mity of
New Guinea and the Pelew Islands--"and work our way in an easterly
direction."

"Have you read those notes?" I asked, drawing his attention to certain
notes on the chart explaining that: "the Caroline, Marshall, and Solomon
groups are almost entirely unknown, and are believed to have many
dangers in their neighbourhood not marked upon the charts; navigators
are therefore cautioned to exercise the most extreme vigilance when
approaching or sailing among them."

"Certainly I have, my boy," he answered; "and it is to them that my
choice of that part of the ocean is chiefly due. Those islands, you
see, are `almost entirely unknown'; which means that if we can find one
among them of a suitable character for our new settlement, we are not
likely to be disturbed by the intrusion of curious and inquisitive
visitors. Therefore, kindly take measures to navigate the ship to the
spot that I have indicated."

It was on the tip of my tongue flatly to refuse to have anything
whatever to do with him or his scheme, and to defy him to do his worst,
when the germ of an idea came floating into my mind, and I said instead:

"Do you leave the choice of route to me? Because, if so, I shall
certainly go south-about past Australia, as being much the safer route."

"Safer, possibly, but not nearly so direct," replied Wilde. "Therefore,
since we are all anxious to begin our new life as early as possible, let
us take the shorter and more direct route, past the north-west of
Australia, and through the Banda Sea and Molucca Passage."

"That route positively bristles with dangers, as you might see if you
understood a chart," I exclaimed, in tones of exasperation.

"I do not doubt your word for a moment, my dear boy," answered Wilde
soothingly. "But we shall bear in mind the warning of the chart; we
shall exercise `the most extreme vigilance' in the midst of those
dangers; and I have not the slightest doubt that everything will be all
right. And now, to change the subject, have you made a choice between
the two alternatives that I submitted to you yesterday?"

"You mean the alternative of joining you or of being drowned?" I asked
with vindictive emphasis.

"Precisely," he answered with a smile of the utmost suavity. "And,
understand me, youngster," he continued, with a sudden change to
sternness in his manner, that disconcerted me a great deal more than I
should have cared for him to know, "if you decide to join us you must