Not a little affected with this consideration, he turned his eye
ruefully upon the lieutenant, saying, in a piteous tone, "What!
leave me at last, Jack, after we have weathered so many hard gales
together? D-- my limbs! I thought you had been more of an honest
heart: I looked upon you as my foremast, and Tom Pipes as my mizen:
now he is carried away, if so be as you go too, my standing rigging
being decayed, d'ye see, the first squall will bring me by the
board. D-- ye, if in case I have given offence, can't you speak
above-board? and I shall make you amends."
Jack, being ashamed to own the true situation of his thoughts,
after some hesitation, answered with perplexity and incoherence,
"No, d-- me! that an't the case neither: to be sure you always used
me in an officer-like manner, that I must own, to give the devil
his due, as the saying is; but for all that, this here is the case,
I have some thoughts of going to school myself to learn your Latin
lingo: for, as the saying is, Better late mend than never: and I am
informed as how one can get more for the money here than anywhere
else.
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