hich would fit me for the berth
that you are offering to Temple."

"N-o; I reckon not," agreed the skipper meditatively. "Still--p'rhaps I
might be able to find a use for ye--if ye cared to come along--upon such
terms as I could see my way to offer ye."

"Well," remarked Cunningham, with a laugh, "we can discuss that later
on--if Temple accepts your offer."

Meanwhile I had been thinking rapidly. There was no very especial
reason why I should return to England at once, for I had no relatives to
be anxious over my disappearance, the only individuals who were in the
least interested in me being my late father's trustees, to whom I could
write from Punta Arenas. Then the voyage of the _Martha Brown_, as
sketched by her skipper, rather appealed to me; sandalwood collecting
meant a call at several of the South Sea Islands, and the South Sea
Islands and romance were synonymous terms with me at that time. Also,
the pay was good, exceptionally good for such a berth as that of mate of
a ninety-ton schooner; and although I should probably sacrifice my
indentures, that was a matter that gave me very little concern.
Altogether I felt very strongly disposed to close with Brown's offer,
the only really serious obstacle in the way being the fact that I felt I
had a duty to perform to the three seamen who had formed part of our
little company in the gig. First-rate fellows they were, all three of
them, knowing their vocation to its smallest detail, and thoroughly at
home aboard a ship in blue water, though ashore they were as guileless
and helpless as babes, ready to fall an easy prey to the first land
shark that got scent of them. If I could be sure of arranging at Punta
Arenas for their conveyance to England, either as shipwrecked seamen or
otherwise, and thus discharging my responsibility so far as they were
concerned, I would not hesitate for a moment. I decided to put the
matter to the skipper, and did so, there and then.

"Ah!" he said, "I was goin' to speak to you about them there men of
yourn. D'ye think they'd be inclined to sign on with me for this here
v'yage?"

"Really, I do not know in the least," I replied, regarding him with
astonishment. "If you like I will--"

"It's like this, you see," he interrupted me, no doubt observing my look
of surprise. "There's six hands in this here schooner's fo'c'sle--three
to each watch; and when I shipped 'em I reckoned that with me, the mate,
the cook, and the cabin boy