“I like him,” he repeated. “He controls his mates; he is the sort of man to keep them straight if he chooses, and I am almost resolved to make him choose, by promising him a handsomer share than his bond states--not at the expense of the crew, no; but by drawing on my own and the ship’s share. Tulp must do what I want when I plan for the interests of all.” “That is a hammer to drive the nail home,” said I, “for this has to be considered, captain; your cases of dollars will be handed over the side. The men are not fools; they will count them and roughly calculate the value of every case. As we sail home there will be much talk forward. The amount of money on board will, of course, be exaggerated. Bol will say, ‘I am second mate and boatswain, and my share is to come out of sixty-one thousand dollars, eleven sharing. How much does the Englishman get, the stranger that did not sail with us from Amsterdam, who is merely a shipwrecked man, and not one of us?’ He will wish to know how much, and he may breed trouble if he does not learn how much. On the other hand, if he gets the truth and compares it with _his_ share----” “All this has been in my head. I will confirm him in such honesty as he has by a written undertaking to pay him more dollars.” He added, after thinking a little while, “I wish he had not asked you those questions. But the fellow may doubt my story. All hands may doubt it.” He gazed at me significantly for a moment, and continued: “He might have hoped to get you to tell him something that he could repeat to the others, and that would hearten ’em. Should he question you again, encourage him to talk.” “Very good, sir.” “You are not to know the value of the freight of dollars.” “I will know nothing when I converse with him.” “But I shall want you to persuade him that my yarn is true,” said he with a faint smile, but with a gleam in his eyes which neutralized that weak expression of good humor. The relations between the master and the mate--between the captain and the lieutenant--instantly made themselves felt by me. I looked him in the face awaiting instruction. “You will be able to convince him that my yarn is true,” said he. “He has all the reasons which I have for believing it.” “Do you believe it?” “Why, yes! Mynheer Tulp’s promotion of this voyage is all the proof that one wants.” He cast his eyes upon the deck, and a light smile twitched his lips. When he next spoke it was to ask me some question that had no relation to the subject we had been conversing upon.