"But," asked the doctor of Shandon, "are you not going to tell the crew about this letter?"
"With the commander's permission," answered Johnson, "I should not do so."
"And why not?" asked Shandon.
"Because everything mysterious and extraordinary tends to discourage the men; they are already very much troubled, as it is, about the nature of the journey. Now, if any supernatural circumstances should become known, it might be harmful, and perhaps at a critical moment we should not be able to count on them. What do you think, Commander?"
"And what do you think, Doctor?" asked Shandon.
"Boatswain Johnson seems to me to reason well," answered the doctor.
"And you, James?"
"Having no better opinion, I agree with these gentlemen."
Shandon reflected for a few minutes; he reread the letter attentively.
"Gentlemen," said he, "your opinion is certainly worthy of respect, but I cannot adopt it."