"But as I am not the master——" replied Shandon.
"Who says you mayn't be?" answered Pen. "John Hatteras may go as far as he likes, but we aren't obliged to follow him."
"You all know what became of the crew that did follow him in his first cruise to Baffin's Sea?" said Gripper.
"And the cruise of the Farewell under him that got lost in the Spitzbergen seas!" said Clifton.
"He was the only man that came back," continued Gripper.
"He and his dog," answered Clifton.
"We won't die for his pleasure," added Pen.
"Nor lose the bounty we've been at so much trouble to earn," cried Clifton. "When we've passed the 78th degree—and we aren't far off it, I know—that will make just the £375 each."
"But," answered Gripper, "shan't we lose it if we go back without the captain?"
"Not if we prove that we were obliged to," answered Clifton.