“More than a little, Skipper--there’s been too much pumpin’ aboard you, too, for a _little_ strainin’. How many strokes?” “Oh, maybe two thousand through the night.” “I thought about that. And now let me tell you something, Skipper--that kind of work won’t do your vessel any partic’lar good. It’s a terrible strain. I know, I know--you can’t tell me a little vessel like the _Buccaneer_ can be a rudder to a big logey rolling ship of this one’s size and not show signs of it. I misdoubt you’ll be able to hang on much longer.” “Much longer? Let me tell you, boy, we’ll hang on till you or me goes under.” “No, you won’t.” “Why won’t we? Who’ll stop?” “I will. See here.” Sam, balanced on the taffrail of the bark, poised a sharp-edged axe above the lines that held the _Buccaneer_ astern. “One slash here, and one slash there, and you’re adrift.” “You just try it--just let me see you try it, Sam Leary!” Crump in his wrath shook his fist at Sam, and followed that by furious orders to the _Buccaneer’s_ crew. But that fit over, he shook his head. “I misdoubt that bark’ll live the night out. Blast her, blast her, I wish we’d never set eyes on her! What’s millions, let alone a few thousand dollars, to men’s lives--and men that’s sailed with you, and summer breeze or winter blow was always there when you wanted ’em? Damn you, Sam Leary, for an obstinate mule, but if ever I see you aboard this vessel of mine again you won’t leave it in a hurry again to go aboard any old sinkin’ hulk for prize money!” And still the wind and sea increased; and just before dark Sam appeared at the stern of the bark with the sharp axe in his hand. “O Skipper, Skipper!” he called. “Aye, Sammie.” “Time to part company.” “No, no, Sammie--not yet awhile.” “Yes, now’s the time. There’s nine of us here and twenty-seven of you there. You lay tied to this one, and if we go down suddenly in the night, down you go, too.” “No, no, Sammie. I’ll have two men with axes to the lines. I’ll cut, if I see you goin’--as sure as God’s above me, I’ll cut.” “‘Twon’t do, Skipper. We could roll under in [Illustration: “You just try it--just let me see you try it, Sam Leary.”] the dark afore you’d know it and you’d get whirled in----” “And even so, Sammie--do you believe she’d draw us under?” “Wouldn’t she? If you didn’t cut quick enough, say. And if she didn’t, you’d be caught aback, and in this breeze you’d capsize in a wink. No, ’twon’t do, Skipper. If we’ve got to go, we got to go, and you goin’ with us won’t help. And there’s nine of us and twenty-seven of you.” He looked all about him then--ahead, abeam, aloft, and once more astern at Crump. “So long, fellows, if we’re not here in the mornin’.” Two sharp slashes and the line parted; wide apart fell the big bark and the little schooner. Crump, immediately he felt himself free, laid the _Buccaneer_ alongside as near the bark as he dared, and he could dare a great deal. “Keep off!” called Sam.