anxiously to that. It was a queer place, truly, to set up a
light, and I don't wonder that the men remarked it.

"An odd kind of a lantern to help poor mariners," said Mister Jacob,
sagely. "Being kind to it, sir, I should say that it's not more than a
mile too much to the northward."

"Lay your course by that, and a miracle won't carry you by the reef,"
added Peter Bligh, sagaciously; "in my country, which is partly
Ireland, sir, we put up notice-boards for the boys that ride bicycles:
'This Hill is Dangerous.' Faith, in ould Oireland, they put 'em up at
the bottom of the hills, which is useful entirely."

Some of the crew, grouped about the ladder's foot, laughed at this;
others began to mutter among themselves as though the beacon troubled
them, and they did not like it. A seaman's the most superstitious
creature that walks the earth or sails on the sea, as all the world
knows. I could see the curiosity, which had followed my men from
Southampton, was coming to a head here about twelve thousand miles from
home.

"Lads," cried I, quick to take the point up, "Mister Bligh says that an
Irishman built yon light, and he knows, being a bit of a one himself.
We're not going in by it, anyway, so you can ask questions to-morrow.
There's a hundred pounds to be divided among you for your good
behaviour outward, and there'll be another hundred when we make Calshot
Light. To-night we'll find good sea-room, and leave their beacon to the
lumber-heads that put it up. I thank you, lads, for honest work in an
honest ship. Ask the purser for an extra tot of grog, and say the
skipper told you to."

They gave a hearty "Aye, aye, sir," to this, and without more ado we
put the ship about and went dead slow against a stiff tide setting east
by north-east. For my part, I reckoned this the time to tell my
officers what my intentions were, and when I had called them into the
cabin, leaving our "fourth"--a mere lad, but a good one--upon the
bridge, I ordered Joe, the steward, to set the decanters upon the
table. Mister Jacob, as usual, put on his glasses (which he always did
in room or cabin, just as though he would read a book), but Peter Bligh
sat with his cap between his knees and as foolish an expression upon
his face as I have ever seen.

"Now, gentlemen," I said, "no good talking in this world was ever done
upon a dusty table, so we'll have a glass round and then to business.
Mr. Bligh, I'm sure, will make no objection to that."