The three of you sail with me, so pack
your dunnage. And the one of you that shows up best will take the mate's
billet. Captain Oleson doesn't carry a mate, you know.'
"I don't remember much after that. All hands got me over the side, and
it seems to me I went to sleep, sitting in the stern-sheets and watching
that Adamu steer. Then I saw the _Flibberty's_ mainsail hoisting, and
heard the clank of her chain coming in, and I woke up. 'Here, put me on
the _Flibberty_,' I said to Adamu. 'I put you on the beach,' said he.
'Missie Lackalanna say beach plenty good for you.' Well, I let out a
yell and reached for the steering-sweep. I was doing my best by my
owners, you see. Only that Adamu gives me a shove down on the bottom-
boards, puts one foot on me to hold me down, and goes on steering. And
that's all. The shock of the whole thing brought on fever. And now I've
come to find out whether I'm skipper of the _Flibberty_, or that chit of
yours with her pirating, heathen boat's-crew."
"Never mind, skipper. You can take a vacation on pay." Sheldon spoke
with more assurance than he felt. "If Miss Lackland, who is my partner,
has seen fit to take charge of the _Flibberty-Gibbet_, why, it is all
right. As you will agree, there was no time to be lost if the _Martha_
was to be got off.
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