Pike
began cudgelling his brains over it. I wonder, had I asked Mulligan
Jacobs the question, if he would have told me? At any rate, in court
at Valparaiso that question will be answered. In the meantime I
suppose I shall submit to having the steward ask me it daily.
"It is murder and mutiny on the high seas," I told them this morning,
when they came aft in a body to complain about the destruction of the
boats and to demand my intentions.
And as I looked down upon the poor wretches from the break of the
poop, standing there in the high place, the vision of my kind down
all its mad, violent, and masterful past was strong upon me.
Already, since our departure from Baltimore, three other men,
masters, had occupied this high place and gone their way--the
Samurai, Mr. Pike, and Mr. Mellaire. I stood here, fourth, no
seaman, merely a master by the blood of my ancestors; and the work of
the Elsinore in the world went on.
Bert Rhine, his head and face swathed in bandages, stood there
beneath me, and I felt for him a tingle of respect.
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