. Your second mate brought 'em aboard." "What? Here, Lynton, speak out. Have you been in collusion with this fellow, and brought his baggage aboard?" "Not a bag, sir," cried the mate indignantly. "Oh, come, I like that!" said the American, laughing. "Didn't I come and sit by you and smoke and see it all done?" "No!" cried the second mate angrily. "Well, you Englishmen can tell crackers when you like. What about that big cask with the holes in?" "That cask? Was that yours?" "Of course it was, and all the rest of the things on that truck," said the American coolly. "You don't suppose I should have come and sat there to see anybody else's tackle taken on board, do you?" "Well," broke in Brace, laughing, "judging by what I've seen of you, sir, I should say you would." The American turned upon him in the midst of the laugh which arose, and said smilingly: "All right, sir, have your joke; but when I ask questions or hang around to see what's going on I do it for a reason. I wanted to go on this voyage in this ship, sir: that's why I was so inquisitive; and here I am." "Yes," said the captain hotly, "for the present. And so you tricked my second officer and men into bringing your baggage on board, did you?" "Schemed it, skipper, schemed it," said the American coolly. "Exactly. Very clever of you, my fine fellow; but look here: suppose I make you forfeit your baggage when I set you ashore?" "Law won't let you, skipper." "I'm the law on board my ship," cried the captain angrily. "Suppose I refuse to stop my vessel to get your baggage out of the hold, and that precious cask?" "Good, that's right, skipper--precious cask," said the American coolly. "Precious or not precious, I shall set you ashore, and continue my voyage, and whether it lasts one month or twelve, you may wait for your baggage till I come back, and you may look for me wherever I am." "You can't do it, skipper," said the American smoking away quietly. "Oh, can't I, sir?" cried the captain. "You'll see." "No, I shan't, skipper. It would be murder, I tell you, to set me ashore, and double murder to sail away with my luggage." "Bah!" cried the captain. "You see, there's that cask. What about it?" "Hang your cask! I'll have it thrown overboard."