I sorter looked 'round, an' sized up four o' that crew ter be good honest sailormen, who'd been shanghied same as I wus.

So, long about midnight, I 'd got ter talk with all these fellers, an' when LaGrasse went down below ter take a snooze in the cabin, we hoisted them Dutchmen on deck, flung a couple o' hell-hounds overboard, an' just naturally took control.

The mate wus a dead nigger afore he ever knew whut wus up.

When daylight come we wus streakin' it eastward by compass, an' every damn sail set.

Thet wus the easiest part of it.