HORNE--She’s ready to cast off. I hailed him from below but I ’spect he didn’t hear. [_As_ DREW _makes no comment--impatiently_.] If he don’t shake a leg, we’ll miss the tide. There’s a bit o’ fair breeze, too. DREW--[_Glancing at him resentfully._] Don’t count on his sailing today. It’s just as likely he’ll change his mind. HORNE--[_Angrily._] Change his mind again? After us waitin’ and wastin’ time for weeks! [_To_ CATES _in a loud tone so_ DREW _can hear_.] What did I tell ye, Cates? He’s crazy as hell. DREW--[_Sharply._] What’s that? HORNE--I was tellin’ Cates the skipper’s not right in his head [_Angrily._] What man in his senses’d do the way he does? DREW--[_Letting his resentment escape him._] That’s no lie, damn it! HORNE--[_Surprised._] Aye, ye’ve seen it, too, have ye? [_After a pause._] Now I axe ye, as a sailor, how’d ye like to be puttin’ out on a vige with a cracked man for skipper? [SUE _comes out of the door, stops with a shudder of disgust as she sees the two sailors, and stands listening. They do not notice her presence._] DREW--It seems to me a crazy voyage all round. What kind of trading is it you’re to do? HORNE--[_Suspiciously._] Ye’ll have to ask the skipper that. DREW--[_With a scornful shrug._] I was forgetting it’s such a dead secret. That the craziest part, eh? [_With sudden interest as if a new idea had come to him._] But you know all about it, don’t you--what the Captain plans to do on this voyage--and all that? HORNE--[_Dryly._] Aye, as well as himself--but I’m tellin’ no man. DREW--And I’m not asking. What do you suppose I care about any sneaking trade deal in the Islands he may have up his sleeve? What I want to find out is: Do you know enough about this business to make this one voyage alone and attend to everything--in case the Captain can’t go? HORNE--[_Exchanging a quick glance with Cates--trying to hide his eagerness._] Aye, I could do as well as any man alive. I’ve been sailin’ this sea for twenty year or more and I know the Island trade inside and out. He could trust me for it--and I’d make more money for him than he’s likely to make with his head out o’ gear. [_Then scowling._] On’y trouble is, who’d Captain her if he ain’t goin’? DREW--[_Disappointedly._] Then you don’t know navigation enough for that? HORNE--I’ve never riz above bo’sun. [_Then after a pause in which he appears to be calculating something--curiously._] Why d’ye ask me them questions? [_Insinuatingly--almost in a whisper._] It can’t be done ’less we got an officer like you aboard. DREW--[_Angrily._] Eh? What’re you driving at? D’you think I-- SUE--[_Who has been listening with aroused interest._] Danny! [_She comes down to him._ HORNE _and_ CATES _bob their heads respectfully and move back near the platform_. HORNE _watches_ SUE _and_ DREW _out of the corner of his eye_.] Danny, I’ve been listening to what you were saying, but I don’t understand. What are you thinking of?