"So you think I know nothing about navigation, do you?" exclaimed the
man. "I'll soon show you what I know, and as this cabin is mine, unless
you can keep civil tongues in your heads, out you shall go and find
berths forward."

Tom, remembering that a soft answer turneth away wrath, replied, "We
have no wish to dispute your authority, Mr Betts, and shall be glad to
give you all the assistance in our power. If the captain were here, and
both the mates had been lost, he would have wished us to take
observations and help him navigate the ship."

"The captain was one man, and I am another. He might have liked what
won't suit my fancy. So now, as I'm captain, I'll beg you to keep your
hands in your pockets until you receive my orders to take them out. You
understand me?" Desmond, who was not so much inclined to keep his
temper as Tom, was firing up at the boatswain's impudence, when Tom put
his hand on his mouth, and turning to the boatswain, said, "Very well,
Mr Betts; we understand each other. But without boats, even if my
people were able to help, you could not attempt to catch any more
whales, and you have not even a sufficient number of men to take the
ship home, so that you must put into a port to get fresh hands. If you
take my advice you will, as soon as the gale is over, shape a course for
Hong-kong, but before we leave this part of the ocean I would strongly
urge you to make a diligent search in all directions for the boats."

"We might as well look for a needle in a bundle of hay. The boats are
swamped, I'm sure of that, and don't intend to lose time by hunting for
what we shall never find," answered the boatswain, as he took the
captain's seat at the table.

Tom had considerable difficulty in restraining Desmond from saying
anything which might irritate the man. Billy ate his breakfast in
silence, stowing away an ample supply of provender to be ready for all
emergencies. The doctor made no remark, fearful lest anything he might
say should irritate the boatswain, whom he knew was capable of any act
of tyranny.

As soon as the meal was over, Tom and Desmond went on deck.

"I wouldn't give way to that fellow," exclaimed the latter. "He'll be
wanting us to take the ship round Cape Horn to Boston, and then get the
credit of bringing her home himself. The best thing we can do is to
clap him in irons and take command ourselves. The doctor would side
with us, and so would two or three of the ship's c