298 WHALING AND FISHING. 



watch was set, and all farther deliberation 

 over for the night. I did not fear any precipitate 

 action on the part of my evil-inclined shipmatcs 3 

 woll knowing that those who talk most in sucl 

 matters are generally slowest to act. I trusted 

 besides, that the words of caution I had thrown 

 out, would not be without fruit in their minds. 



In this I was not deceived ; for when, on the fol- 

 lowing evening all hands were once more gath- 

 ered on the forecastle, every one but Scotch Jack 

 declared the execution of their project to be 

 attended with more difficulties than they had at 

 first sight thought. 



I now determined to place all the impossibility 

 of success before them in its strongest light. Ac- 

 cordingly, after listening for some time to new 

 suggestions, and even throwing out one or two 

 myself, I began : 



" You can't sell the vessel, boys : that's clear. 

 You can't keep her that is equally plain. She's 

 too pretty a craft to be broken up in the surf; and 

 besides, if you want to go to Ocean Island or any- 

 where else in the South Seas, you have all been to 

 Sydney, and have only to go there again and ship 

 for the very place you want to settle-down in. Aa 

 for the skipper's working up we all owe him a 

 spite, and the greatest satisfaction will be to give 

 him and the mate a thundering beating, when we 

 get back to Port Louis. If ever he conies into 

 Malabar town, he won't leave 't with a whole skin, 

 if I know it.' 



