e boatswain and the carpenter as well; for
I had sense enough to recognise the importance of keeping my finger upon
the pulse of the crew, so to speak, and I knew that this could best be
done by means of little confidential chats with the boatswain and Chips,
who were the men's representatives.

The steward presently brought along from the galley the chief
ingredients of the supper, consisting of a pot of piping hot cocoa and a
dish of steaming "lobscouse", to be followed, he informed me, by a jam
tart. Then I sent Billy up on deck to find Enderby and bid him come to
supper in the cabin.

During the progress of the meal the conversation was of a general
character, consisting chiefly of discussions concerning the weather, the
behaviour of the ship under various circumstances, and the relation of
certain not very interesting incidents connected with the voyage. But
after we had finished, and Chips had come down to take his supper while
Enderby took over the charge of the deck, the boatswain fell into step
alongside me as I paced fore and aft, enjoying the unwonted luxury of a
pipe.

"There's just one p'int in what was said at tea-time, Mr Blackburn," he
remarked, "that I feels a bit hazy about, and that I haven't been able
to make quite clear to the men. You remember that when I spoke about
you navigatin' the ship for us, you said you'd be willin' to do it _so
far as the nearest port_. That's about what it was, isn't it?"

"Yes," I replied. "That is what I said."

"So I thought," concurred the boatswain. "Well, sir," he continued, "do
that mean that you're unwillin' to take a hand in this here treasure-
huntin' game with us?"

"Oh, as to that," I said, "I really have not had time to consider the
matter, as yet. Besides, I do not quite know what it is that you men
propose. Let me know that, and I will give the matter my most careful
consideration."

"Ay, ay, yes, of course; that's quite right," agreed Enderby. "I'll
have a talk to the chaps for'ard, and hear what they've got to say about
it. And--about that `nearest port' that you mentioned, sir, had ye got
any particular port in your mind's eye?"

"N-o, I can scarcely say that I had," I returned--"or if I had, it was
probably Port Louis, Mauritius. But all my ideas are very hazy thus
far, you must understand, for at the present moment I do not know where
the ship is, and I shall be unable to discover her position until I can
take the requisite sights.