"'Melhuish,' says he, 'there's trouble below. The men will have it
that we are steering for treasure. I tell them that, if you are,
they are bound to know as soon as we sight it, and neither you nor
I--being two to twelve--can prevent their having the game in their
own hands. I have told them, over and above this,' he went on,
pitching his voice loud--but having his back towards them he winked
at me--'that by your reckoning we shall sight land in a few hours at
the farthest, and are willing to serve out a double tot of rum; that,
as soon as ever land is sighted, you will call all hands aft and tell
them our intention, as man to man; and that then, if they have a
mind, they can elect whatever new captain they choose.'
"The impudence of this took me fair between wind and water. I saw,
of course, that I was trapped, and naturally my first thought was to
suspect the man speaking to me. I looked at him, and he winked
again, not seeming one bit abashed.
"'You may tell them,' said I, with my eyes on his face, 'that as soon
as we sight land I shall have a statement to make to them.'
I wondered what it would be; but I said it to gain time. 'As for the
rum,' I went on, 'they can drink their fill. If we sight land, I
will steer the ship in.
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