26
Israel Hands
THE wind, serving us to a desire, now hauled into the west.
We could run so much the easier from the north-east corner
of the island to the mouth of the North Inlet. Only, as
we had no power to anchor and dared not beach her till the
tide had flowed a good deal farther, time hung on our hands.
The coxswain told me how to lay the ship to; after a good
many trials I succeeded, and we both sat in silence over
another meal.
“Cap’n,” said he at length with that same uncomfortable
smile, “here’s my old shipmate, O’Brien; s’pose you was
to heave him overboard. I ain’t partic’lar as a rule,
and I don’t take no blame for settling his hash, but I
don’t reckon him ornamental now, do you?”
“I’m not strong enough, and I don’t like the job; and
there he lies, for me,” sai
