it with and keep an eye upon him."

"Ay," observed the carpenter, "it might ha' been a good thing to ha'
done that, certingly. But you haven't got nothin' to reproach yourself
with, sir; you done what you did with a good and kind intention; and you
wasn't to know that the fust thing he'd do when he come back to his
senses 'd be to up and jump overboard. Oh no, sir, you ain't to blame
in noways for what's happened. What do _you_ say, bullies?"

"No, no; in course the gen'leman ain't to blame; nobody what's seen how
the land lay--like we have--and how Mr Leslie have been a-doin' all he
could to help the skipper, could ever say as he's any way to blame. Not
he!" answered one and another of the men, each of them in one way or
another endorsing the carpenter's verdict.

"Thank you, men," returned Leslie; "it is a great relief to me to feel
that you think as you do in this matter. Now, that being disposed of,
there is a further point to be considered; and it is this. The shocking
fate of Mr Purchas leaves us with no navigator on board save myself. I
have no great desire to proceed in this brig all the way to Valparaiso;
but, nevertheless, there are reasons that, to me, seem to make it
desirable that I should do so. I may tell you that we are now very near
the Line; so near, indeed, that we may fall in with other craft, aiming
to cross it at the same point as ourselves, at any moment. Now if we
should fall in with a ship, would you wish me to communicate with her
and ask her captain to place a navigating officer on board this brig, to
take her to Valparaiso; or would you prefer that I should take charge--
with Chips, here, as mate--and navigate you to Valparaiso myself?"

"Speakin' for myself," answered the carpenter, promptly, "I don't want
nobody better'n what you are, Mr Leslie, in command of this here
hooker. We knows you, sir; and we've seen what you can do--we've took
your measure, sir--if you'll forgive the liberty of my plain speakin'--
and we're all agreed as you're a prime seaman--one o' the best as _I've_
ever sailed under--and I'd a precious sight sooner see you in command
than what I would a stranger. And, if I ain't mistook, that's the
feelin' with all hands of us. Am I right, mates, or ain't I?"

"Right you are, Chips; no stranger for me."

"Mr Leslie's the skipper for us; we don't want nobody else." Thus, and
in similar terms, the entire crew expressed their perfect agreement with
the view enu