"That is all right, Mr. Jeorling; and now that I know you, that I am able to appreciate you, I congratulate myself upon having you for a passenger until our arrival at the Falklands." "I am very grateful, captain, for what you have done for me, and I feel encouraged to--" The moment seemed propitious to my making my proposal, when Captain Len Guy interrupted me. "Well, Mr. Jeorling," he asked, "are you now convinced of the reality of the voyage of the _Jane_, or do you still regard Edgar Poe's book as a work of pure imagination?" "I do not so regard it, captain." "You no longer doubt that Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters have really existed, or that my brother William Guy and five of his companions are living?" "I should be the most incredulous of men, captain, to doubt either fact, and my earnest desire is that the favour of Heaven may attend you and secure the safety of the shipwrecked mariners of the _Jane_." "I will do all in my power, Mr. Jeorling, and by the blessing of God I shall succeed." "I hope so, captain. Indeed, I am certain it will be so, and if you consent--" "Is it not the case that you talked of this matter with one Glass, an English ex-corporal, who sets up to be Governor of Tristan d'Acunha?" inquired the captain, without allowing me to finish my sentence. "That is so," I replied, "and what I learned from Glass has contributed not a little to change my doubts into certainty." "Ah! he has satisfied you?" "Yes. He perfectly remembers to have seen the _Jane_, eleven years ago, when she had put in at Tristan d'Acunha." "The _Jane_--and my brother?" "He told me that he had personal dealings with Captain William Guy." "And he traded with the _Jane_?" "Yes, as he has just been trading with the _Halbrane_." "She was moored in this bay?" "In the same place as your schooner." "And--Arthur Pym--Dirk Peters?" "He was with them frequently." "Did he ask what had become of them?" "Oh yes, and I informed him of the death of Arthur Pym, whom he regarded as a foolhardy adventurer, capable of any daring folly." "Say a madman, and a dangerous madman, Mr. Jeorling. Was it not he who led my unfortunate brother into that fatal enterprise?" "There is, indeed, reason to believe so from his narrative." "And never to forget it!" added the captain in a tone of agitation. "This man, Glass," I resumed, "also knew Patterson, the mate of the _Jane_." "He was a fine, brave, faithful fellow, Mr. Jeorling, and devoted, body and soul, to my brother." "As West is to you, captain." "Does Glass know where the shipwrecked men from the _Jane_ are now?" "I told him, captain, and also all that you have resolved to do to save them." I did not think proper to add that Glass had been much surprised at Captain Guy's abstaining from visiting him, as, in his absurd vanity, he held the commander of the _Halbrane_ bound to do, nor that he did not consider the Governor of Tristan d'Acunha bound to take the initiative.