. . . _You_ must know as well as I do
that the chance is pretty thin for us all, even if this weather
holds. I reckon there's no nearer land than Easter Island, four
hundred good miles norr'ard, and a beat in light winds. . . . I've
heard too much about long beats in open boats--heard enough to make
the flesh creep. Anyways, I'm responsible. I've turned it over in
my head: and I'm giving orders--you take me? We're not steering for
any land at all. We're steering the shortest way, due south--what
wind there is drawing behind us--on the chance to hit in with the way
of traffic--Sydney ships making round the Horn. . . . You'll not
argue that, I hope?" he demanded.
"'On the contrary, sir,' I agreed, 'I just know enough to be sure
that you are doing the wisest thing.'
"'Nobody but God can be sure,' said he, and sat musing. 'Well, I
take the responsibility God has seen fit to lay on me of a sudden.
You won't hear me speak of this again: but you're an educated man,
and you've nerve as well as brains--I marked ye by the head of the
ladder, when the first boat was getting out.
Pages:
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339