Scudamore, who
understood his man, obeyed; and Tugwell came to his bearings on a clump
of fern before him.
"How much will Government pay the chaps as fetches her out of that snug
little berth? For division to self and partners, how much? For division
to self and family, how much?"
"I have thought about that," the lieutenant answered, with little
surprise at the question, but much at the secrecy thrown around it; "and
I think it would be very unsafe to count upon getting a penny beyond the
Admiral's terms--double pay for the day that we float her."
Captain Zebedee shook his head, and the golden sheaf of his Olympian
beard ruffled and crisped, as to an adverse wind.
"Can't a'most believe it," he replied, with his bright eyes steadily
settled on Scudamore's; "the English country, as I belongs to, can't
quite 'a coom to that yet!"
"I fear that it has indeed," Blyth answered, very gravely; "at least I
am sure of this, Master Tugwell, that you must not look forward to
any bounty, bonus, or premium, or whatever it is called, from the
Authorities who should provide it. But for myself, and the difference it
will make to me whether we succeed or fail, I shall be happy, and will
give my word, to send you 50 pounds, to be divided at your discretion
among the smacks. I mean, of course, as soon as I get paid."
Scudamore was frightened by the size of his own promise; for he had
never yet owned 50 pounds in the solid.
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