Without a moment's hesitation, therefore, I lifted the keg from the
deck and tossed it into the sea! An exclamation of surprise burst from
the captain and some of the men who witnessed this act of mine.
Striding up to me, and uttering fearful imprecations, the captain
raised his hand to strike me, while he shouted, "Boy! whelp! what mean
you by that?"
"If you lower your hand," said I in a loud voice, while I felt the
blood rush to my temples, "I'll tell you. Until you do so I'm dumb."
The captain stepped back and regarded me with a look of amazement.
"Now," continued I, "I threw that keg into the sea because the wind and
waves will carry it to my friends on the Coral Island, who happen to
have a pistol, but no powder. I hope that it will reach them soon; and
my only regret is that the keg was not a bigger one. Moreover, pirate,
you said just now that you thought I was made of better stuff. I don't
know what stuff I am made of--I never thought much about that subject
--but I'm quite certain of this, that I am made of such stuff as the like
of you shall never tame, though you should do your worst."
To my surprise the captain, instead of flying into a rage, smiled, and
thrusting his hand into the voluminous shawl that encircled his waist,
turned on his heel and walked aft, while I went below.
Here, instead of being rudely handled, as I had expected, the men
received me with a shout of laughter, and one of them, patting me on
the back, said, "Well done, lad! you're a brick, and I have no doubt
will turn out a rare cove.
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