Yet I felt sure that I could trust him in one point , since in that our interests jumped together , and that was in the disposition of the schooner . We both desired to have her stranded safe enough , in a sheltered place , and so that , when the time came , she could be got off again with as little labour and danger as might be ; and until that was done I considered that my life would certainly be spared . While I was thus turning the business over in my mind , I had not been idle with my body . I had stolen back to the cabin , slipped once more into my shoes , and laid my hand at random on a bottle of wine , and now , with this for an excuse , I made my reappearance on the deck . Hands lay as I had left him , all fallen together in a bundle and with his eyelids lowered as though he were too weak to bear the light . He looked up , however , at my coming , knocked the neck off the bottle like a man who had done the same thing often , and took a good swig , with his favourite toast of `` Here 's luck ! '' Then he lay quiet for a little , and then , pulling out a stick of tobacco , begged me to cut him a quid . `` Cut me a junk o ' that , '' says he , `` for I have n't no knife and hardly strength enough , so be as I had . Ah , Jim , Jim , I reckon I 've missed stays ! Cut me a quid , as 'll likely be the last , lad , for I 'm for my long home , and no mistake . '' `` Well , '' said I , `` I 'll cut you some tobacco , but if I was you and thought myself so badly , I would go to my prayers like a Christian man . '' `` Why ? '' said he . `` Now , you tell me why . '' `` Why ? '' I cried . `` You were asking me just now about the dead . You 've broken your trust ; you 've lived in sin and lies and blood ; there 's a man you killed lying at your feet this moment , and you ask me why ! For God 's mercy , Mr. Hands , that 's why . '' I spoke with a little heat , thinking of the bloody dirk he had hidden in his pocket and designed , in his ill thoughts , to end me with .
He , for his part , XXXXX a great draught of the wine and spoke with the most unusual solemnity .
'm begged considered cried lowered made pulling tell took turning