"I thinks he be a supernatural himself, for my part," rejoined Spurey.
"At all events, he ar'n't afeard of him," said another.
"We shall see," replied Coble, squirting out his tobacco-juice under the
gun.
"Come, men, we must go to work now. Shall we, Mr Short?"
"Yes," replied the commanding officer, and the conference broke up.
In the meantime the consultation was continued between Smallbones and
the corporal. The latter had received instruction to take on shore Mr
Vanslyperken's dirty linen to the washerwoman, and of course, as a
corporal, he was not obliged to carry it, and would take Smallbones for
that purpose. Then he could easily excuse taking the dog on shore, upon
the plea of taking care of it. It was therefore so arranged; the dog
would follow the corporal in the absence of his master, but no one else.
In a few minutes the corporal, Smallbones, Snarleyyow, and a very small
bundle of linen, were in the boat, and shoved off with as many good
wishes and as much anxiety for their success, as probably Jason and his
followers received when they departed in search of the Golden Fleece.
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