We'll be required on deck," he added, in a sharper note, and set one foot upon the ladder.
But Mr.Riach caught him by the sleeve.
"Admitting that you have been paid to do a murder----" he began.
Hoseason turned upon him with a flash.
"What's that ?" he cried.

"What kind of talk is that ?" "It seems it is the talk that you can understand," said Mr.Riach, looking him steadily in the face.
"Mr.Riach, I have sailed with ye three cruises," replied the captain.
"In all that time, sir, ye should have learned to know me: I'm a stiff man, and a dour man; but for what ye say the now--fie, fie!--it comes from a bad heart and a black conscience.

If ye say the lad will die----" "Ay, will he!" said Mr.Riach.
"Well, sir, is not that enough ?" said Hoseason.

"Flit him where ye please!" Thereupon the captain ascended the ladder; and I, who had lain silent throughout this strange conversation, beheld Mr.Riach turn after him and bow as low as to his knees in what was plainly a spirit of derision.
Even in my then state of sickness, I perceived two things: that the mate was touched with liquor, as the captain hinted, and that (drunk or sober) he was like to prove a valuable friend.
Five minutes afterwards my bonds were cut, I was hoisted on a man's back, carried up to the forecastle, and laid in a bunk on some sea-blankets; where the first thing that I did was to lose my senses.
It was a blessed thing indeed to open my eyes again upon the daylight, and to find myself in the society of men.

The forecastle was a roomy place enough, set all about with berths, in which the men of the watch below were seated smoking, or lying down asleep.