“I am happy with you and the few we have on board. They are kind to me; what more do I need?”
“I can’t be contented so easily, Jack. I hope there is a long life before us. Here we are, making no progress. We are doing nothing to advance ourselves.”
But this did not make much impression on Jack. He did not look beyond the present, and so that this was comfortable, he left the future to look out for itself.
“What do you think has become of Captain Hill and his companions, Mr. Holdfast?” asked Mr. Stubbs, on the third evening after the separation.
“He is probably still afloat, unless he has been fortunate enough to be picked up by some vessel.”
“There is no hope of reaching land in the Nantucket is there,” continued Mr. Stubbs.
“There is considerable fear of it,” said the mate.
“Why do you use the word fear?” asked Stubbs, puzzled.
“What I mean is, that we are likely to run aground upon some unknown island. If the shore is rocky, it may break us to pieces, and that, of course, will be attended with danger to life or limb.”
Stubbs looked thoughtful.