ir chief, almost their only, pleasure. Often they fished in
the lagoon with good success. And the rest was passed in lolling,
strolling, yarns, and disputation. The time of the China steamers was
calculated to a nicety; which done, the thought was rejected and
ignored. It was one that would not bear consideration. The boat voyage
having been tacitly set aside, the desperate part chosen to wait there
for the coming of help or of starvation, no man had courage left to look
his bargain in the face, far less to discuss it with his neighbours. But
the unuttered terror haunted them; in every hour of idleness, at every
moment of silence, it returned, and breathed a chill about the circle,
and carried men's eyes to the horizon. Then, in a panic of self-defence,
they would rally to some other subject. And, in that lone spot, what
else was to be found to speak of but the treasure?

That was indeed the chief singularity, the one thing conspicuous in
their island life; the presence of that chest of bills and specie
dominated the mind like a cathedral; and there were besides connected
with it certain irking problems well fitted to occupy the idle. Two
thousand pounds were due to the Sydney firm; two thousand pounds were
clear profit, and fell to be divided in varying proportions among six.
It had been agreed how the partners were to range; every pound of
capital subscribed, every pound that fell due in wages, was to count for
one "lay." Of these Tommy could claim five hundred and ten, Carthew one
hundred and seventy, Wicks one hundred and forty, and Hemstead and Amalu
ten apiece: eight hundred and forty "lays" in all. What was the value of
a lay? This was at first debated in the air, and chiefly by the strength
of Tommy's lungs. Then followed a series of incorrect calculations; from
which they issued, arithmetically foiled, but agreed from weariness upon
an approximate value of L2 7s. 7-1/4d. The figures were admittedly
incorrect; the sum of the shares came not to L2,000, but to L1,996
6s.--L3 14s. being thus left unclaimed. But it was the nearest they had
yet found, and the highest as well, so that the partners were made the
less critical by the contemplation of their splendid dividends. Wicks
put in L100, and stood to draw captain's wages for two months; his
taking was L333 3s. 6-3/4d. Carthew put in L150; he was to take out L401
18s. 6-1/2d. Tommy's L500 had grown to be L1,213 12s. 9-3/4d.; and Amalu
and Hemstead, ranking for wage