Martha laid down her knitting and looked at the captain over her spectacles.
"Why, would you take it, captain ?" Jane asked in some astonishment, turning to him again.
"Don't know but I would.

Ain't no better job for a man than savin' lives.

I've helped kill a good many; 'bout time now I come 'bout on another tack.

I'm doin' nothin'-- haven't been for years.

If I could get the right kind of a crew 'round me--men I could depend on--I think I could make it go." "If you couldn't nobody could, captain," said Jane in a positive way.
"Have you picked out your crew ?" "Yes, three or four of 'em.