"Nothing particular," says Tom.
"Even a little might help us," says Mr. Phelps. "See if you can't remember."
"Oh! he said he was looking for a quiet place to end his days in," answers Tom.
"I wonder that this here island wasn't to his taste," says Mr. Nettleship, with a quick look.
"Oh, it was," says Tom unabashed, "only Captain Cole broke in and said he knew a better."
By this time nearly all our heads were touching over the table, except the one they called the bookkeeper, who had run for a chart.
"Did he call the island by any particular name?" inquires Mr. Phelps.
"I think he said Pleasant Island," says Tom, "because I mind the old gentleman saying it must be a pleasant place with such a name and I said I had been there, but the holding ground was poor."
The bookkeeper laid the chart on the table, and the captain found Pleasant Island with his thumb.
He was about to say it was a ten days' run leeward, when he broke off sudden with "ouch" instead, being kicked hard under the table, and pretending it was the beginning of a cough instead.