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The captain stood and looked at the quartermaster,
without a word, for several long seconds, and I saw
that the crewmen were holding their breaths. A pirate
ship does not operate under the same rules as an
honest ship. The quartermaster of a corsair holds
nearly the power of a captain, and both are elected
by the crew. The quartermaster is the man who,
among other duties, is charged with settling disputes
between crew members -- but when a dispute arises
between captain and quartermaster, there are no rules. "This must come to a vote," said the captain. My mother gathered strength to her voice, and said "Come, my dears. I've been friend to many of you at one time or another. Who among you can say she's not his, even if not the captain's?" "Damme," said the quartermaster, "the little bastard could, indeed, be any man-jack's in the Caribbean. Slit her throat and throw her overboard." |
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Copyright © Michael B.Stevens, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005. All rights reserved. Format modified Aug. 2005