She
got high and mighty, and I told her I was old enough to be her
grandfather and that I wouldn't take gammon from a chit like her. And
then I ordered her off the _Flibberty_. 'Captain Oleson,' she says,
sweet as you please, 'I've a few minutes to spare on you, and I've got
some good whisky over on the _Emily_. Come on along. Besides, I want
your advice about this wrecking business. Everybody says you're a
crackerjack sailor-man'--that's what she said, 'crackerjack.' And I
went, in her whale-boat, Adamu Adam steering and looking as solemn as a
funeral.
"On the way she told me about the _Martha_, and how she'd bought her, and
was going to float her. She said she'd chartered the _Emily_, and was
sailing as soon as I could get the _Flibberty_ underway. It struck me
that her gammon was reasonable enough, and I agreed to pull out for
Berande right O, and get your orders to go along to Poonga-Poonga. But
she said there wasn't a second to be lost by any such foolishness, and
that I was to sail direct for Poonga-Poonga, and that if I couldn't take
her word that she was your partner, she'd get along without me and the
_Flibberty_. And right there's where she fooled me.
"Down in the _Emily's_ cabin was them three soaks--you know them--Fowler
and Curtis and that Brahms chap.
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