Approach, fellows, and knock off those gyves."
"Justice of the Peace!" echoed Ben Jope, paying no attention whatever
to Mr. Sturge, but turning on Bill Adams with round, wondering eyes.
"I _told_ you he was something out o' the common. And you ain't had
no more sense than to knock him over the head with a cutlass!"
"I did not," protested Bill Adams. "He took it accidental, you being
otherwise engaged; an' I stuck to the creatur', thinkin' as how you
_wanted_ him."
"But _why_ should I want him?"
"Damned if I know. If it comes to that"--Bill Adams jerked a thumb
towards the hammock containing Mr. Sturge--"what d'ye want _him_
for?"
"Oh, _him_?" answered Mr. Jope with a grin. "In a gale off
Pernambuco--"
"What on earth are you two talking about?" asked the surgeon, who had
seated himself on the deck and, with the lantern between his feet,
was busily preparing a blister.
"Beggin' your pardon, sir, but you haven't been on deck yet?
You haven't _seen_ the ducks we brought aboard last night?"
"My good man, can I be in two places at once? I have been up all
night with Mr. Wapshott, and the devil of a time he's given me.
When they brought me this poor fellow, I hadn't time to do more than
order him into hammock--indeed I hadn't. Now, then"--he stood on his
feet again and addressed the marine--"fetch me a basin of water and
I'll bathe his head."
"Is Mr.
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