the determination of the longitude, I found that we were
thirty miles to the westward of it, and far enough south to permit of
our shifting our helm for the mysterious island to which we were
supposed to be bound. Accordingly, having verified my figures, and
pricked off the brig's position on the chart, I made my way up on deck,
and informed O'Gorman of the state of affairs.

"So we're actually now in the moighty Pacific, eh?" he exclaimed in high
elation. "Bedad that's good news, annyhow, and we'll cilibrate the
occasion by takin' an exthry tot o' grog all round, and dhrinkin'
shuccess to the v'yage. But, sthop a minute; ye want to know where
ye're to shape a coorse for, now? By the powers, misther, I'll tell ye
that same in a brace of shakes. Let me go and get the paper out o' me
chist, and I'll soon make ye as wise as mesilf."

The fellow hurried away for'ard, and dived below into the forecastle,
from which he soon emerged again, bearing in his hand an oblong
envelope. From this he carefully withdrew a paper, folded lengthwise,
and, opening it, read:

"`Latichood: Two, forty-eight, forty; south. Longitood: One hundred and
forty-four, ten, ten; west. Approach island from nor'-west, and stand
towards it with summit of hill bearin' south-east half-south, which
leads through the passage in the barrier reef. Then haul up to south a
quarter west for the mouth of the bight'--and that's enough: there's no
call to read the rest to ye," he concluded abruptly.

"As you please," answered I; "I have no desire whatever to know anything
more of the matter than what is absolutely necessary to enable me to
navigate the brig to the spot, and afterwards to make a civilised port
in the shortest possible time. I will, however, have a look at the
chart, and ascertain the particular island to which those figures of
yours refer."

"You might as well bring the chart up on deck, and let me see it: I'd
loike to see just where we're bound to, and how long it'll take us to
git there," remarked O'Gorman.

I accordingly went below, secured the chart, together with a pencil, a
pair of dividers, and a parallel ruler, and took the whole on deck.
Then, spreading the chart open, I pricked off the latitude and longitude
given by O'Gorman, and, to my astonishment, found that the spot was
located in open water.

"I am very much afraid that your information is faulty, O'Gorman," said
I, pointing to the spot. "Do you see that? There is n