11
What I Heard in the Apple Barrel
“NO, not I,” said Silver. “Flint was cap’n; I was
quartermaster, along of my timber leg. The same
broadside I lost my leg, old Pew lost his deadlights.
It was a master surgeon, him that ampytated me—out of
college and all—Latin by the bucket, and what not; but
he was hanged like a dog, and sun-dried like the rest,
at Corso Castle. That was Roberts’ men, that was, and
comed of changing names to their ships—ROYAL
FORTUNE and so on. Now, what a ship was christened,
so let her stay, I says. So it was with the CASSANDRA,
as brought us all safe home from Malabar,
after England took the viceroy of the Indies; so it was
with the old WALRUS, Flint’s old ship, as I’ve seen
amuck with the red blood and fit to sink with gold.”
“Ah!” cried another voi
