Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/221

 minutes, we won't quarrel, old pal. But I give you my word that I don't like being shot down like a rabbit, and I'm sorry as how it's you as is in command, 'cos if it was any one else I declares I'd get up now and walk home to bed."

"If Captain Collyer was here, you know you'd do nothing of the sort."

"Why, ain't he here? That's wot I wants to know. Strike me dead! it's easy enough to send out poor old seadogs to be shot like bunny rabbits. I could do that. There ain't no pluck in that, as far as I can see, though p'raps I be wrong, and if I be wrong, well, I'll own up to it, for I don't care bein' put in the wrong of it when I is in the wrong of it."

"You ain't a-settin' a very good example to the young men, I'm thinkin'," said Job Mallet. "You, the oldest seaman here, and a-grumblin' and a-gossipin' like an old housewife. You ought to think shame on yourself, old friend."

"Oh, well," growled the other, "I won't utter another blarsted word, I won't. But if you does want to know my opinion in these 'ere proceedin's, it's—hell!"

"I don't say as how I don't agree with you," returned Job Mallet, "but there it is and we've got to make the best of it. It won't do no good a-grumblin'. We'll make the best of a bad job, and I hopes as I for one will be able to do my duty, 'cos I don't relish it no more than you do."