"'Could n't you say a bit of something better than that?' said I, getting nearer to him slowly.
"'What do you mean?' said he, jumping up angrily; but he was scarce on his legs when he was down again at his full length on the plank, with a bullet through his brain, never to move again!"
"There, there, avast with that tale; you've told it to me every night that my heart was heavy this twelvemonth past. But I 've hit on a way to save the lad,--will you help me?"
"Ay, if my help does n't bring bad luck on him; it always has on every one I befriended since--since--"
"Never mind that. There 's no risk here, nor much room for luck, good or bad." He paused a second or two, then added,--
"I 'm thinking we can't do better than shove him ashore on the island yonder."
"On Anticosti!" said Felborg, with a shudder.
"Ay, why not? There's always a store of biscuit and fresh water in the log-houses, and the cruisers touch there every six or seven weeks to take people off. He has but to hoist the flag to show he 's there."
"There's no one there now," said the Dane.
"No. I saw the flag-staff bare yesterday; but what does that matter? A few days or a few weeks alone are better than what's in store for him here."
"I don't think so. No! Beym alia Deyvelm! I 'd stand the bullet at three paces, but I 'd not meet that negro chap alone."
"Oh, he's dead and gone this many a year," said Halkett. "When the 'Rodney' transport was wrecked there, two years last fall, they searched the island from end to end, and could n't find a trace of him. They were seven weeks there, and it's pretty clear if he were alive--"
"Nonsense, man! You don't believe those yarns they get up to frighten the boys in the cook's galley?"
"It's scarce mercy, to my reckoning," said Felborg, "to take the lad from a quick and short fate, and leave him yonder; but if you need my help, you shall have it."
"That's enough," said Halkett; "go on deck, and look after the boat. None of our fellows will betray us; and in the morning we 'll tell Sir Dudley that he threw himself overboard in the night, in a fit of frenzy. He'll care little whether it's true or false."
"I say, Con--Con, my lad," said Halkett, as soon as the other had mounted the ladder. "Wake up, my boy; I've something to tell you."