cean to navigate, I can tell you, and if
your engines fail just at the moment they are wanted to back astern off
a coral reef, or keep the ship from being drifted on a lee shore, I
shan't have much to say in their favour."

"I beg, Mr Scales, that you will not take the ship into any such
position. I understood that every rock and shoal between us and the
south pole was well laid down, and it will be your fault if we come upon
danger without knowing it beforehand."

"You were wrongly informed, Mr Rivett; and there is many a rock, and
many a shoal, and many an island, too, between us and the pole which no
one alive knows anything about, although many a poor fellow has found
them out too late, when his ship has run right upon them."

"What you say reminds me of the Irish pilot who told the captain of a
ship he was taking to an anchorage, that he knew every rock on the
coast. The captain doubted him, and five minutes afterwards the ship
went crash upon one. `Bedad! I tould your honour I knew thim, an'
that's one of thim. There's many a rock I've found out in the same
manner,'" said Tom, who thought it better to put an end to the
discussion.

"I hope we shall find out none in that fashion," said Mr Rivett.

"That will depend on your machinery," said Mr Gunter Scale, chuckling.
"We shall have to keep a bright look-out ahead and the lead going, and
if your piston rods and boilers prove faithful, well and good. If not,
I cannot warrant that the ship will keep out of the danger into which
that screw of yours will run us. Let me have her under canvas and I'll
know where I'll go and where I'll not go, and I'll answer for it that I
won't run a ship under my charge into a place where her sails can't take
her off again."

"Then you have not perfect confidence in my machinery?" observed Mr
Rivett.

"No, I have not, and I wonder that you expect me to have. I say again,
give me tough masts, sound spars, well set-up rigging, and stout canvas,
with a properly built ship under my feet, and I'll keep the sea in all
weathers, and carry her safely round the world."

The discussion might have continued for many hours had not both officers
been summoned to their respective duties.

Jack, according to his intention, reported to the admiral the account he
had received from Captain Cooper, who afterwards repeated it.

"I'm afraid that there is but little chance of your finding the missing
ship, but at all events you shall go in