Читать книгу The Secret Chart; or, Treasure Hunting in Hayti онлайн

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“Hold your tongue, unless you want to be set ashore again, and I’m not certain I should take the trouble of using the boat.”

Andy gave a truthful account of all that had occurred, and concluded by saying, as he pointed to the food on the deck:

“Dere it be, capt’in, de same as I send to de cabin.”

By this time all the alleged shipwrecked men had laid aside their plates to gather around the leader, standing very near the captain in threatening attitudes, and, attracted by the noise, Mr. Jenkins came on deck.

Captain Mansfield looked squarely in the fellow’s face fully half-a-minute before he said:

“There is your supper. You will get no more to-night, and you are either to eat or throw it overboard. In addition, you will clean the deck at once.”

The man stood in an attitude of defiance, glancing now and then at his companions, but making no move toward obeying the orders; and Gil’s father, turning to the mate, said:

“Mr. Jenkins, if my instructions have not been carried out properly at the end of five minutes, throw this man overboard. Call all hands, including the boys, if you need assistance.”