What, man, you would not desert me!' The old seaman's tropes and maritime conceits were not always intelligible to me, but it was clear that he had set his heart upon my accompanying him, which I was equally determined not to do.

At last by much reasoning I made him understand that my presence would be more hindrance than help, and would probably be fatal to his chances of success.
'Well, well,' he grumbled at last, 'I've been concerned in no such expedition before.

An' it be the custom for single ships to engage, I'll stand to it alone.

You shall come with me as consort, though, and stand to and fro in the offing, or sink me if I stir a step.' My mind was full of my father's plans and of the courses which lay before me.

There seemed to be no choice, however, as old Solomon was in dead earnest, but to lay the matter aside for the moment and see the upshot of this adventure.
'Mind, Solomon,' said I, 'I don't cross the threshold.' 'Aye, aye, mate.