Then we will have out the chart, prick off
our position, and discuss the matter further."

"Yes, sir; thank 'e," answered Enderby. "And that'll be some time to-
morrow, I s'pose?"

"Certainly," I agreed; "some time to-morrow--unless of course the sky
should be obscured by cloud, preventing the taking of the necessary
observations. But I think we need not seriously fear anything of that
kind."

"No, sir, no; not much fear of that," agreed Enderby; and therewith he
trundled away for'ard and joined a little group of men who seemed to be
somewhat impatiently awaiting him.

It was a pleasant evening. The sun was on the point of setting, and the
western sky was a magnificent picture of massed clouds ablaze with the
most brilliant hues of gold, scarlet, crimson, and purple, while the
zenith was a vast dome of purest, richest ultramarine. A fresh breeze
was blowing steadily out from about west-sou'-west, and there was a long
and rather high swell, overrun by seas just heavy enough to break in
squadrons of creaming foam-caps that would have meant an anxious night
for me had I still been adrift in the life-boat. Apart from those white
foam-caps the ocean was a wide expanse of deepest sapphire blue, over
which the brigantine was rolling and plunging at a speed of fully eight
knots, her taut rigging humming like an Aeolian harp with the sweep of
the wind through it. For several minutes after Enderby had left me I
stood gazing in admiration at the brilliant, exhilarating scene; then,
for the mere pleasure of stretching my legs a bit, after being for so
long cramped within the confined limits of the life-boat, I started upon
a vigorous tramp fore and aft the weather side of the deck, between the
wheel grating and the main rigging.

On the following morning, immediately after breakfast, I had a long talk
with Enderby, who came aft to lay before me the proposals of the men as
to the terms upon which I was to be admitted to partnership in the
adventure. These were, in brief, that in consideration of my
undertaking the navigation of the ship, I was to receive one-eleventh
part of that half of the treasure to be shared among the crew. So far
so good; I had no objection to that part of the proposal, but when we
came to the question of my status in the ship I learned that the four
foreigners insisted upon the brigantine being run upon strictly
socialistic lines: there was to be no skipper, no officers, no giving of
orders; t