"I am no longer her husband, and she is no longer my wife," said Dutch, sternly. "I tell you I shall go." "No, no; I will not let you." "I am your partner, and I shall insist upon it. Stay at home and let me take the lead in the expedition. You may trust me." "Better than I would myself," said Mr Parkley, warmly. "Then let me go. It will be a relief to me from the torture I have suffered these last weeks. Parkley, you cannot dream of what I have felt." "Do you really earnestly mean all this?" said Mr Parkley, gazing in the other's troubled face. "Mean it? Yes, it would be a real kindness." "Time cures all wounds," said Mr Parkley, "so perhaps it will be best, and you will make arrangements for her while you are away." "She has the house," said Dutch, bitterly, "and what money I have. I shall write to her mother to join her. Is that enough?" Mr Parkley held out his hand, and the two men grasped each other's for a moment, and then turned back to the cabin. "Mr Pugh goes with us, Studwick; Rasp I know will come when he hears that Mr Pugh is with us." "Indeed," said Dutch, "I should have thought not." "You'll see," said Mr Parkley, writing a few lines in his pocket-book and tearing off the leaf. "Now, then, about Rasp. Whom can we trust to take this ashore?" "Let me go," said Mr Meldon, the young doctor, "I will deliver it in safety." "You will?" cried Mr Parkley. "That's well; but mind you don't get tampered with, nor the man this is to fetch." Mr Meldon started, being rowed ashore in a boat they hailed. The captain was ready to suspect everyone now, but in an hour old Rasp come grumbling aboard, with a huge carpet bag, which dragged him into the boat in which he came off, and nearly pulled him back into it when he mounted the side. "Oh, yes, I'll go," he said, as soon as he encountered his employers on the deck. "Hain't got enough clean shirts, though. I allus thought that Tolly was good for nowt, and the forrener a bad un." "And now, Rasp, I want you to go ashore again for me," said Dutch. "I'll take him with me," said the captain, "and keep a sharp look-out. Mr Parkley is going too." "I don't want no sharp look-outs," said Rasp, gruffly. "I can take care o' mysen'." Rasp's mission was a simple one, namely, to purchase certain articles of outfit, for, with stern determination, the young man had set his face against revisiting his home. Moreover, as if distrustful of himself, he stayed on board, meaning to remain there for good. The captain and mate both left for the shore, leaving Dutch in charge of the vessel, and so earnestly did they work that by nightfall they had secured six fresh men, and were hopeful of obtaining another half-dozen--all they required--by the following day. The new-comers were of a rougher class than those who had been wiled away, but for all that they were sturdy, useful men, and, anxious as the leaders of the expedition were to start, it was no time for choosing.