The malcontents drew together a little abaft the mast , and it was plain they were like barnyard cocks , `` crowing for courage . '' Presently they would be fit for any extremity of injustice or ingratitude . Dick began to mount by the ladder , eager to interpose ; but one of the outlaws , who was also something of a seaman , got beforehand . `` Lads , '' he began , `` y ' are right wooden heads , I think . For to get back , by the mass , we must have an offing , must we not ? And this old Lawless -- '' Someone struck the speaker on the mouth , and the next moment , as a fire springs among dry straw , he was felled upon the deck , trampled under the feet , and despatched by the daggers of his cowardly companions . At this the wrath of Lawless rose and broke . `` Steer yourselves , '' he bellowed , with a curse ; and , careless of the result , he left the helm . The Good Hope was , at that moment , trembling on the summit of a swell . She subsided , with sickening velocity , upon the farther side . A wave , like a great black bulwark , hove immediately in front of her ; and , with a staggering blow , she plunged headforemost through that liquid hill . The green water passed right over her from stem to stern , as high as a man 's knees ; the sprays ran higher than the mast ; and she rose again upon the other side , with an appalling , tremulous indecision , like a beast that has been deadly wounded . Six or seven of the malcontents had been carried bodily overboard ; and as for the remainder , when they found their tongues again , it was to bellow to the saints and wail upon Lawless to come back and take the tiller . Nor did Lawless wait to be twice bidden . The terrible result of his fling of just resentment sobered him completely . He knew , better than any one on board , how nearly the Good Hope had gone bodily down below their feet ; and he could tell , by the laziness with which she met the sea , that the peril was by no means over . Dick , who had been thrown down by the concussion and half drowned , rose wading to his knees in the swamped well of the stern , and crept to the old helmsman 's side . `` Lawless , '' he said , `` we do all depend on you ; y ' are a brave , steady man , indeed , and crafty in the management of ships ; I shall put three sure men to watch upon your safety . '' `` Bootless , my master , bootless , '' said the steersman , peering forward through the dark . `` We come every moment somewhat clearer of these sandbanks ; with every moment , then , the sea packeth upon us heavier , and for all these whimperers , they will presently be on their backs .
For , my master , 't is a XXXXX mystery , but true , there never yet was a bad man that was a good shipman .
Dick Lawless cocks daggers left malcontents packeth right sandbanks whimperers