ship was lost.

This placed the scene of the wreck on one of the islands in the large
group in which we expected to find our treasure-island.

I questioned the fellow until I found I had extracted really every
particle of information it was in his power to give, and then, after
rewarding him for his information, I let him go.

As soon as he was gone, I wrote a hasty note to my sister, cautiously
conveying to her the intelligence that we had obtained a faint trace of
the _Amazons_ fate; a trace which, I added, we intended to follow up as
far as we could, and having sealed and addressed my missive, I hurried
up over the barque's side, and placed it in her captain's hands, and
then took leave of him with a hearty shake of the hand and many good
wishes on his part that we might have a safe and pleasant voyage.

It was time we were off, for a gentle breeze was springing up, and all
parties were anxious to avail themselves of it to the utmost extent. As
soon as we had once more got all our light canvas spread, Bob, instead
of turning in as he had a right to do, it being his watch below, came
and sat down beside me, and we began to discuss the strange story to
which we had so lately listened.

"It has enabled me definitely to make up my mind upon one point, which I
will now confess has troubled me not a little," said I, "and that is
your proposal to go round the `Horn,' Bob. Ever since we settled upon
that route, I have been thinking of the great risks we must run by
adopting such a course, and I really think that, but for this, I should
have hauled sharp up upon the port tack as soon as we fell in with the
south-east trades. _Now_, however, I feel so anxious about my father,
and his condition, that I would incur double the amount of risk, if need
were, in order to reach the Pacific as soon as possible, and, Bob, we
must find _him_ before we give a thought to the treasure.

"Right you are," exclaimed Bob heartily; "and there's my hand upon it,
Harry, my lad. The treasure can wait; but it may be of the greatest
consequence to the skipper to be found as soon as possible. He may be
ill, or tormented by a parcel of cannibal savages, or a thousand things
may be happening to him to make it important for him to have a couple of
trustworthy hands like ourselves added to his crew as soon as may be.
So shove the huzzey's nose as straight for the Cape as she'll look, and
let's get that part of the job over as soon as we can.