“I’m very much obliged to you,” he said, after careful deliberation, “and I don’t mind saying it’s a big temptation, because it sounds fair; but you see, Mr. Flagg, we’ve made up our minds to worry through alone. I’m not very obstinate in the ordinary way, but when I do set my teeth into a thing it takes a whole lot to get ’em out again. I’ll tell you what I would be very glad to do, though. We want a boat. You know that. Let us have yours for the trip, and in return we will pay you whatever you think is reasonable for the hire of it. And on the top of that, we’ll undertake to hand over a thousand dollars more in case we are successful. Are you agreeable?” The discussion of high finance evidently made Joe Flagg perspire more than ever. He mopped his brow industriously, but shook his head. “No, sir,” he said. “Nobody goes off in the _Firefly_ except when I’m in her. I’ve allus made that a rule, and I allus shall. I come in as a partner for a third of the spoil, or the _Firefly_ stops where she is.” “Then there is nothing more to be said on the subject, Mr. Flagg, and I’m sorry we can’t do business with you,” said Tempest, with an air of finality. “All right,” said their rotund host, indifferently. “I don’t blame you. Probably I’d feel the same way myself if I were in your shoes. A difference of opinion in a little matter of business needn’t alter friendship, need it? Now, I remember when I was mayor of Dogtooth City――” CHAPTER XVIII IN WHICH THE FIREFLY DISAPPEARS In spite of his obvious disappointment, Joe Flagg remained as suave and courteous to his two guests as ever. Both Tempest and Dave, however, began to grow restless as time slipped along. There was still no sign of a vessel calling to take them to Christmas Island, and they felt they could not impose on Mr. Flagg’s generous hospitality much longer. When Mr. Flagg was engaged with affairs connected with his plantation, the other two often went for a long hike together. It was seven miles from one end of the island to the other. There were few houses except those near Invisible Bay, where the chief settlement was situated. The idea of hiring another boat had already occurred to Tempest, but unfortunately there was not one that appeared to be suitable for the purpose. A good many of the island’s residents owned small craft, but Tempest was not inclined to trust his own life and that of Dave to such cockle-shells.