, "and whatever happens that will
be a satisfaction."

They hunted about for a chart, but the boatswain had locked that up
also, and refused to allow Tom to look at it. The wind continued
tolerably steady during the day, though the weather looked unsettled,
and the sea appeared again to be getting up. As the ship was kept under
her topsails and spanker, with two reefs down, no fresh sail was made,
and the boatswain did not order the midshipmen to perform any duty. The
doctor seemed to feel the loss of the captain very much. He had until
that morning entertained a hope of finding him, but this he now
abandoned, and having no confidence in the boatswain's skill as a
navigator, he seemed to have made up his mind that the ship would be
cast away, and that all on board would be lost. He had hitherto
appeared to be of a cheerful disposition, but he now sat all day moodily
in his cabin, with a book before him, although his eye scarcely glanced
at its pages. Tom and Gerald tried to induce him to come on deck, but
he shook his head, declaring that he did not feel able to walk. Billy
endeavoured to amuse him by telling him one of his funny stories, but
not a smile came over the poor doctor's face. At dinner the midshipmen
had all the conversation to themselves. The boatswain did not address
even a word to them. This did not, however, disconcert them in the
least, and they continued talking away as if there was no such person
present, so that he was well pleased to get up and go on deck.

The same weather continued for a couple of days. The boatswain kept a
watch on the midshipmen to prevent them taking an observation. Billy,
however, found a quadrant in the second mate's cabin, and watching his
opportunity when Mr Betts was below, brought it up on deck to Tom and
Gerald. They had fortunately carefully compared their watches with the
chronometer, and the doctor had concealed a nautical almanack.

"Arrah!" exclaimed Desmond; "we shall be able to make something of an
observation, although not as correct as we should wish."

Tom took the quadrant and was looking through it, when he suddenly felt
it dashed from his hand, and falling on deck it was broken. Turning
round he saw Mr Betts, who had stolen up behind him.

"So you fancy I cannot navigate the ship, do you; and must needs try and
take an observation yourself? Do you and your mates try that prank
again, and I'll land you all on the first island we sight, wher