“The sky is high and hard, and the sun strikes clear fire into the west. Look at the edge of the sea; it sweeps clean as the rim of a new dollar. There is fine weather about.” “Vell, so much der better, Mr. Fielding. I have slept in more comfortable fok’sles dan vhas dis of der _Black Vatch_ vhen she pitches heavy--more comfortable, but I doan say drier. No; der toyfell shall not pe more plack dan she vhas bainted. Dis vhas a dry brick, und dere vhas no schmarter sailor out of Amsterdam.” “I believe you.” He looked about him to let me see he did not heed the brig the less for talking. I was willing he should talk. I saw matter in his huge full face, and guessed, if he chattered, he might let me come presently at what had passed ’twixt him and Galen. “Mr. Fielding, how far might she be from der Horn to der Channel?” “A long stride. Would you have it as the crow flies? How many hundreds of miles will the zigzags of a ship tag on to a straight-line measurement?” “Yaw, dot’s how it vhas. No man at sea can say how far she vhas from home. Der Cape of Goodt Hope, Mr. Fielding--dot, now, vhas a vast great roon from here?” “Yaw; the whole width of the South Atlantic.” “She vhas vide.” “I’ll teach you how to measure distances on a chart, if you like.” “Vell, I likes to know; but I doan believe dot I recollects to-morrow vhat you teaches him to-day. Mr. Fielding, vhere vhas Amsderdam Island?” “Amsderdam Island?” “Yaw. Der Doytch fell in mit her--vell, call it a hoondred year ago.” “There is an Amsterdam Island in the Indian Ocean.” “Dot vhas her.” “What of it?” “Nothing, sir. Galen vhas saying how der Doytch vhas everywhere mit der names. New Holland, Amsderdam Island--look how dey roon.” “True,” said I. “Mind your luff, my ladt!” he called in thunder to Teach. “How vhas her headt?” “East by north,” answered Teach. “East she vhas, und noting off.” He upturned his face to the canvas with an expression which let me see that certain whale-like thoughts were coming up to blow from the dark and oozy deep of his mind. “Oxcuse me, Mr. Fielding--mit regard to der dollars. You promised a leedle vhile ago to talk mit me about der landing of dot silver vhen ve arrives.” “What do you want to know?” “Vell, Mr. Fielding, it vhas like dis. All handts vould like to know how dey vhas to be baid dere shares. If der money vhas schmuggled on shore, who bays me und der men? Dis vhas your peesiness like as ours, for you too shall ask who vhas to bay you herself?” “On our arrival in the Downs,” said I, willing to give him the information he desired, pleased, indeed, that he should seek it, since the manner of his question gave a new turn to my fancies of him, “I shall communicate with Mynheer Tulp and await his instructions.” “Suppose she vhas deadt?” “I will suppose nothing. Tulp is alive until we know he is dead; and when we know that he is dead we will think of what’s next to be done.” “Vell, dot’s straight-hitting. I like her.”