Bart tightened up his lips and looked more obstinate than he had ever before looked in his life. "What is it?" said the captain, sharply. "I was a-thinking," said Bart, shortly. "Well--of what?" "I was a-thinking that you've just been made captain, and that the crew's with you, and that you're going to chuck it away." "What do you mean, Bart?" "I mean captain, as so sure as you give the lieutenant another chance he'll take it, and the lads, like Dinny and Dick, mayn't have the chance to get Mazzard drunk and come to your help." "You do nothing but doubt your officer," said the captain, angrily. "More do you," retorted Bart. The captain started, and then turned angrily away; but Bart followed him. "You're skipper, and I'll do aught you like; but so sure as you leave this here ship there'll be a row, and you won't be able to go again, for you won't come back." The captain took a turn up and down, and then stopped opposite Bart. "I'll take your advice, Bart," he said, "though it goes very much against the grain. Take Dinny with you, and do this for me as if I were helping you all the time." "Ay; you may trust me." "I do trust you, Bart, heartily. Remember this: Abel and I were always together as children and companions; to the last I loved my brother, Bart." Bart listened to the simply-uttered words, to which their tone and the solemn time gave a peculiar pathos; and for a few moments there was silence. "I know," he said, softly. "And in my rough way I loved Abel Dell as a brother. Don't you think because I say nought that I don't feel it." "I know you too well, Bart. Go and do this for me; I will stay aboard. I'm captain now, since fate so wills it, and the men shall find that I am their head." "Hah!" ejaculated Bart, raising his hand, but dropping it again and drawing back. "That's how I like to hear you speak, captain. Trust me, it shall be done." An hour later the men stood aloof as Bart and Dinny lowered a long deal case into the boat and, as soon as the rope was cast off, hoisted the little sail and ran for the sandy cove where the boat had landed before. They were provided with a lantern, and this they kept shrouded in a boat-cloak originally the property of the Spanish captain of a vessel that had been taken. The precaution was needless, for nothing was within sight; and they landed and drew up the boat upon the sand, where the phosphorescent water rippled softly, and then the long chest was lifted out, and Bart bore it toward the cocoa-nut grove. "Well," said Dinny, following close behind, "I did say that I wouldn't do such work as this; but it's for the captain, and maybe some day I shall be wanting such a job done for me."