“Well，then，threecheersforthecaptain。”proposedTommy。
　　ButWicksheldupashakinghand。“Notthateither，boys。”hepleaded。“Thinkoftheotherbuffer，andlethimdowneasy。IfI’mlikethis，justfancywhatTopeliusis！Ifheheardussingingout，he’dhavethestaggers。”
　　Asamatteroffact，Topeliusacceptedhisdefeatwithagoodgrace；butthecrewofthewreckedLeslie，whowereinthesameemploymentandloyaltotheirfirm，tookthethingmorebitterly。Roughwordsanduglylookswerecommon。OnceeventheyhootedCaptainWicksfromthesaloonverandah；theCurrencyLassesdrewoutontheotherside；forsomeminutestherehadliketohavebeenabattleinButaritari；andthoughtheoccasionpassedoffwithoutblows，itleftoneithersideanincreaseofill-feeling。
　　Nosuchsmallmattercouldaffectthehappinessofthesuccessfultraders。Fivedaysmoretheshiplayinthelagoon，withlittleemploymentforanyonebutTommyandthecaptain，forTopelius’snativesdischargedcargoandbroughtballast；thetimepassedlikeapleasantdream；theadventurerssatuphalfthenightdebatingandpraisingtheirgoodfortune，orstrayedbydayinthenarrowisle，gapinglikeCockneytourists；andonthefirstofthenewyear，theCurrencyLassweighedanchorforthesecondtimeandsetsailfor’Frisco，attendedbythesamefineweatherandgoodluck。Shecrossedthedoldrumswithbutsmalldelay；onawindandinballastofbrokencoral，sheoutdidexpectations；and，whataddedtothehappinessoftheship’scompany，thesmallamountofworkthatfellonthemtodo，wasnowlessenedbythepresenceofanotherhand。ThiswastheboatswainoftheLeslie；hehadbeenonbadtermswithhisowncaptain，hadalreadyspenthiswagesinthesaloonsofButaritari，hadweariedoftheplace，andwhileallhisshipmatescoldlyrefusedtosetfootonboardtheCurrencyLass，hehadofferedtoworkhispassagetothecoast。HewasanorthofIrelandman，betweenScotchandIrish，rough，loud，humorous，andemotional，notwithoutsterlingqualities，andanexpertandcarefulsailor。Hisframeofmindwasdifferentindeedfromthatofhisnewshipmates；insteadofmakinganunexpectedfortune，hehadlostaberth；andhewasbesidesdisgustedwiththerations，andreallyappalledattheconditionoftheschooner。Astateroomdoorhadstuck，thefirstdayatsea，andMacastheycalledhimlaidhisstrengthtoitandpluckeditfromthehinges。
　　“Glory！”saidhe，“thisship’srotten。”
　　“Ibelieveyou，myboy。”saidCaptainWicks。
　　Thenextdaythesailorwasobservedwithhisnosealoft。
　　“Don’tyougetlookingatthesesticks。”thecaptainsaid，“oryou’llhaveafitandfalloverboard。”
　　Macturnedtowardsthespeakerwithratherawildeye。“Why，Iseewhatlookslikeapatchofdryrotupyonder，thatIbetI
　　couldstickmyfistinto。”saidhe。
　　“Looksasifafellowcouldstickhisheadintoit，don’tit？”
　　returnedWicks。“Butthere’snogoodpryingintothingsthatcan’tbemended。”
　　“IthinkIwasaCurrencyAsstocomeonboardofher！”
　　reflectedMac。
　　“Well，Ineversaidshewasseaworthy。”repliedthecaptain：“I
　　onlysaidshecouldshowherbloomingheelstoanythingafloat。
　　Andbesides，Idon’tknowthatit’sdryrot；Ikindofsometimeshopeitisn’t。Here；turntoandheavethelog；that’llcheeryouup。”
　　“Well，there’snodenyingit，you’reaholycaptain。”saidMac。
　　Andfromthatdayon，hemadebuttheonereferencetotheship’scondition；andthatwaswheneverTommydrewuponhiscellar。“Here’stothejunktrade！”hewouldsay，asheheldouthiscanofsherry。
　　“Whydoyoualwayssaythat？”askedTommy。
　　“Ihadanuncleinthebusiness。”repliedMac，andlaunchedatonceintoayarn，inwhichanincrediblenumberofthecharacterswere“laidoutasniceasyouwouldwanttosee。”
　　andtheoathsmadeupabouttwo-fifthsofeveryconversation。
　　Onlyoncehegavethematasteofhisviolence；hetalkedofit，indeed，often；“I’mratheravoilentman。”hewouldsay，notwithoutpride；butthiswastheonlyspecimen。Ofasudden，heturnedonHemsteadintheship’swaist，knockedhimagainsttheforesailboom，thenknockedhimunderit，andhadsethimupandknockedhimdownoncemore，beforeanyonehaddrawnabreath。
　　“Here！Belaythat！”roaredWicks，leapingtohisfeet。“Iwon’thavenoneofthis。”
　　Macturnedtothecaptainwithreadycivility。“Ionlywanttolearnhimmanners。”saidhe。“HetookandcalledmeIrishman。”
　　“Didhe？”saidWicks。“O，that’sadifferentstory！Whatmadeyoudoit，youtomfool？Youain’tbigenoughtocallanymanthat。”
　　“Ididn’tcallhimit。”splutteredHemstead，throughhisbloodandtears。“Ionlymentioned-likehewas。”
　　“Well，let’shavenomoreofit。”saidWicks。
　　“ButyouAREIrish，ain’tyou？”Carthewaskedofhisnewshipmateshortlyafter。
　　“Imaybe。”repliedMac，“butI’llallownoSydneyducktocallmeso。No。”headded，withasuddenheatedcountenance，“noranyBritisherthatwalks！Why，lookhere。”hewenton，“you’reayoungswell，aren’tyou？SupposeIcalledyouthat！”’I’llshowyou，’youwouldsay，andturntoandtakeitoutofmestraight。”
　　Onthe28thofJanuary，wheninlat。27degrees20’N。，long。
　　177degreesW。，thewindchoppedsuddenlyintothewest，notverystrong，butpuffyandwithflawsofrain。Thecaptain，eagerforeasting，madeafairwindofitandguyedtheboomsoutwingandwing。ItwasTommy’strickatthewheel，andasitwaswithinhalfanhourofthereliefseventhirtyinthemorning，thecaptainjudgeditnotworthwhiletochangehim。
　　Thepuffswereheavybutshort；therewasnothingtobecalledasquall，nodangertotheship，andscarcemorethanusualtothedoubtfulspars。Allhandswereondeckintheiroilskins，expectingbreakfast；thegalleysmoked，theshipsmeltofcoffee，allwereingoodhumourtobespeedingeastwardafullnine；whentherottenforesailtoresuddenlybetweentwoclothsandthensplittoeitherhand。Itwasforalltheworldasthoughsomearchangelwithahugeswordhadslasheditwiththefigureofacross；allhandsrantosecuretheslattingcanvas；
　　andinthesuddenuproarandalert，TommyHaddenlosthishead。Manyofhisdayshavebeenpassedsincetheninexplaininghowthethinghappened；oftheseexplanationsitwillbesufficienttosaythattheywerealldifferentandnonesatisfactory；andthegrossfactremainsthatthemainboomgybed，carriedawaythetackle，brokethemainmastsomethreefeetabovethedeckandwhippeditoverboard。Fornearaminutethesuspectedforemastgallantlyresisted；thenfolloweditscompanion；andbythetimethewreckwascleared，ofthewholebeautifulfabricthatenabledthemtoskimtheseas，tworaggedstumpsremained。
　　Inthesevastandsolitarywaters，tobedismastedisperhapstheworstcalamity。Lettheshipturnturtleandgodown，andatleastthepangisover。Butmenchainedonahulkmaypassmonthsscanningtheemptysealineandcountingthestepsofdeath’sinvisibleapproach。Thereisnohelpbutintheboats，andwhatahelpisthat！ThereheavedtheCurrencyLass，forinstance，awinglesslump，andthenearesthumancoastthatofKauaiintheSandwicheslayaboutathousandmilestosouthandeastofher。Overthewaythere，tomencontemplatingthatpassageinanopenboat，allkindsofmisery，andthefearofdeathandofmadness，brooded。
　　Aseriouscompanysatdowntobreakfast；butthecaptainhelpedhisneighbourswithasmile。
　　“Now，boys。”hesaid，afterapullatthehotcoffee，“we’redonewiththisCurrencyLass，andnomistake。Onegoodjob：wemadeherpaywhileshelasted，andshepaidfirstrate；andifweweretotryourhandagain，wecantryinstyle。Anothergoodjob：wehaveafine，stiff，roomyboat，andyouknowwhoyouhavetothankforthat。We’vegotsixlivestosave，andapotofmoney；andthepointis，wherearewetotake’em？”
　　“It’salltwothousandmilestothenearestoftheSandwiches，I
　　fancy。”observedMac。
　　“No，notsobadasthat。”returnedthecaptain。“Butit’sbadenough：ratherbetter’nathousand。”
　　“Iknowamanwhooncedidtwelvehundredinaboat。”saidMac，“andhehadallhewanted。HefetchedashoreintheMarquesas，andneversetafootonanythingfloatingfromthatdaytothis。Hesaidhewouldratherputapistoltohisheadandknockhisbrainsout。”
　　“Ay，ay！”saidWicks。“WellIrememberaboat’screwthatmadethisveryislandofKauai，andfromjustaboutwherewelie，orabitfurther。Whentheygotupwiththeland，theywerecleancrazy。Therewasaniron-boundcoastandanOldBobRidleyofasurfon。Thenativeshailed’emfromfishing-boats，andsungoutitcouldn’tbedoneatthemoney。Muchtheycared！therewastheland，thatwasalltheyknew；andtheyturnedtoanddrovetheboatslapashoreinthethickofit，andwasalldrownedbutone。No；boattripsaremyeye。”
　　concludedthecaptain，gloomily。
　　Thetonewassurprisinginamanofhisindomitabletemper。
　　“Come，Captain。”saidCarthew，“youhavesomethingelseupyoursleeve；outwithit！”
　　“It’safact。”admittedWicks。“Youseethere’saraftoflittleballyreefsabouthere，kindofchicken-poxonthechart。Well，Ilooked’emallup，andthere’sone——MidwayorBrookstheycallit，notfortymilefromourassignedposition——thatIgotnewsof。Itturnsoutit’sacoalingstationofthePacificMail。”
　　hesaid，simply。
　　“Well，andIknowitain’tnosuchathing。”saidMac。“Ibeenquartermasterinthatlinemyself。”
　　“Allright。”returnedWicks。“There’sthebook。ReadwhatHoytsays——readitaloudandlettheothershear。”
　　Hoyt’sfalsehoodasreadersknowwasexplicit；incredulitywasimpossible，andthenewsitselfdelightfulbeyondhope。
　　Eachsawinhismind’seyetheboatdrawintoatrimislandwithawharf，coal-sheds，gardens，theStarsandStripesandthewhitecottageofthekeeper；sawthemselvesidleafewweeksintolerablequarters，andthensteponboardtheChinamail，romanticwaifs，andyetwithpocketsfulofmoney，callingforchampagne，andwaitedonbytroopsofstewards。Breakfast，thathadbegunsodully，endedamidsoberjubilation，andallhandsturnedimmediatelytopreparetheboat。
　　Nowthatallsparsweregone，itwasnoeasyjobtogetherlaunched。Someofthenecessarycargowasfirststowedonboard；thespecie，inparticular，beingpackedinastrongchestandsecuredwithlashingstotheafterthwartincaseofacapsize。Thenapieceofthebulwarkwasrazedtothelevelofthedeck，andtheboatswungthwart-ship，madefastwithaslacklinetoeitherstump，andsuccessfullyrunout。Foravoyageoffortymilestohospitablequarters，notmuchfoodorwaterwasrequired；buttheytookbothinsuperfluity。AmaluandMac，bothingrainedsailor-men，hadchestswhichweretheheadquartersoftheirlives；twomorechestswithhandbags，oilskins，andblanketssuppliedtheothers；Hadden，amidgeneralapplause，addedthelastcaseofthebrownsherry；thecaptainbroughtthelog，instruments，andchronometer；nordidHemsteadforgetthebanjoorapinnedhandkerchiefofButaritarishells。
　　ItwasaboutthreeP。M。whentheypushedoff，andthewindbeingstillwesterlyfelltotheoars。“Well，we’vegotthegutsoutofYOU！”wasthecaptain’snoddedfarewelltothehulkoftheCurrencyLass，whichpresentlyshrankandfadedinthesea。
　　Alittleafteracalmsucceeded，withmuchrain；andthefirstmealwaseaten，andthewatchbelowlaydowntotheiruneasyslumberonthebilgeunderaroaringshower-bath。Thetwenty-
　　ninthdawnedoverheadfromoutofraggedclouds；thereisnomomentwhenaboatatseaappearssotrenchantlyblackandsoconspicuouslylittle；andthecrewlookedaboutthemattheskyandwaterwithathrilloflonelinessandfear。Withsunrisethetradesetin，lustyandtruetothepoint；sailwasmade；theboatflew；andbyaboutfourintheafternoon，theywerewellupwiththeclosedpartofthereef，andthecaptainstandingonthethwart，andholdingbythemast，wasstudyingtheislandthroughthebinoculars。
　　“Well，andwhere’syourstation？”criedMac。
　　“Idon’tsomewaypickitup。”repliedthecaptain。
　　“No，norneverwill！”retortedMac，withaclangofdespairandtriumphinhistones。
　　Thetruthwassoonplaintoall。Nobuoys，nobeacons，nolights，nocoal，nostation；thecastawayspulledthroughalagoonandlandedonanisle，wherewasnomarkofmanbutwreckwood，andnosoundbutofthesea。Fortheseafowlthatharbouredandlivedthereattheepochofmyvisitwerethenscatteredintotheuttermostpartsoftheocean，andhadleftnotracesoftheirsojournbesidesdroppedfeathersandaddledeggs。Itwastothistheyhadbeensent，forthistheyhadstoopedallnightoverthedrippingoars，hourlymovingfurtherfromrelief。Theboat，forassmallasitwas，wasyeteloquentofthehandsofmen，athingaloneindeedupontheseabutyetinitselfallhuman；andtheisle，forwhichtheyhadexchangedit，wasingloriouslysavage，aplaceofdistress，solitude，andhungerunrelieved。Therewasastrongglareandshadowoftheeveningoverall；inwhichtheysatorlay，notspeaking，carelesseventoeat，menswindledoutoflifeandrichesbyalyingbook。Inthegreatgoodnatureofthewholeparty，nowordofreproachhadbeenaddressedtoHadden，theauthorofthesedisasters。Butthenewblowwaslessmagnanimouslyborne，andmanyangryglancesrestedonthecaptain。