The greatest villain in the world dislikes to be thought a listener, on
the same principle that men would rather be accused of crime than
cowardice--of vice than folly; poor Springall stopped and stammered
until commanded to go on.
"It was a fine day, and, thinking I should like a bath, I let myself
down close by the cabin window with a rope. The window was open, and as
I hung half in and half out of the water, I could hear every syllable
they said, the sea was so calm. Not a word about the Jewess; but that
precious villain was listening to a proposal made by the other villain
to seize you, this very night, in your own ship, and murder you
outright! It's true, master, as I'm alive! Then Jeromio said it would be
better to deliver you up, as a rover, to the government; but Sir
Willmott made reply, that might answer his purpose, but it would not
do for him. Then he promised him a free pardon, and tempted him with
the riches of the Crag, and other things;--and, as well as I could
understand, they fully agreed upon it. And then, for fear of discovery,
I was mounting up, when the rope, as ill-luck would have it, broke, and
I went tilt splash into the water! Well, Jeromio looked out, and swore
at me; but it mattered not: I scrambled up, resolving, as you may
suppose, to keep a good look-out; but that double devil, Sir Willmott,
was at it again, and would have it that I was listening, and so I was
clapped under hatches; and hard enough I found it to steal off to you."
"The villain!" exclaimed the Buccaneer. "But the thing is impracticable;
there are not more than ten or a dozen of her crew ashore: my brave
fellows would never see their captain murdered!"
"On what pretext I know not, but he has, during the afternoon, sent the
long-boat off with the truest hands aboard. I heard the men talking, as
they passed backwards and forwards, that Bill o' Dartmouth, Sailing
Jack, Mat Collins, and the Fire-fly rovers, as we used to call
them--those boys who had been aboard with you in foreign parts--had gone
ashore by your orders; and I know there are five or six--those
Martinicos and Sagrinios, and the devil's own O's, that are 'fore and
aft in all things with Jeromio. There's no putting faith in any of them,
seeing they have a natural antipathy towards us English. So, now, let us
put back, sir."