The cook shot a doubting glance at the Old One, but went none the less, and came back wiping his lips.
There was a quaver in the cook's voice, for he was by no means sure of how great a tale he could make, and the master's face gave him small encouragement, for from the beginning of the tale to the end the Old One never altered his cold, cruel smile.
"It was the boatswain and young Canty," he said.
"They was leaning on the forecastle and walking the deck arm in arm and talking of one thing and another."
"They talked about some one's slow wit--I could not make sure whose, for they scoffed at me bitterly--and Canty was bepuzzled by the boatswain's ways, and he wanted him to do something or other."
"Go on." The Old One, grinning coldly, leaned back and watched the labouring cook, who wracked his few brains to make a worthier story.
"Nay, but I heard little else. Yet, said I, the master must know at all costs."
"What a thick head is thine and how easily seen through and through!" The Old One laughed. "Think you all this is worth a second thought? I am of the mind to have you skinned and salted. But I forgive you, since I have a milkish heart that is easy moved to pity. Get you down to your berth and sleep."
The cook departed in haste, but with a fleeting glance at Harry Malcolm whom he feared less only than the master. He was aware that for some reason he did not understand, his broken tale had served his purpose.
When he had gone the Old One turned about. "You heard him. What think you?" said he.
From the great bed in the corner, Harry Malcolm raised his head and laughed silently. "Our able cook was hard pressed for an excuse to get out of his ankle rings. Did you hear him slopping at the butt the first time passing? As for his tale, we know what we knew, and no more."
"At Baracao we shall see," said Harry Malcolm. "Neither one nor a dozen can harm us before we raise land."
"And after raising land, which by God's mercy will be soon now, we shall see whose wits will nick first when the edges crack together."
The Old One stretched and yawned and Harry Malcolm softly laughed.
A light seen in the middle watch gave warning of an unexpected landfall, and calling up the Old One, who had a store of knowledge gained by much cruising in those seas, they lay off and on until dawn, when they made out an island of the Bahamas. It seemed, since by their reckoning they were still a day's sail from land, that there was some small fault in their instruments; but to this they gave little heed, and which island it was and what occasioned the light they never knew, though some ventured one guess and some another as they bore past it and lifted isle beyond isle. For two days, with the Old One conning the ship, they worked their way among the islands, and thus at last they came to a deep bay set among hills, which offered a commodious and safe anchorage, notwithstanding that on the point that guarded the bay there was the wreck of a tall ship.