Brand, therefore, breathed easy on this score, believing that, after all, the passenger had not written a word to his daughter about the box.
Two weeks later, by recommendation of Captain Roberts, who had found Brand to be an excellent seaman, the latter obtained command of a ship called the Quadrant, bound to Australia and the East Indies.
While Brand was preparing his vessel for sea, he had a visit from the owner.
"Captain," said the latter, "you will cruise awhile off the islands, in the neighborhood of Australia, and visit some of them before going into Sydney."
"What for?" inquired Brand.
The order had really been an unpleasant one to him, as if brought afresh to his imagination, the drowned body of his victim, Mr. Manton, floating about on the water.
"Because," answered the owner, "the daughter of that passenger aboard the Maxwell, Mr. Manton, cannot be persuaded that her father was really lost. She is anxious to investigate the matter; to search all the islands she can, especially that one upon which was seen the volcano!"
Objections rose to Brand's white lips; but he dared not give them utterance, fearful of exciting suspicion.
"The lady," continued the owner, "will be accompanied by a young man—her affianced, who has been in the United States navy, and is a good sailor, from whom, in case of emergency, you may derive assistance. He is one of my clerks; a worthy young man, whom I hope you will treat with all due courtesy."
"Ay, ay, sir," answered Brand, who could be pleasant enough when he chose.