I flung my arms around the dear fellow and kissed him on both cheeks. He had spoken that which was in my own heart, although I could not have put it in such proper words; and then it was decided between us that we would remain by the _Essex_ so long as should be permitted us. By the time we two had settled the question, Master Hackett had succeeded in quieting the wranglers sufficiently to make himself heard, and the old man proved to be quite a dandy at handling a meeting. "Hold your jaw, you lubbers!" he shouted with such a volume of sound that he must have been heard distinctly by those on the quarter-deck. "The captain wants to know how many of us is achin' to get home before the Britishers send half a dozen frigates down here to blow us out of the water, an' he'll never get the information unless you settle down into peaceable sailormen. There's no use waggin' your chins over this thing; every man has a right to do what pleases him best, an' now he's got a fair chance. What I say is this: Let them as want to go aboard the _Georgiana_ toddle to the port side, and them who count on holdin' by the old hooker, step over to starboard." The men looked around curiously for an instant, and then every one of them moved to starboard, Phil and I among the rest. There was a broad grin on Master Hackett's face when he cried with a semblance of anger:-- "This 'ere won't do at all. Some of us are bound to go, seein's how we can't let that cargo of oil run to waste. Of course _I'll_ hold to the frigate; but them as have got wives an' children ashore ought 'er get over to port, an' we'll feel no shame for 'em, knowin' as we do that a crew must be made up for the _Georgiana_." "It's none of your business how many wives or children we've got, Hiram Hackett!" one of the throng shouted. "It's as much our right as yours to stick to the frigate, an' we count on doin' it. Why not send the boys? They can do the work of sailormen aboard the _Georgiana_! Then you'll have two towards a crew." "Come here, you skulkers!" Master Hackett roared, looking at Phil and me, and there was nothing for it but to step out from among the crew. "Act as spokesman, Phil," I whispered. "You can go ahead of me when it comes to jawing; but remember that they can't drive us off unless the captain gives the word, and I'm thinking that my cousin Stephen will stand up for our rights." "Are you two infants ready to obey orders an' go aboard the _Georgiana_?" Master Hackett asked, looking as fierce as if he counted on eating us. "No, sir!" Phil shouted at the full strength of his lungs. "We've got as much right to stay as you have, an' we won't volunteer!" "Three cheers for the infants!" some one shouted, and the men yelled until their throats were like to split. Then the crew crowded around Master Hackett, each man trying to make himself heard, and I understood that there was little chance of finding a crew for the _Georgiana_ if every one was to do as he pleased.