all. Are you going to desert me in my hour of need?--you know if I've
deserted you--or will you give me your hand, and try a fresh deal, and
go home (as like as not) a millionaire? Say no, and God pity me! Say
yes, and I'll make the little ones pray for you every night on their
bended knees. "God bless Mr Herrick!" that's what they'll say, one after
the other, the old girl sitting there holding stakes at the foot of the
bed, and the damned little innocents.. . He broke off. 'I don't often
rip out about the kids,' he said; 'but when I do, there's something
fetches loose.'

'Captain,' said Herrick faintly, 'is there nothing else?'

'I'll prophesy if you like,' said the captain with renewed vigour.
'Refuse this, because you think yourself too honest, and before a
month's out you'll be jailed for a sneak-thief. I give you the word
fair. I can see it, Herrick, if you can't; you're breaking down.
Don't think, if you refuse this chance, that you'll go on doing the
evangelical; you're about through with your stock; and before you know
where you are, you'll be right out on the other side. No, it's either
this for you; or else it's Caledonia. I bet you never were there, and
saw those white, shaved men, in their dust clothes and straw hats,
prowling around in gangs in the lamplight at Noumea; they look like
wolves, and they look like preachers, and they look like the sick; Hulsh
is a daisy to the best of them. Well, there's your company. They're
waiting for you, Herrick, and you got to go; and that's a prophecy.'

And as the man stood and shook through his great stature, he seemed
indeed like one in whom the spirit of divination worked and might utter
oracles. Herrick looked at him, and looked away; It seemed not decent to
spy upon such agitation; and the young man's courage sank.

'You talk of going home,' he objected. 'We could never do that.'

'WE could,' said the other. 'Captain Brown couldn't, nor Mr Hay, that
shipped mate with him couldn't. But what's that to do with Captain Davis
or Mr Herrick, you galoot?'

'But Hayes had these wild islands where he used to call,' came the next
fainter objection.

'We have the wild islands of Peru,' retorted Davis. 'They were wild
enough for Stephens, no longer agone than just last year. I guess
they'll be wild enough for us.'

'And the crew?'

'All Kanakas. Come, I see you're right, old man. I see you'll stand by.'
And the captain once more offered his hand.

'Have it your own