ey were engaged in a heated discussion of some
kind. Presently, when they saw us man the windlass and heard the clink
of its pawls, I observed O'Connor break from the conclave, dash his cap
down upon the sand, and somewhat hesitatingly enter the water, as though
about attempting to swim off to us. Whereupon, I sprang upon the rail,
and, putting the whole power of my lungs into the shout, hailed him to
go back, as there were sharks in the bay. I had to repeat this warning
two or three times, however, before he seemed willing to heed it; and it
was not in fact until the anchor was broken out of the ground and the
ship was seen to be canting to seaward that he turned back and rejoined
his companions. When we last saw them they were still standing upon the
beach, watching our departure, and shouting to us with gestures that
were eloquent of threats and curses, though we were too far distant to
catch the words that they hurled after us.

Meanwhile, during the progress of these operations I had been taking
counsel with myself as to the most desirable course to pursue under the
circumstances in which we found ourselves. My original intention had
been to proceed to Valparaiso in quest of a crew, but that intention had
been arrived at under the impression that it would be necessary only to
leave three or four men behind us on the island. Joe's opinion upon the
matter had, however, altered all this, and had necessitated our going to
sea with a crew of only seven men, including Sir Edgar, whose assistance
I felt we could only claim under circumstances of exceptional necessity.
This reduced us to two watches of three men each, who might indeed
suffice to handle the ship under easy canvas and during fine weather,
but who could do very little with her should we happen to fall in with a
heavy gale, or, still worse, a downright Pacific hurricane. Then, too,
the prevailing winds in that part of the world are easterly; which
placed Valparaiso well to windward, and rendered it even more difficult
to fetch than San Francisco. The latter port, however, I had no desire
whatever to visit under the circumstances, with such a precious cargo on
board, and three men at least whose tongues it would be impossible to
bridle. By the time, therefore, that the ship was fairly under way, I
had come to the conclusion that my best plan would be to make for the
Sandwich Islands, which were only some sixteen hundred and fifty miles
distant, in a nor