So we allowed the doctor to proceed.
"Pridgin, Mr Sharpe's, third, 869--very close." Good old Pridgin! All his discomfort had not been for nothing.

He had "taken it out of" Crofter, after all.

By how much?
"Leslie, Mr Selkirk's, fourth, 832.

Wales, Mr Sharpe's, fifth, 801.
Crofter, Mr Sharpe's, sixth, 769." A cool hundred between them! We had the decency not to rub it in too hard.

It was clear by the disconcerted look in the face of our so- called captain that he was more surprised than any one.