Some of them say they would never have signed our articles if they had known they were going to sail with a dead man; others only grumble; but I'm afraid we shall have some trouble with them all, in case of rough weather, unless the boy is contradicted by you or the other gentleman.

The men say that if either you or your friend tell them on your words of honor that the Maltese is a liar, they will hand him up to be rope's-ended accordingly; but that if you won't, they have made up their minds to believe the boy." Here the captain paused and awaited my answer.

I could give him none.

I felt hopeless under our desperate emergency.

To get the boy punished by giving my word of honor to support a direct falsehood was not to be thought of even for a moment.