? ? ? ? 'Haven't the least idea,' I said. 'But you ought to know quite closely. What were your last observations?'
? ? ? ? He smiled, but did not answer.
? ? ? ? 'Well, where are all hands?' I asked him. 'How does it come that you are alone?'
? ? ? ? I was prepared for him again to set aside my question, and was surprised at the readiness of his reply.
? ? ? ? 'My brother got me inside forty-eight hours, and through no fault of mine. Boarded me in the night, with only the watch on deck. Hunters went back on me. He gave them a bigger lay. Heard him offering it. Did it right before me. Of course the crew gave me the go-by. That was to be expected. All hands went over the side, and there I was, marooned on my own vessel.
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