I found something strange in this: yet had I taken time to reflect I might have seen that the strangeness lay rather in the bearing of the men than in the circumstance of all the crew being in sight. I looked aloft: every cloth was doing its work; the whiteness of the sails overflowed the boundaries of the bolt-ropes with light, and the azure of the sky was a pale silver against the edges of the canvas. The foam spitting from the nimble thrust of the cut-water shot by fast alongside; the brig was sailing well. I stood with my hands upon one of the shrouds of the main, my eyes upon the sea line: turning a minute or two later I saw Yan Bol corning to me. “Mr. Fielding,” said he, “I likes to have a quiet talk mit you.” Travers and Teach in the gangway held their stations looking at us. Galen came to a halt on the forecastle with his face aft; Friend looked at us with his needle poised; the Spaniards went on stitching. “What is it?” “I shpeak for all handts. Do not be afraid, Mr. Fielding. She vhas all right and every man vhas good friendts.” “Afraid!” said I, looking at him steadily, though I was conscious that the blood was gone out of my cheeks. “I think you said _afraid_?” “I ox pardon, I vhas----” “There is no Dutchman in this ship--there is no Dutchman in all Holland that can make me afraid. Use another word and bear a hand. I mean to get an hour’s sleep this afternoon.” “Dere vhas nothing I hope to stop you sleeping soundtly as long as you please.” “What do you want?” “Mr. Fielding, ve vants the brig’s course altered.” “Ay, indeed. For what part of the world?” “I hope you shall not sneer. By ter tunder of Cott, all handts vhas in earnest.” “Dot vhas so,” exclaimed Wirtz at the wheel, in his deep voice. I observed that Galen had come aft and was standing with Travers and Teach at the gangway, within easy earshot of our voices: in fact, they were almost abreast of us t’other side of the deck, and our ship, as you know, was a little one. “You want the brig’s course altered? For where?” “For Amsterdam Island.” “Yes, that island in the Indian Ocean which the Dutch discovered and gave a name to, and which you were talking about to me lately.” “Mr. Fielding, ve vhas all good friendts. I like to talk mit you as a mate mit his captain. Ve vhas respectful, but, by Cott, ve vhas in bloydy earnest also.” He smote the palm of his left hand with his huge right fist and looked round, on which Galen, Teach, Travers, and others came aft. Friend flung down his palm and needle and joined the group; the Spaniards rose to their feet, but remained where they were.