Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 20, 1896 - Travels and excursion, Volume III

THE EBB-TIDE
Of a sudden he rose ; he seemed all abroad. ' No ! '
he cried. l No ! it can't be ! It 's too much ; it 's
damnation. God would never forgive it.'
* Well, and 'oo wants him to ? ' returned Huish,
shrill with fury. ' You were damned years ago
for the Sea Hynger, and said so yourself. Well
then, be damned for something else, and 'old your
tongue.'
The captain looked at him mistily. * No,' he
pleaded, ' no, old man ! don't do it.'
' 'Ere now,' said Huish, ' I '11 give you my ultimy-
tum. Go or st'y w'ere you are ; I don't mind ; I 'm
goin' to see that man and chuck this vitriol in his
eyes. If you st'y I '11 go alone ; the niggers will
likely knock me on the 'ead, and a fat lot you 11
be the better ! But there 's one thing sure : I '11 'ear
no more of your moonin' mullygrubbin' rot, and
tyke it stryte.'
The captain took it with a blink and a gulp.
Memory, with phantom voices, repeated in his ears
something similar, something he had once said to
Herrick — years ago it seemed.
' Now, gimme over your pistol,' said Huish. ' I
'ave to see all clear. Six shots, and mind you don't
wyste them.'
The captain, like a man in a nightmare, laid down
his revolver on the table, and Huish wiped the
cartridges and oiled the works.
It was close on noon, there was no breath of
wind, and the heat was scarce bearable, when the
two men came on deck, had the boat manned, and
362