Do ye not hear the water washing in her hold ? She will scarce mind the rudder even now . Bide till she has settled a bit lower ; and she will either go down below your boots like a stone image , or drive ashore here , under our lee , and come all to pieces like a twist of string . '' `` Ye speak with a good courage , '' returned Dick . `` Ye are not then appalled ? '' `` Why , master , '' answered Lawless , `` if ever a man had an ill crew to come to port with , it is I -- a renegade friar , a thief , and all the rest o n't . Well , ye may wonder , but I keep a good hope in my wallet ; and if that I be to drown , I will drown with a bright eye , Master Shelton , and a steady hand . '' Dick returned no answer ; but he was surprised to find the old vagabond of so resolute a temper , and fearing some fresh violence or treachery , set forth upon his quest for three sure men . The great bulk of the men had now deserted the deck , which was continually wetted with the flying sprays , and where they lay exposed to the shrewdness of the winter wind . They had gathered , instead , into the hold of the merchandise , among the butts of wine , and lighted by two swinging lanterns . Here a few kept up the form of revelry , and toasted each other deep in Arblaster 's Gascony wine . But as the Good Hope continued to tear through the smoking waves , and toss her stem and stern alternately high in air and deep into white foam , the number of these jolly companions diminished with every moment and with every lurch . Many sat apart , tending their hurts , but the majority were already prostrated with sickness , and lay moaning in the bilge . Greensheve , Cuckow , and a young fellow of Lord Foxham 's whom Dick had already remarked for his intelligence and spirit , were still , however , both fit to understand and willing to obey . These Dick set , as a body-guard , about the person of the steersman , and then , with a last look at the black sky and sea , he turned and went below into the cabin , whither Lord Foxham had been carried by his servants . CHAPTER VI -- THE GOOD HOPE -LRB- concluded -RRB- The moans of the wounded baron blended with the wailing of the ship 's dog . The poor animal , whether he was merely sick at heart to be separated from his friends , or whether he indeed recognised some peril in the labouring of the ship , raised his cries , like minute-guns , above the roar of wave and weather ; and the more superstitious of the men heard , in these sounds , the knell of the Good Hope . Lord Foxham had been laid in a berth upon a fur cloak . A little lamp burned dim before the Virgin in the bulkhead , and by its glimmer Dick could see the pale countenance and hollow eyes of the hurt man . `` I am sore hurt , '' said he .
`` Come near to my side , young XXXXX ; let there be one by me who , at least , is gentle born ; for after having lived nobly and richly all the days of my life , this is a sad pass that I should get my hurt in a little ferreting skirmish , and die here , in a foul , cold ship upon the sea , among broken men and churls . ''
Foxham Gascony Greensheve Lawless Shelton VI body-guard minute-guns steersman treachery