d to clinch the matter at once, by
putting my demands into black-and-white, and securing the signatures of
the crew to them before the boatswain, who was evidently a man of
influence among them, should find time to alter his view of the affair.
I consequently sprang to my feet and, bidding my companion await my
return, descended to my own cabin, and, carefully wording the document,
drew up a form of agreement between myself on the one part and the crew
and passengers of the _Mercury_ on the other. Then, returning with it
to the poop, I placed the paper in Polson's hand, after reading it over
to him, and requested him to obtain first the signatures of the crew to
it, beginning with himself and the carpenter, and then those of the
emigrants; afterwards returning the document to me. It cost him nearly
three hours strenuous work to secure the signatures of the entire crew
and the emigrants to the agreement; for in the first place he found the
occupants of the forecastle, one and all, very unwilling--as is the case
with most illiterate people--to pledge themselves by attaching their
signatures or marks to my memorandum, although it was read over and
explained to them at least half a dozen times, so that they thoroughly
understood the nature of it, and verbally expressed themselves as fully
approving of each of the conditions.

At length, however, by dint of much persuasion the boatswain secured the
signature or mark of every occupant of the forecastle, after which he
entered the 'tween-decks and, summoning the whole of the emigrants to
meet him, fully explained the situation to them, read over the
agreement, and then, laying the document upon the table, demanded their
signatures to it. But here, again, he encountered a quite unexpected
amount of opposition, Wilde stepping forward and not only refusing to
attach his own signature to the paper, but also forbidding any of the
other emigrants to do so. Polson argued, pleaded, and cajoled, but all
in vain. Nothing that he could say appeared to have the slightest
effect upon his audience, although several declared their perfect
readiness to sign if their leader would but accord his permission. It
was not until at length, with his patience completely exhausted, he
suddenly determined upon the adoption of what, to him, seemed a
thoroughly desperate expedient, that he achieved even a partial success.
Dashing the paper down with vehemence upon the table, he exclaimed
wrathfully: