Four a.m.
That is the only disinfectant I have aboard in quantity . At midnight I flipped the coin -- heads I 'd take it ; tails I would n't . The coin fell heads -- and I took it . Four a.m. -- Mustered the crew and gave them a lecture on bubonic plague . I have sufficient antipest serum for four men . After explaining that it was Hobson 's choice , I asked the men to draw matches , held in the hand of the first mate , to see who should be the lucky ones . They all decided to take a chance and go without it , with the exception of two seamen and the mates , who , learning that I had taken it , decided to follow suit .