‘The provisions served out to the convicts are infernally bad,’ said Captain Barrett.
‘“They are not good, but they may be eaten,” as Charles XII. said to the soldier who showed him some mouldy pieces of bread,’ exclaimed the doctor.
‘At such a table as this,’ said Lieutenant Chimmo, ‘a man can take a philosophic view of the tastes and appetites of people who are ill-fed.’
‘Convicts are as well fed as sailors,’ said Captain Sutherland.
‘I’d rather be a convict than a sailor,’ said Captain Barrett.
‘One’s t’other more often than not,’ observed Lieutenant Chimmo. ‘’Stonishing what a lot of rascals sail afore the mast!’
‘Take care that whisper don’t get forward of the main-hatch sentry,’ said the captain, with a glance at the steward. ‘Jack’s got a sensitive side to his nature.’
‘Doctor, what’s to be the routine when decent weather sets in?’ inquired Captain Barrett.
‘Schools, Bible classes, and frequent prayer-meetings, sir,’ answered the doctor.
‘Don’t educate them,’ said Lieutenant Chimmo. ‘They’re very bad now; education’ll make them worse.’
‘I’m with Chimmo,’ said Captain Barrett. ‘Doctor, I’ll wager you what you will that the worst of your people are those who are most intelligent and best educated.’
‘I must state this as a fact,’ said Captain Sutherland, with a side look at the doctor, as though distrusting his topic: ‘Mr. Bates, my chief officer, recognised one of the convicts. His name--’ The doctor made a motion with his hand. ‘Well, enough if I say,’ exclaimed the captain, stammering, ‘that this same man is a person of excellent antecedents, was for years at sea, and held several posts of trust, and finally wound up a flourishing career by investing his savings in a smart little barque for no other purpose than to scuttle her that he might pocket about triple the amount of his venture in insurance money.’
I heard this, and my heart turned hot. I longed to walk up to Captain Sutherland, look him in the eyes, and call him a beast and a liar. No one observed me, which was lucky. I was conscious that my face worked with agitation and that my cheeks were red with the blood which the captain’s lie had driven into my head. At this point the steward bade me carry a basket of dirty dishes to the galley, and I stepped out with my burden upon the quarter-deck.