"Now, listen to me, the lot of ye. Chips and me and all hands in the
fo'c's'le has signed this here doccyment because, havin' thought it all
over, we're agreed that Mr Troubridge is quite right in demandin' what
he do. Mr Wilde there objects to it because he ain't allowed to
interfere with and dictate to Mr Troubridge, and none of you won't sign
because Mr Wilde won't let ye. Now, I'll give ye all ten minutes
longer to make up your minds, and if you haven't signed by that time we
sailormen won't have no more truck with ye, but'll go to Mr Troubridge
and tell 'im he can take the ship to Sydney, where she's bound to."

This announcement, coming quite unexpectedly, fell like a bombshell
among Polson's audience, who had dwelt upon the idea of life in an
island where perpetual summer reigns, and where Nature offers many of
her choicest gifts almost unsolicited, until it had taken such complete
possession of them that it had come to represent to them the one
desirable thing in the whole world, to lose which would be to lose
everything. In a perfect passion of consternation they turned upon
Wilde and not only claimed their right to sign, but also insisted that
he should conform to Polson's demand and be the first among them to
affix his signature. Subjected to such pressure as this there was of
course but one thing for him to do; and he did it; but the next moment
he dashed up on deck, sprang up the poop ladder, and, approaching me,
shook his clenched fist in my face as he exclaimed, almost foaming at
the mouth:

"You young scoundrel! I have signed that precious document of yours
because that fool Polson left me no option. But wait until we arrive at
the island and my power begins, and then I'll make you--"

"Hold your tongue, sir, and go down off this poop!" I exclaimed,
springing to my feet in a rage, for the fellow at the helm was grinning
broadly at the scene. "And if you dare to come up here again without
being sent for I'll kick you down on to the main deck, and then have you
put in irons. Ay, and I'll do so now if you dare to answer me. Be off
with you now, quick!"

I never in all my life saw a man so completely taken aback as was this
crazy schoolmaster when I tackled him. Amazement, incredulity, wounded
vanity, indignation, and bodily fear seemed all to be struggling
together to assert themselves in his countenance and to find articulate
expression upon his tongue; but fear was the strongest of them