"We've done the forbidden thing; we've mutinied and taken to the open sea.

We were fired on by the other mutiny ships, and that will help our sailors, but it won't help me.

I'm the leader.

We ought, of course, to have taken refuge with the nearest squadron of the king's ships.

Well, I've run my luck, and I'll have to pay." He scratched his chin with a thumb-nail-a permanent physical trait.