Snarleyyow by Frederick Marryat

Mr Vanslyperken hastened from his inglorious conflict, maddened with rage and disappointment. He returned on board, went down into his cabin, and threw himself on his bed. His hopes and calculations had been so brilliant -- rid of his enemy Smallbones -- with gold in possession, and more in prospect, to be so cruelly deceived by the widow -- the cockatrice! Then by one to whom he fully confided, and who knew too many of his secrets already -- Corporal Van Spitter -- he too! -- and to dare to aspire to the widow -- it was madness -- and then their knowledge of his treason -- the corporal having witnessed his receiving the gold -- with such bitter enemies what could he expect but a halter -- he felt it even now round his neck, and Vanslyperken groaned in the bitterness of his spirit.

In the meantime, there was a consultation between the widow and the corporal as to the best method of proceeding. That the corporal could expect nothing but the most determined hostility from Vanslyperken was certain; but for this the corporal cared little, as he had all the crew of the cutter on his side, and he was in his own person too high in rank to be at the mercy of Vanslyperken.