"Twenty," replied Jack.
"We ought to have more. The best plan will be, however, to do the best we can with them, and not send one of the schooners to look for more. If we do that we shall lose time, and sufficient has been wasted already."
"I quite agree with you," said Jack, "we must get to work at once."
"Where do you hail from?" asked Jacob.
"England, have you been there?"
"No, but my father was a fisherman at Brighton, before he came out to Western Australia, many years ago."
"Brighton!" exclaimed Jack. "That is strange. I was living at Brighton when I made up my mind to try my fortunes out here. I know Sussex well, and my best friends live in that county."
"It's marvellous," said Jacob. "Here we are in an unknown spot on the coast of Australia, and we both hail from the same place. Give me your hand, sir, we'll shake on it, and on the success of this trip."
"With all my heart," said Jack, and amidst general hilarity they clasped hands.