The quarters aft had been given up to the miners, most of whom were obliged to swing hammocks in the cabin. The mate offered his little room to the Major and bunked with the sailors in the forecastle; but Captain Gay and Mr. Perkins retained their own rooms, and so did I, in order to watch over the firm’s gold, which was stowed carefully away in my lockers. You may be sure I was glad to get back to my books and my comfortable bed again, and overjoyed to find myself on the way to a more civilized land.
As the ship stood out to sea, the Major, who had been pacing the deck with a thoughtful brow, noticed Captain Gay taking his bearings with the aid of the sextant, while I stood by observing him. At once the big man’s countenance cleared, and he strode over to us and anxiously watched the Captain while the latter made notes of his observations. Several of the miners likewise seemed interested, but it was evident they did not understand in the least what the Captain was doing.
No sooner, however, had Captain Gay returned to his cabin, where at his request I followed him, than the Major knocked for admittance, and being invited to enter he cautiously closed the door after him and said:
“You’ve relieved me of a great worry, Captain. I was afraid we’d never be able to find this island again. But the sextant gives you the latitude and longitude, doesn’t it?”
Captain Gay nodded, and looked thoughtfully out of his little window at the fast receding island.
“That island’s mine,” continued the Major, in a stern voice; “and I shall claim it until some one else proves a better right to the place.”
Still the Captain made no reply.
The Major stared at him as though he had just discovered the man.
“Does any one else aboard know how to use those instruments?” he finally asked.
“No one,” answered the Captain, briefly.