he ship was to be worked by two committees consisting of the
two watches, who were to decide all questions as to making, shortening,
or trimming sail, while I was to have no authority whatever, no voice in
anything except just the determination of the courses to be steered.

"Well," I demanded, "what have you Englishmen to say to such a
proposal?"

"Oh, as to that," said Enderby, "me and Chips is dead against it. We
knows as it wouldn't work at all. Fancy me sayin': `Svorenssen, nip up
aloft and stow that there to'garns'l!' and him turnin' round and sayin':
`If you wants the to'garns'l stowed, nip up and stow it yourself!' Oh
no; it wouldn't never do."

"Of course it would not," I returned. "But what do the other Englishmen
think of it?"

"Why, I fancy they don't much care, one way or t'other," answered
Enderby. "Ye see, sir, they're an ignorant lot, and can easy be talked
over by chaps with the gift of the gab, like Svorenssen and Van Ryn.
They'd be all right if they was left to their selves, and was treated as
if they was men and not just dumb cattle at the mercy of a brutal
driver; but them Dagoes has a way of talkin' about one man being as good
as another that makes ignorant men feel dissatisfied with things the way
they are."

"Just so," I returned. "I've been shipmate with that class of man
before to-day, and I know from experience what mischief socialistic
doctrines can work in a ship's forecastle--and elsewhere. Now you can
go for'ard and explain to the men that if I am to remain in this ship to
navigate her and to find the spot where the treasure is supposed to be,
I will have no socialism aboard her. The conditions I insist on are
that I am to be skipper; that I am to issue such orders as I may deem
necessary for the safety of the ship and the welfare of all hands; and
that I am to be obeyed without question or argument of any kind. If the
men agree to those conditions, well and good; if not, I shape a course
for the nearest port, and leave the ship there."

"Right ye are, sir," returned Enderby; "ye may trust me to put the
matter to the chaps in a way that they'll understand; and I don't think
as there'll be any trouble to speak of. And if there is, I fancy that
me and Chips 'll be able to deal with it."

With that the boatswain walked away forward to convey my ultimatum to
the men, who were all gathered on the forecastle-head, evidently waiting
for him, while I turned to Billy, who was stan