What I Heard in the Apple Barrel

           No,notI,"saidSilver."Flintwascap’n;Iwasquartermaster,alongofmytimberleg.ThesamebroadsideIlostmyleg,oldPewlosthisdeadlights.Itwasamastersurgeon,himthatampytatedme—outofcollegeandall—Latinbythebucket,andwhatnot;buthewashangedlikeadog,andsun-driedliketherest,atCorsoCastle.ThatwasRoberts’men,thatwas,andcomedofchangingnamestotheirships—RoyalFortuneandsoon.Now,whatashipwaschristened,soletherstay,Isays.SoitwaswiththeCassandra,asbroughtusallsafehomefromMalabar,afterEnglandtooktheviceroyoftheIndies;soitwaswiththeoldWalrus,Flint’soldship,asI’veseenamuckwiththeredbloodandfittosinkwithgold."

           "Ah!"criedanothervoice,thatoftheyoungesthandonboard,andevidentlyfullofadmiration."Hewasthefloweroftheflock,wasFlint!"

           "Daviswasamantoo,byallaccounts,"saidSilver."Ineversailedalongofhim;firstwithEngland,thenwithFlint,that’smystory;andnowhereonmyownaccount,inamannerofspeaking.Ilaidbyninehundredsafe,fromEngland,andtwothousandafterFlint.Thatain’tbadforamanbeforethemast—allsafeinbank.’Tain’tearningnow,it’ssavingdoesit,youmaylaytothat.Where’sallEngland’smennow?Idunno.Where’sFlint’s?Why,moston’emaboardhere,andgladtogettheduff—beenbeggingbeforethat,someon’em.OldPew,ashadlosthissight,andmighthavethoughtshame,spendstwelvehundredpoundinayear,likealordinParliament.Whereishenow?Well,he’sdeadnowandunderhatches;butfortwoyearbeforethat,shivermytimbers,themanwasstarving!Hebegged,andhestole,andhecutthroats,andstarvedatthat,bythepowers!"

           "Well,itain’tmuchuse,afterall,"saidtheyoungseaman.