orresponding change in my
attitude toward the adventure. My conversation with Enderby and Johnson
over the tea-table had left upon my mind the impression that I had been
invited by them, as representatives of the entire crew, to act as
navigator and assist in every possible way to secure the treasure, my
remuneration for this service to be one share of half the value of the
amount of treasure obtained. Now, Barber had expressed the opinion that
this value was to be reckoned in _millions_; but, the eight chests
notwithstanding, I regarded this estimate as enormously exaggerated, the
result, probably, of ignorance of values on Barber's part.
Nevertheless, assuming the value to be very considerably less, say half
a million--and I believed it might possibly amount to that--only a very
simple calculation was needed to show that if this sum were divided by
two, and one of those parts were awarded to Billy, as skipper Stenson's
heir, the remaining sum of one quarter of a million divided into eleven
equal parts--there being eleven prospective participants, including
myself--would yield to each participant nearly twenty-three thousand
pounds; a sum very well worth trying for. Viewing the matter in all its
bearings I finally came to the conclusion that, regarding it merely as a
speculation, it might be quite worth my while to throw in my lot with
these men.

The project certainly had its allurements, for it must be remembered
that I was then young enough to be thoroughly imbued with the spirit of
adventure. I was poor, and even the bare possibility of making over
twenty thousand pounds in a few months very powerfully appealed to me;
and finally, if I rejected this chance and made the best of my way back
home, there was the possibility that I might be out of employment for a
considerable period, while at best I could hope for nothing better than
another billet as fourth officer in a Planet boat. In fine, the more I
considered the boatswain's proposal, the better I liked it; but at the
same time some inward monitor whispered that it would be wise not to
manifest too keen a readiness to fall in with the men's proposals.

While these reflections were passing through my mind I noticed that the
steward, in laying the table for supper, was laying for one person
only--myself. But while this arrangement had its advantages, it also
had certain disadvantages which I regarded as outweighing the former. I
therefore bade him lay for th